Pre-Release PowerMac/XServe Replacement CPU Benchmarks?

[MacRumors]

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ArsTechnica provides a summary of some recent pre-release benchmarks of Intel's upcoming Woodcrest chip, and reports that gains of 15-40% are typical over Intel's latest Xeon-class chip (code-named Dempsey).

Woodcrest represents the top of Intel's upcoming Core 2 lineup and is targeted at "server and workstation" markets. Most speculation has centered around Apple using Intel's Conroe Core 2 "desktop" chip, but a recent page 2 rumor indicated that Woodcrest could also be in consideration. Previously Apple compared its top-of-the-line PowerMacs to Xeon-class machines.

Anandtech recently provided a sneak peek at preliminary benchmarks between Intel's Conroe compared to an overclocked AMD Athlon X2. Conroe consistently beat the AMD system, however the systems were set up by Intel. While the reviewer did not see anything fishy on the surface, the results should be taken with a grain of salt.

Currently, Woodcrest is expected next month with Conroe expected to arrive in July 2006.

[combatcolin]

Anyone else geting that Monty Python "GET ON WITH IT" feeling?

[NVRsayNVR]

Originally Posted by combatcolin

Anyone else geting that Monty Python "GET ON WITH IT" feeling?

YEAH! Let's get it on already! Boost that stock up so I can cash in and get some new gear! Talk is cheap... Announcement the damn thing!

"Think Alike... BE Different!"

[mozmac]

This would be a great move on Apple's part. Their higher-end systems MUST use higher-end chips. Picture this...a dual-xeon type PowerMac with two 30" Apple Displays. Have OS X running on your main display and XP and Linux running natively in their own windows on the second display. They would all run faster at the same time than my 2.0GHz ThinkPad runs XP right now.

Can anyone say, "The Greatest Computer in the World!" ? I know I can.

[camomac]

bring it on... this could be really exciting.. mmm new powermacs?

[silvergunuk]

Looks Like The Mac Pro's Could Be Here Within A Month. Lovely!

[longofest]

Originally Posted by silvergunuk

Looks Like The Mac Pro's Could Be Here Within A Month. Lovely!

Doubtful. The processors will be available, but with Creative Suite still not native, QuarkXPress 7 not being Dual Binary until later this summer, and other pro apps being in a similar quandry, I think WWDC is still a good bet for replacement Powermacs.

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

[bigbossbmb]

Originally Posted by longofest

Doubtful. The processors will be available, but with Creative Suite still not native, QuarkXPress 7 not being Dual Binary until later this summer, and other pro apps being in a similar quandry, I think WWDC is still a good bet for replacement Powermacs.

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

XServe, definitely as soon as the chips are available... But I think that Apple will release their pro desktop at this time too. There are tons of film and video people itching for these machines. Also CS might run under rosetta fairly well with these chips' speed.

[vmardian]

Originally Posted by longofest

Doubtful. The processors will be available, but with Creative Suite still not native, QuarkXPress 7 not being Dual Binary until later this summer, and other pro apps being in a similar quandry, I think WWDC is still a good bet for replacement Powermacs.

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

Almost every single Apple Pro App is universal. Lightroom is also universal.

[ImAlwaysRight]

Haven't seen too many Power Mac rumors. I, for one, would think Apple would use the new chips as an opportunity to give the Power Mac a redesign. Maybe not too drastic, but along the lines of the iBook --> MacBook redesign. At least this time it looks like Apple could announce the new Power Macs in the summer and have them shipping almost immediately. At least not a late September/early Oct. release that happened when the G5 Power Macs came out, which was a delay of 2-3 months.

[zwilliams07]

I hope this does bode for a quicker release of a Mac Pro (PowerMac). Its the only reason I'm holding off on making an Intel Mac purchase.

Last time I bought a Mac was an iBook G3/700 back in Summer of 2002.

Gawd I need a new machine.

I think it would be more reasonable for Apple to have it set up as

Merom - MacBook, MacMini, MacBook Pro
Conroe - iMac, (maybe upper MacBook Pro)
Woodcrest - MacPro, Xserve

Remember the G5 was a Server class chip, and it is in both PowerMacs and Xserves.

[longofest]

Originally Posted by vmardian

Almost every single Apple Pro App is universal. Lightroom is also universal.

