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Quad 2.5 G5 =)
Sep 8, 2009, 03:50 PM
Today, Intel introduced the first Core i5 processor that is on the LGA 1156 processor socket. This processor has hyperthreading disabled, and runs at 2.66 GHz with 4 cores.
Will :apple: possibly use this processor as a base configuration in the MP, or possibly a high end configuration in the iMac?


Transporteur
Sep 8, 2009, 04:13 PM
Will :apple: possibly use this processor as a base configuration in the MP, or possibly a high end configuration in the iMac?

Replacing the XEON i7 with a stock i5 without HT? Won't happen.

The Core2Duo processors the iMac uses, have 35W TDP, the i5 has 82W. I don't think that the iMacs can handle that.
milk242
Sep 8, 2009, 04:39 PM
xeon and i7 are different cpus... I think Apple will always rely on workstation processors for their Mac Pros and Xserve products. I just don't see that ever changing unless intel drops xeon from their roadmap (never going to happen).
300D
Sep 8, 2009, 04:41 PM
This idea drops back to the imaginary "xMac" that will never exist.
Transporteur
Sep 8, 2009, 04:50 PM
xeon and i7 are different cpus....

No they are not.
capitanbuzo
Sep 8, 2009, 04:54 PM
No they are not.

Oh yes they are.
300D
Sep 8, 2009, 04:55 PM
No they are not.

Only to those that don't know the differences.
Transporteur
Sep 8, 2009, 05:01 PM
Both the i7 and the Nehalem Xeon are based on the same technology.

The XEON UP models are besides from the ECC support pretty much identical.
The XEON MP added support for multiple units, but nevertheless it's the same core.

That's why I personally would not say that they are 'different cpus'.
capitanbuzo
Sep 8, 2009, 05:26 PM
That's why I personally would not say that they are 'different cpus'.

But they are.
goMac
Sep 8, 2009, 05:37 PM
The XEON UP models are besides from the ECC support pretty much identical.
The XEON MP added support for multiple units, but nevertheless it's the same core.

That's why I personally would not say that they are 'different cpus'.

Yeah, those aren't the only differences...
alphaod
Sep 8, 2009, 05:40 PM
Today, Intel introduced the first Core i5 processor that is on the LGA 1156 processor socket. This processor has hyperthreading disabled, and runs at 2.66 GHz with 4 cores.
Will :apple: possibly use this processor as a base configuration in the MP, or possibly a high end configuration in the iMac?

No HyperThreading or the 3rd memory channel? I don't think Apple would downgrade like that.
nanofrog
Sep 8, 2009, 07:15 PM
Core i5 = LGA1156
Core i7 = LGA1366

So they're not physically compatible, though they're both based on the same architecture.
Dr.Pants
Sep 9, 2009, 12:38 AM
Well, wasn't LGA 1156 supposed to deliver hexa-core processors? Maybe they're just not out yet....

Still, on The Egg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001157%2040000343%201051749233&name=LGA%201156), of the three 1156 CPUs, all three are Lynnfield but only one is labeled as "i5". What happens to make this processor different from its "i7" cousins that inhabit the same socket? Is it just marketing?
Genghis Khan
Sep 9, 2009, 01:17 AM
xeon and i7 are different cpus...

No they are not.

Oh yes they are.
I personally would not say that they are 'different cpus'.

But they are.

lol...best thread ever

btw...the 'i7' and Xeons in the Mac Pro are both subsets of the family of 'Nehalem' processors

so while not identical, they're damn similar
lixuelai
Sep 9, 2009, 03:47 AM
i7 and Xeon are just branding. Current gen lower end Xeon processor are identical to i7 just named differently.
chaosbunny
Sep 9, 2009, 03:58 AM
lol...best thread ever

No it's not. :D
AppleWorking
Sep 9, 2009, 04:52 AM
No it's not. :DYes, it is. :p ;)
Umbongo
Sep 9, 2009, 05:38 AM
Well, wasn't LGA 1156 supposed to deliver hexa-core processors? Maybe they're just not out yet....

Still, on The Egg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001157%2040000343%201051749233&name=LGA%201156), of the three 1156 CPUs, all three are Lynnfield but only one is labeled as "i5". What happens to make this processor different from its "i7" cousins that inhabit the same socket? Is it just marketing?

In addition to lower speeds Core i5 does not have the hyperthreading or VT-d enabled.
goMac
Sep 9, 2009, 05:44 PM
i7 and Xeon are just branding. Current gen lower end Xeon processor are identical to i7 just named differently.

The i7 doesn't support SMP or extended page tables, among other things.

