Clearing out G5s?

[MacRumors]

In the most recent Apple Developer mailing, Apple is offering special pricing for PowerMac 1.6GHz G5s for ADC Select and Premier members.

ADC is pleased to offer special pricing on the Power Mac G5 1.6GHz to ADC Select and Premier members in the United States and Europe. Through June 26, ADC Select and Premier members can purchase up to five Power Mac G5 1.6GHz systems through the ADC Hardware Purchase Program, without affecting annual hardware discount purchase limits.

Speculation, of course, points to Apple clearing out the low end PowerMac G5s. June 26th also coincides with the end of the Brilliant Savings Promo and is 2 days prior to the start of WWDC.

[MacsRgr8]

Clearing the road..... hopefully for the Dual 3 Ghz!

Bring 'em on, Apple!

[Paulo the Limey]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

In the most recent Apple Developer mailing, Apple is offering special pricing for PowerMac 1.6GHz G5s for ADC Select and Premier members.



Speculation, of course, points to Apple clearing out the low end PowerMac G5s. June 26th also coincides with the end of the Brilliant Savings Promo and is 2 days prior to the start of WWDC.

Only question now is the specs.

[marco114]

Here's my guess.. I don't think we'll see 3ghz for some time.
2.2 / 2.4 / DP 2.6

[fregedegpo]

Bring on these new fangled machines, WITHOUT SOUND PROBLEMS PLEASE!!!!!!!!

[Skiniftz]

Originally Posted by fregedegpo

Bring on these new fangled machines, WITHOUT SOUND PROBLEMS PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Can you elaborate on that? What are these sound problems? I need to know as the only reason I'm going to buy a G5 is to switch my (audio) studio over to Mac.

[numediaman]

Originally Posted by Skiniftz

Can you elaborate on that? What are these sound problems? I need to know as the only reason I'm going to buy a G5 is to switch my (audio) studio over to Mac.

Check out the Apple support discussion pages for the G5: http://discussions.info.apple.com/. The issue involves the power supply.

As for the discounting of 1.6s: I would think they would try to get rid of these for one of two reasons.

One, there will be a modest bump of the G5s -- that would, of course, disappoint everyone. Maybe the line would look like this: 1.8, 2.0, 2.2. I can hear the cries of pain now.

Two, there will be a major move of the G5s, and the 1.8 and 2.0 chips will be used in iMacs or some other product.

In both cases, no need for 1.6 units anymore. In the first scenario, a hundred Macrumor members slit their throats. In the second scenario, I get a new G5.

[edesignuk]

Originally Posted by marco114

I don't think we'll see 3ghz for some time.

I think you may be right, but I hope you're wrong! If we don't see them soon then we all know that Apple is full of sh*t!!!! And that they shouldn't make promises they can't keep.

[ibjoshua]

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

[virividox]

its about time 4 an upgrade

[tazznb]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

The 1.6 has a different logic, etc that gives it a max capacity of 4GB ram; so those machines need to go.

I'm sure the innards of the available 1.8, and 2.0 can be switched with the higher specs without too much trouble, and time consumption, therefore those 1.8, and 2.0 can be placed inside the awaiting G5 iMacs.

[sinisterdesign]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

i would LOVE steve to pull out the 3GHz & be able to say, "didn't think we were going to be able to do it, did'ja?", but i kind of doubt it.

nevertheless, it's GOT to be more than a bump from 2GHz --> 2.2GHz. people would get up & leave WWDC.

also, the higher we get in GHz, the less of a difference a couple hundred MHz makes from the top end machine to the entry level. if you're going from a 700MHz-->833MHz-->1GHz, that's a good percentage of the processor speed difference, but 2.6GHz-->2.8-->3GHz isn't a lot of spread.

anyone else think that the spread will start getting a little wider?
2-->2.4-->3?

[sedarby]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

Exactly what I was thinking. This could be bad news since only the 1.6 is affected. Okay, so 3 ghz is more than likely not going to happen but please let the high end be more than 2.2 ghz!

[TyleRomeo]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

no

[itsa]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

It would be more realistic....but I hope you are wrong!
I was wishing the 2gigers would be the low end after the next update.
At this point I'm thinking we will be lucky to see much of a bump at all.

Why is Apple (the makers of the leading OS) sooooo far behind in prossing speeds?

[Crikey]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

Yes. I expect to see either the above, or a 2.0/2.2/2.4 line, or maybe a single 2.0/dual 2.0/dual 2.2 line. I'm wondering how Apple will fit a dual-G5 at any speed into the $1800ish price slot they like to have at the low end. Even if they have to redesign the 1.6GHz logic board or design a new single-CPU board, I suspect the low-end machine will stay single-CPU.

Of course, I'd be as happy as anyone to be wrong about this. If July dawned with today's dual-2.0GHz around $1800, I'd be super-tempted to buy one.

Waiting for WWDC . . .


