A heavily upgraded 2019 Intel Mac Pro can outperform a modern M3 Max MacBook Pro in one specific video workflow, but only after spending thousands on parts. YouTube channel CircuitBoredd pushed a 7,1 Mac Pro to its limits with a 28-core Xeon processor, 768GB RAM, and four Radeon Pro Vega II GPUs.

This $11,000 experiment shows the last Intel Mac Pro still has life for niche tasks. The build included second-hand upgrades like 128GB ECC DDR4 memory modules ($3,000-$4,800), dual Vega II Duo MPX modules ($5,800), and an Afterburner card ($400). While impressive for video encoding, the project highlights how modern Apple Silicon offers better value.

The comparison reveals diminishing returns for vintage hardware. A new Mac Studio with M4 Max and 128GB memory costs $3,499 and delivers similar performance without the upgrade hassle. For most users, spending the same money on current hardware provides better everyday usability than resurrecting a six-year-old workstation.