It's NOT just branding.
capitanbuzo
Sep 9, 2009, 05:48 PM
Yes, it is. :p ;)

Gotta agree with you there.
TheStrudel
Sep 9, 2009, 05:55 PM
i7 and Xeon are just branding. Current gen lower end Xeon processor are identical to i7 just named differently.

I was given to understand that Xeon had support for ECC memory (among other things) and non-Xeons did not, making it more than just naming.
J the Ninja
Sep 9, 2009, 06:13 PM
I was given to understand that Xeon had support for ECC memory (among other things) and non-Xeons did not, making it more than just naming.

IIRC, i7's support ECC in hardware, it's just turned off since it's more of a hindrance than a benefit in a gaming machine.
Quad 2.5 G5 =)
Sep 10, 2009, 12:25 AM
IIRC, i7's support ECC in hardware, it's just turned off since it's more of a hindrance than a benefit in a gaming machine.

Also, I do remember that the i5 is basically a i7 without HT (and a bunch of different things). The i7 is basically a Xeon (with features added and removed),
which makes the Core i5 a distant relative of the Xeon.
nanofrog
Sep 10, 2009, 12:45 AM
Also, I do remember that the i5 is basically a i7 without HT (and a bunch of different things). The i7 is basically a Xeon (with features added and removed),
which makes the Core i5 a distant relative of the Xeon.
i5-750:
LGA1156
Turbo Boost = Yes
Hyper Threading = No
Vt-d (virtualization support) = No
Memory = DDR3 Dual Channel
ECC = No
Bus Communication = DMI, not QPI
TDP = 95W

Source (http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=42915&processor=i5-750&spec-codes=SLBLC).
Quad 2.5 G5 =)
Sep 10, 2009, 10:21 AM
i5-750:
LGA1156
Turbo Boost = Yes
Hyper Threading = No
Vt-d (virtualization support) = No
Memory = DDR3 Dual Channel
ECC = No
Bus Communication = DMI, not QPI
TDP = 95W

Source (http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=42915&processor=i5-750&spec-codes=SLBLC).

That much removed/changed? More than I thought... the VT is actually a "yes" as it has a checkmark on it.
Umbongo
Sep 10, 2009, 11:07 AM
That much removed/changed? More than I thought... the VT is actually a "yes" as it has a checkmark on it.

It has virtualisation things enabled. It doesn't have VT-d which is the i/o virtualisation and it's unlikey you'd be using it with these processors anyway as it's for servers.
iBeard
Sep 10, 2009, 11:32 AM
i5-750:
LGA1156
Turbo Boost = Yes
Hyper Threading = No
Vt-d (virtualization support) = No
Memory = DDR3 Dual Channel
ECC = No
Bus Communication = DMI, not QPI
TDP = 95W

Source (http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=42915&processor=i5-750&spec-codes=SLBLC).

It's the lack of QPI that makes me think this won't happen. There isn't enough BW in DMI (1MB each way) for the tasks required by a Mac Pro. If you have your SATA drives filled up, USB/FireWire devices attached and over 2 GPUs (like some Mac Pros have) then you're going to start to have some problems.

Mac Pros aren't supposed to be regular old Desktop PCs that can just get by, they're workstations.
nanofrog
Sep 10, 2009, 11:34 AM
It has virtualisation things enabled. It doesn't have VT-d which is the i/o virtualisation and it's unlikely you'd be using it with these processors anyway as it's for servers.
I guess I could have explained it better, but made the mistake of thinking the Vt-d delineator was enough. :o
nanofrog
Sep 10, 2009, 11:36 AM
It's the lack of QPI that makes me think this won't happen. There isn't enough BW in DMI (1MB each way) for the tasks required by a Mac Pro. If you have your SATA drives filled up, USB/FireWire devices attached and over 2 GPUs (like some Mac Pros have) then you're going to start to have some problems.

Mac Pros aren't supposed to be regular old Desktop PCs that can just get by, they're workstations.
I don't know if you caught it, but further back, I stated that it's not going to be used in a MP. ;)

It's a desktop part, meant to replace the Core2 Quads.
iBeard
Sep 10, 2009, 12:03 PM
I don't know if you caught it, but further back, I stated that it's not going to be used in a MP. ;)

It's a desktop part, meant to replace the Core2 Quads.

Oh yeah, sorry. I wasn't trying to say that you said anything wrong.
I was using your quote because you were the only one that mentioned "no QPI" and then I was expanding on that.

Sorry for the confusion.
nanofrog
Sep 10, 2009, 12:22 PM
Oh yeah, sorry. I wasn't trying to say that you said anything wrong.
I was using your quote because you were the only one that mentioned "no QPI" and then I was expanding on that.

Sorry for the confusion.
:cool: NP. :)

I misunderstood the intent, and thought clarification was needed, not start any arguments. :)