Graphics Cards in New Mac Pro May Be User Replaceable

It may be technically possible for buyers of the new Mac Pro to replace their graphics cards, according to a report from the French site Mac4Ever. [Google Translate]

The site claims the GPU on the Mac Pro is placed on an independent daughter card with a proprietary connection, which would make sense as it would make warranty-repairs of broken GPUs significantly easier. There is no indication if or when third-party graphics cards could be released for the new Mac Pro, but the new device is scheduled for release in December of this year.

Macprogpu
From the Google Translation of Mac4Ever's post:

According to our information, it is possible to change the graphics card in this machine. In fact, the GPU is placed on a daughter card, it is possible to remove and thus replace. As you might expect, Apple uses a proprietary connector (as is the case for SSD array present on the rest of the range). But nothing prevents, on paper, a manufacturer decides to offer compatible models on the market

A similar system is used in the MacBook Air's SSD flash storage. In 2010, Other World Computing released aftermarket SSD upgrades for the MacBook Air, allowing larger SSD options than Apple's 256GB maximum -- for a significant price. The MacBook Air uses a proprietary SSD connector and board, but OWC was able to design replacement storage options for the computer.

Apple did specify that RAM in the new Mac Pro would be user replaceable, but said nothing about the graphics cards. It's likely that the graphics cards, if it's even possible to replace them, would not be an Apple-approved user replaceable part and could affect the product's warranty, much like the aftermarket SSD replacement in the MacBook Air.

Related Roundup: Mac Pro
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Mac Pro

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

LillDrutten Avatar
159 months ago
Cook innovation contribution.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ryansimmons323 Avatar
159 months ago
OWC are probably rubbing their hands together...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
teknikal90 Avatar
159 months ago
i dont understand Apple's approach....

i understand why they want to shut down non-pro machines, or even the macbook 'pro' for that matter

but a workstation 'tower' that's locked down?? doesnt make any sense to me
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cgk.emu Avatar
159 months ago
Yes, finally a user replaceable part that matters! :p

Yeah, the last Pro was the same, but how long did it take for a 3rd party to release an "updated" graphics card....? So what if it's replaceable if it takes 4 years to get a new card for the Pro that was out 3 years ago for a PC??
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
159 months ago
Cook innovation contribution.
Image (http://media2.giga.de/2013/06/Mac-Pro_2013_Mac-Pro_2013.jpg)

One person sees a bunch of stuff they don't get.

Another sees a bunch of stuff they don't want.

Less is not always less. And more is sometimes less.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HyperZboy Avatar
159 months ago
Cook innovation contribution.
Image (http://media2.giga.de/2013/06/Mac-Pro_2013_Mac-Pro_2013.jpg)

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SPIT MY DRINK OUT! LMAO

Now I can't stop hiccuping. That was my first criticism of the new Mac Pro and people here laughed at me!

You pointed out what I meant months ago in a great picture.
ThunderBolt is fantastic, but I don't want to have to buy a new computer table for all the devices I have to add to this machine to make it comparable to my old Mac Pro which can be upgraded with various graphics cards and SSD drives internally in one piece.

How can a PRO machine NOT have internal user expansion?

Somewhere Steve Wozniak is just shaking his head.

I predict different people will buy the new Mac Pro than the previous Mac Pro.
But I will admit, the new Mac Pro would make for a small wicked fast tricked out gamers machine, but I don't think at that price it will fly.

I predict prices on Ebay for the last generation Mac Pros will escalate after the new one is released because you can get multiple faster graphics cards for those Pros in many ways, even outside of Apple.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)