Apple Mac Pro Late 2013 3.5GHz 6-core/64 GB, Xeon E5-1650v2, 64GB, 512GB SSD, Black

The Late 2013 Mac Pro scores 53.1 out of 100 overall, with a 99th percentile reliability score and 64GB of ECC RAM at the 91st percentile. But the CPU sits at the 24th percentile and gaming is a dismal 17.2 out of 100. At $409 USD refurbished, it's a niche buy for macOS users who need massive RAM and don't care about modern CPU performance.

Let's talk about that CPU first, because it's the elephant in the room. The Intel Xeon E5-1650v2 is a 6-core chip running at 3.5GHz, and it lands at the 24th percentile in our database. That's mediocre by today's standards. For context, a modern mid-range desktop CPU will run circles around it in single-threaded tasks. But here's the thing: for multi-threaded workloads that love cores and memory bandwidth, this old Xeon still has some fight left. The 64GB of ECC RAM at 1866MHz is the real star here, sitting at the 91st percentile. That's one of the best on the market for memory capacity, and it's why this machine still gets recommended for virtualization, older server tasks, and RAM-heavy creative work.

The dual FirePro D500 GPUs are a mixed bag. They're workstation cards, not gaming cards, so they're built for compute tasks like video editing and 3D rendering from a decade ago. At the 64th percentile, they're solid but not impressive. The 6GB total VRAM (3GB per card) is fine for older workflows but will choke on modern GPU-accelerated tasks. The 512GB PCIe SSD is fast for its era but small by today's standards, and it sits at the 30th percentile. You'll likely want external storage via Thunderbolt, which this machine does have, along with 4x USB-A and HDMI 1.4.

Stacked against the competition, this Mac Pro is in a weird spot. The Dell Tower Desktop ECT1250 and HP OmniDesk M02-0234 are both newer machines with better CPU performance and more modern connectivity, but they can't touch the Mac Pro's 64GB of ECC RAM or its 99th percentile reliability. The Lenovo Yoga AIO F0J20012US is an all-in-one with a more modern design, but it's aimed at a completely different user. The ASUS ROG G700 G700TF-U5F5060 will absolutely destroy this Mac Pro in gaming, but it's a gaming rig, not a workstation. The GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus is tiny and modern, but it's a mini PC with integrated graphics. The Mac Pro's real competition is other used workstations, and in that space, its RAM capacity and reliability are the main selling points.

At $409 USD refurbished, this Mac Pro is a strange value proposition. You're getting a machine that originally cost thousands of dollars, with build quality and reliability that are still top-tier. The 99th percentile reliability score means this thing will probably keep running for years. But you're also buying into a platform that's effectively frozen in time. macOS support is limited, the CPU is aging, and the storage is small. For the same money, you could get a used modern mini PC with better CPU performance but nowhere near the RAM capacity or build quality. If you specifically need 64GB of ECC RAM and macOS, this is a bargain. If you just need a general desktop, there are better options.

The Late 2013 Mac Pro is a weird one in our database. Its reliability score sits at the 99th percentile, which is the absolute best right now, but its CPU is down at the 24th percentile. That's a strange combo, and it tells you exactly what this machine is: a beautifully built, aging workhorse that's still kicking but no longer leading the pack. The 64GB of 1866MHz DDR3 ECC RAM is a standout at the 91st percentile, which is a big part of why this thing still gets attention for memory-hungry tasks. But the gaming score of 17.2 out of 100 is a real letdown, so don't even think about it for that.

At $409 USD refurbished, you're getting a lot of Apple engineering for not much cash. The dual AMD FirePro D500 GPUs with 3GB VRAM each sound impressive on paper, but they land at the 64th percentile, which is solid but nothing to write home about in 2024. The 512GB PCIe SSD is quick for its era but sits at the 30th percentile for storage, which is underwhelming by modern standards. If you need a cheap Mac desktop for older software or a server role, this is interesting. If you want a daily driver for modern creative work, keep reading.

Skip this if you need modern CPU performance, current macOS support, or any kind of gaming capability. The CPU at the 24th percentile will feel sluggish for everyday tasks compared to even budget modern desktops, and the gaming score of 17.2 out of 100 is one of the worst we've seen. The 512GB SSD at the 30th percentile is also a weak spot, so if you need lots of fast internal storage, this isn't it. And with social proof at the 15th percentile, you're buying on faith rather than a track record of customer satisfaction.

The Late 2013 Mac Pro is a niche machine for a niche buyer. If you need a cheap macOS workstation with massive RAM capacity and legendary reliability, this is a solid buy at $409 USD. The 64GB of ECC RAM at the 91st percentile is the main reason to consider it, and the 99th percentile reliability score means it'll probably outlast your patience. But the CPU at the 24th percentile and the gaming score of 17.2 out of 100 are hard to ignore. This is not a daily driver for modern creative work, and it's definitely not a gaming machine. It's a specialized tool for specific tasks, and if those tasks match your needs, it's a bargain. If not, look elsewhere.