Mac Pro was released on 7 August 2006, alongside 1 other product.
7 August 2006 · Mac
Mac Pro
Mac Pro
Why it mattered
The original Mac Pro completed Apple's move from PowerPC to Intel, reusing the aluminium 'cheese grater' case of the Power Mac G5. Its two dual-core Xeon chips made it a big leap for pros.
Models and prices
| Model / config | Released | Key specs | US launch price | In 2025 dollars (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Pro (standard) | Aug 2006 | 2× dual-core Xeon 2.66 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB | $2,499 | ≈ $3,990 |
Inflation-adjusted prices are estimates: launch price × (US CPI-U 2025 annual average 321.943 ÷ CPI-U annual average of the launch year), rounded to the nearest $10. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CUUR0000SA0. US list prices only; they ignore currency, taxes and carrier subsidies.
What came before and after
Before: Power Mac G5. After: Mac Pro Early 2008 (8-core).
Buying and collecting notes
32-bit EFI limits OS upgrades; popular for retro builds.
Questions
- When was the first Mac Pro released?
- Announced 7 August 2006 at WWDC.
- How much was the first Mac Pro?
- $2,499 in its standard configuration.
- What processors did it use?
- Two dual-core Intel Xeon 5100-series chips.
- What did the Mac Pro replace?
- The Power Mac G5.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Mac Pro
- EveryMac.com
- BLS CPI-U series CUUR0000SA0 (data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0)