Crikey

[aafuss1]

Originally Posted by i_b_joshua

If they're only clearing out the 1.6 machines then doesn't
1.8, 2 and 2.2 look more realistic?

i_b_joshua

Agreed-I'd say:
PM G5 1.8GHz-2x 250GB Sata RAID (many PC's have a RAID SATA config), 512MB (exp. to 8GB),FX5900

PM G5 2.2GHz-2x 250GB Sata RAID (many PC's have a RAID SATA config), 1GB(exp. to 8GB),FX6800 or 9800

[segundo]

Originally Posted by marco114

Here's my guess.. I don't think we'll see 3ghz for some time. 2.2 / 2.4 / DP 2.6

I agree that we won't see 3Ghz for sometime . . . and I think your guesses above will be in the ball park . . . and the 975 rumors are rubbish.

What's more interesting to consider is the amenities the next systems will have. A number of people have pointed out the Express graphics cards are a possibility. ATI will announce their new chips June 3rd and Dell just place a large order for some Express cards to include in their systems. I'd think that Apple would be out in front on new technology like this.

What about hard drives? Prices have been dropping for the 80/160 gig sizes used in the current G5's . . . how large are the next round of drives?

Will the Superdrive finally go dual format? Dual layer?

And honestly? Does any of this matter if the XServes are still at 5-7 before they ship? Yeesh, it's been a long time since they were announced and a decent amount of time since IBM said they were doing better as far as manufactoring was concerned. Will we see some very competitive systems (both Power and iMac) be announced but see execution errors all over again? I certainly hope not.

[ecche]

Originally Posted by segundo

I agree that we won't see 3Ghz for sometime . . .

3Ghz within a year is what the man said and 3Ghz within a year is what we'll get.

[BornAgainMac]

Think of this as your headless Mac. Instead of being a cube, it's a box.

[adamfilip]

Originally Posted by ecche

3Ghz within a year is what the man said and 3Ghz within a year is what we'll get.

I completely agree.

He said 3ghz.. it may be 2 months after wwdc before they start shipping but they will come!

take the man on his word..

[SeaFox]

Originally Posted by segundo

What's more interesting to consider is the amenities the next systems will have. A number of people have pointed out the Express graphics cards are a possibility. ATI will announce their new chips June 3rd and Dell just place a large order for some Express cards to include in their systems. I'd think that Apple would be out in front on new technology like this.

Based on what? Apple's never been out in front on graphics card technology. That's one reason why it's never been a big draw to hardcore gamers. Mac's long came with built-in video systems (for no-driver problem systems, and for proprietary connector strategies). Upgrading was only available via PCI video cards, which weren't nearly as many of as AGP card. Apple went to actual graphics cards then, but they were always a step or two back from the current bus standard. When Apple started shipping G4's with 4x AGP, the PC world was already using 8x.

I see no new graphics bus. But I do see the return of two optical drives, maybe not more internal drives, though. I'm still waiting for Apple to realize if they are going to make your keyboard and mouse USB-only they need to put in more USB ports than the competion. My Dell has six ports and the keyboard and mouse are serial so they don't use any of them.

[nuckinfutz]

Based on what? Apple's never been out in front on graphics card technology.

No remember Apple was shipping the Rage 128 before it was available on the PC. They do have the ability to hit markets first.

When Apple started shipping G4's with 4x AGP, the PC world was already using 8x

Yeah and moving to 8x really gave a HUGE speed increase right? NOT

I'd give Apple probably a 60% chance of going PCI express. I don't see why someone of you are so pessimistic. The typical Taiwanese Mobo still doesn't have PCI-X so Apple is ahead on this one. Looks like there will be PCIe products in the channel for late 2004 early 2005. Apple is aware of this.

[allroy]

for the past year doesn't mean they won't hit 3GHZ. Steve never said there would be incremental updates throughout the year, he said there WILL BE 3GHZ G5's within a year. So you can't gauge progress based on something that might not have been planned.

If Apple was going to just modestly bump up the speed, it WOULD NOT be during WWDC, they would just do it, (Powerbook, eMac, iBook) an updated line is not a major event nor has S.J. ever showcased something at WWDC/Macworld that was a simple update. He knows what was said and would not risk public humiliation on the same stage introducing a 2.2GHZ G5 where he promised 3GHZ. NOtice how I did not say iMac, they will have G5's in them not 90nm but the current 130nm 1.6/1.8GHZ

Another thing is I think you will see 3GHZ shipping first, from a business sense it's stupid not to do it this way. You have people waiting for faster machines and offer them a less expensive one right away, most people will jump on it since they've been waiting and it's available immediately, this will take away from the bottom line. You offer the high end, so you sell them at a higher price point and probably a higher profit margin.

Apple was already been seeing yields in the 2.6GHZ range 2 months or so ago, there was no mention of top end.

[blakespot]

Originally Posted by SeaFox

Based on what? Apple's never been out in front on graphics card technology. That's one reason why it's never been a big draw to hardcore gamers.

The Mac was the debut platform for the Rage 128 and the (at the time) revolutionary GeForce 3. Avail for Mac before PC.


blakespot