Not all of the creative world runs on Apple's software solutions.


As for what I personally see future lineups as, I think Conroe is actually going to end up in the iMac. So here is what you'd see:

Merom: Macbook/Macbook pro (once they transition from Yonah)
Conroe: Mac Mini and iMac... Mac Mini might end up in Merom line...
Woodcrest: Mac Pro and XServe

The only reason I think you are seeing the iMac and Mac Mini using Yonah is because Apple wanted to transition those first, and Yonah was the first Core-architecture based chip out. Yonah, however, is meant for laptops, so I think once Apple has a desktop chip available to it (especially one that is designed to allow for thin-form factor like Conroe), they will use it.

[jiggie2g]

Woodcrest is not nor will it ever see daylight in a power mac/Mac Pro. Conroe will do just fine and from most benchmarks it out performs the Athlon X2 by atleast 20% clock 4 clock. Hate to break It to you but the dual socket days are over for Desktop macs. You really think apple is gonna put is gonna put 2 $80 cpu's in a prosumer machine....not. maybe in an Xserve but not a mac pro. here's how it will break down. iMac will use Merom as it is already pin compatible with the current Core duo mobile chips. no need to change the motherboard.

MacMini / Core Duo 1.86-2.0 2MB L2

Macbook / Core Duo 2.16-2.33 2MB L2

iMac / Core 2 Duo(merom) 2.16-2.33 4MB L2

Macbook Pro / Core 2 Duo(merom) 2.1-2.33 4MB L2

Mac Pro / Core 2 Duo(Conroe) 2.4-2.67 and 2.93 XE 4MB L2

Incase you are wondering why I placed the Macbook and Macbook Pro at the same speed , please note that Core 2 has an advantage of 20% over Core 1 clock 4 clock not to mention the advantage of having double the L2 cache. The core 1 still is slated to clock up to 2.33 ghz i see the chip becoming thier new value chip(think Celeron but better) for lower end machines.

[Rocketman]

Originally Posted by longofest

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

I am wondering what the real world performance increase will be from now to that? Perhaps over 2x in real world performance if all the rumors and tech reports are near accurate.

Will we see YA Apple branded attempt at the supercomputer prize?

I want to see Apple market 4U desktop/floortop systems to uber gamers

Rocketman

[weitzner]

i think the powermac replacement will be out before WWDC because it's already been announced that there will be a leopard preview. seems to me that they usually focus on one thing at the keynote. new powermacs AND leopard preview would be too much i think. they'll probably announce that all of their apps are universal and maybe have someone from MS and/or adobe come out and give a time frame. then they'll get into leopard. it will be good.

[iBunny]

I Deffinatly think that their will be multiple versions of the MacPro as well as an updated iMac. Intel Conroe processor is very fast, affordable, and still run very cool. According to Intel, Conroe is approx 40% faster than Yonah (Current Core Duo) at the same clock speed. While Merom is only 20% Faster than Yonah.

Meroms Will probly be put in Mac Mini's, and All the Notebooks. It makes sense.

The Updated iMacs will probably have a 1.8GHz - 2.2GHz Conroe Processor. They run cool enough still, while offering superior performance over the current core duo's.

We will Probably 3 versions of the MacPro (like this was for the G5)

We will have a Single Conroe 2.4GHz - 2.6GHz as our entry level Mac Pro.

We will have a Single Conroe XE 2.93GHz for our High End Mac Pro.

And a Dual Socketted - Dual Woodcrest 3GHz Workstation. This will be the most powerful of the bunch, and alot more expensive. This way, people who have a Quad G5 can use this as a replacement. Sure, One Dual Core Conroe probly will beat a Quad G5 in most things, applications which are heavly multithreaded and thrive off multiple cores still may be better on a Quad G5. Apple already is using 4 cores... I dont see why their highest end machine, wouldnt have at least 4 cores. Since Conroe is not dual socket capable, Their only choice is to use woodcrest. Which is fine, woodcrest is going to be superior to Conroe due to the fact that the FSB is increased from 1066 to 1333 and you can have More than one physical chip, as well with more ram.

I reckon that a Dual - Dual Core Woodcrest @ 3GHz / 1333FSB and 4GB of FBDIMM might costs us $4000. But thats ok

[Some_Big_Spoon]

I don't know, do you think no CS3/native maters enough to hod back the release? I think they'd be more than happy to get the sales, no? I think, and I'm most likely wrong, that they'll offer PPC PM's in tandem with the Intel until the big kids get their software Universal (a' la' OS9 Macs held over in the transition)

Again, could be totally wrong, but there seems to be enough early adopters to warrant the release, myself included.

Originally Posted by longofest

Doubtful. The processors will be available, but with Creative Suite still not native, QuarkXPress 7 not being Dual Binary until later this summer, and other pro apps being in a similar quandry, I think WWDC is still a good bet for replacement Powermacs.

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

[4God]

Originally Posted by longofest

Doubtful. The processors will be available, but with Creative Suite still not native, QuarkXPress 7 not being Dual Binary until later this summer, and other pro apps being in a similar quandry, I think WWDC is still a good bet for replacement Powermacs.

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

I thought QuarkXpress 7 was announced and released as a universal binary yesterday.

[TangoCharlie]

Originally Posted by longofest

Doubtful. The processors will be available, but with Creative Suite still not native, QuarkXPress 7 not being Dual Binary until later this summer, and other pro apps being in a similar quandry, I think WWDC is still a good bet for replacement Powermacs.

XServe, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Just look at how long it has gone untouched. We very well could see an XServe refresh in the next month or two.

Well, sort-of.... I aggree that the XServes will be next.... and with WoodCrest (Xeon) processor(s) at 1.86 and 2 GHz, but I don't think Apple is waiting for CS3.

I think the MacPro will follow not-too-long after, with WoodCrest (Xeon) as well (3GHz).
Additionally, I think Apple will boost the CPU in the iMac to Conroe (Core 2 Extreme), and the MBP to Merom (Core 2 Duo).

Apple will be one of the first (if not the first) to use the new CPU's.

Well, time will tell.

[sluthy]

Hmm, what do you reckon?

Merom - Mac mini, iMac
Conroe - Powermac (or simply Mac now?)
Woodcrest - xServe

or possibly:

Merom - Mac mini
Conroe - iMac
Woodcrest - PowerMac, xServe

or even forgo Conroe altogether:

Merom - Mac mini, iMac
Woodcrest - PowerMac, xServe

or maybe...

Merom - Mac mini, iMac
Conroe - 'Mac'?
Woodcrest - PowerMac, xServe

Maybe the 'PowerMac' will move entirely into the Woodcrest server market (to the point where it and the xServe are only a form-factor apart) leaving room for a new headless Conroe 'Mac', for creative/business 'prosumer' types who don't require server power but need more expandability and choice than an iMac? Or is that lineup too crowded and overlapped?

EDIT: Forgive me, it's 3.15AM and I'm wired doing an assembly language assignment, so if I'm rambling...

[JurgenWigg]

Originally Posted by sluthy

Hmm, what do you reckon?

Merom - Mac mini, iMac
Conroe - Powermac (or simply Mac now?)
Woodcrest - xServe

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't Merom the notebook/portable chip, whereas Conroe is the desktop chip? Why would they put Merom in an iMac??

[macgeek2005]

Originally Posted by JurgenWigg

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't Merom the notebook/portable chip, whereas Conroe is the desktop chip? Why would they put Merom in an iMac??

Because the iMac is a desktop.

[jiggie2g]

Originally Posted by JurgenWigg

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't Merom the notebook/portable chip, whereas Conroe is the desktop chip? Why would they put Merom in an iMac??

Because the iMac already contains a notebook cpu in Yonah , has a small enclosure which requires lower thermal output and merom is pin compatible with Yonah so this is just a more logical step, for apple to put in a conroe it would require a redesign of the motherboard and cooling with merom it's just a chip swap.

[milo]

Originally Posted by JurgenWigg

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't Merom the notebook/portable chip, whereas Conroe is the desktop chip? Why would they put Merom in an iMac??

The same reasons they put yonah (a laptop chip) in the iMac. Cooling, power consumption, cost and availability.

[Core Trio]

Originally Posted by JurgenWigg

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't Merom the notebook/portable chip, whereas Conroe is the desktop chip? Why would they put Merom in an iMac??

Because the chip currently housed in the iMac is also a notebook chip, and they are pin compatible.

However id love the iMac to be refreshed with Conroe