Low Power G5 Coming Soon?

[MacRumors]

Think Secret sheds some light on an upcoming processor revision to the 970 line dubbed the AntaresSP, or PowerPC 970GX. This single-core variant of the 970FX will initially come in at speeds around 3GHz and is said to feature 1MB of L2 cache, double what the 970FX processor sports. Like the 970FX, however, the processor will not have any L3 cache. Availability hints are in the early part of 2005, which may make for a possible fit in a PowerBook G5. Availability of the 970MP (multiple core version) is not yet known.

The article goes on to say that if the 970GX is not ready for a PowerBook G5 introduction, that model should receive the low watt, high output previously rumored PowerPC 7448 G4.

[narco]

Uh oh, let the Powerbook G5 discussion begin!

Fishes,
narco.

[TorbX]

finally, looking at 3 ghz.

might see some second hand 2,5 ghz then :-D

[Rincewind42]

Originally Posted by TorbX

finally, looking at 3 ghz.

might see some second hand 2,5 ghz then :-D

If we do see 3Ghz in the new year, I hope we see some faster RAM too - PC3200 is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

[stockscalper]

The problem with the dual core chip that is supposed to go into the Powerbook is that it won't be availble for production until the 3rd QTR of '05. Something's got to give, because the Powerbook will be long in the tooth by the first of the year and due for an upgrade.

[howard]

things are looking up...

i'm going to need a new laptop computer sometime in 2005, looks like it will be a good year for them!!

excellent... now if i can just hold out till it actually gets the G5

[Surreal]

I am starting a special interest groups to lobby against the introduction of the G5 Powerbook.

Not really... but i would like to lobby against DEMANDING that the freakin thing come out. i want it to man....i want it too

[MacinDoc]

From my understanding of the article, the 970 GX SP expected in Q1 2005 is not the same as the low-power 970 IBM is working on for the PowerBook (which, according toThinkSecret, is in development at 1.6-1.8 GHz). However, it looks promising for 3 GHz Power Macs at WWDC 2005, exactly one year late, according the Steve's initial promise. Maybe even a Rev B iMac G5, depending on heat output.

[Lord Blackadder]

Now we're talking.

Everybody's been waiting for some news on where the G5s go next, this sounds good. New G5s, yay!

[gola]

The problem is that a 1.6 og 1.8 Mhz G5 is not that big a difference from todays G4 as long as the applications are not up for 64 bit processing. But the word G5 itself will still sell a hell of a lot of machines.

I wonder what changes to the casing of the machine will be done? Hopefully they will leave the white/silver square-minimalist style and go back to some beautiful black curves like my old powerbook G3!

[russed]

does someone whish to tell me what it means not having any L3 cache?

will it hinder it?

[combatcolin]

...and watch those PB owners moan....

As reliable as the Earth going round the Sun.

[deputy_doofy]

I look forward to a PB G5 but am not in a rush for one. I wanted it to truly be ready and not have a tons of problems.
I had my iBook 600 (G3) for 2 years and as of NEXT November (2005), I'll have had my PB 1Ghz for 2 years. Will I be trading it for a newer model? We'll see what Apple is offering by then.

[budugu]

i doubt if they will leave the minimalist style! but anyway it is nice. I too wish they change the styling though! I should be able to distinguish my new powerbook from the old .

I am sure what i would like to have a Dual core G4 or a G5 in my new powerbook (some time in AUG'05)?

[GonzoRob]

Originally Posted by combatcolin

...and watch those PB owners moan....

As reliable as the Earth going round the Sun.

i dont own a PB .. but im moaning Im starting a job in a week that needs a laptop (not essential .. but v.helpful) but i cant bring myself to buy the current models
this waiting is killing me

im just hoping for a 13.3" screen that would be sweet
*sigh* ... ok , this isnt a powerbook thread , so i should shutup now

Rob

[combatcolin]

Originally Posted by russed

does someone whish to tell me what it means not having any L3 cache?

will it hinder it?

As the Bus speeds on the new Macs are much, faster than the old G4/imacs there simply isn't the need for L3 cache.

If for example you look at the iMac, from 167Mhz to 600Mhz.

Big performance leap there.

[Yamson]

So how is it that IBM make make a LOW POWER version of the G5 that starts around 3GHz, but they can't get a good version of a higher-powered G5 that runs around the same speed? It seems unreasonable to me to think that a 3GHz PowerBook G5 will be available before or even at the same time as a 3GHz PMG5.

Am I mistaken here???

[JoePike]

I don't care what processor they put in the Powerbook anymore. All I care about is that they do it sooner than later. As soon as a PB tops 2.0 ghz, I'll buy one. Hopefully Steve's keynote at the conference in January?

-Joe

[AmigoMac]

Bring the *hottie* ... 120 GB, 128 VRAM, 1GB RAM, AE, BT, FW800...
13" 15" 17" !!!

[Rincewind42]

Originally Posted by gola

The problem is that a 1.6 og 1.8 Mhz G5 is not that big a difference from todays G4 as long as the applications are not up for 64 bit processing. But the word G5 itself will still sell a hell of a lot of machines.

Not true at all. Even the old 1.6 Ghz G5 fairs favorably against most of the G4 line. 64-bit processing is hardly used at all currently. Optimizing for the G5 will of course improve things, but still the G5 is generally a much more powerful CPU than the G4.

[macridah]

i can't stand all these powerbook G5 teasing. january will be an interesting month anxious mac fans. i hope the next powerbook will use G5's, not dual core G4's. While I'm at it, I also hope the next iMac revisions will have a faster bus speed.

[Lebannen]

From the impression I got when I read this story over the weekend, MacInDoc is correct - the ThinkSecret article does NOT refer to a low-power variant. In fact, near the end they say:

"Low-power versions of the PowerPC 970 intended for use in the PowerBook G5 remain in development at speeds between 1.6GHz and 1.8GHZ, but little else is known."

The 970GX is the upcoming dual-core version of the 970FX - two processing cores in one "processor", which is almost like having two processors in one. This AntaresSP is the single-core version of that chip, so essentially a newer version of the G5s currently out on the market.

The benefits over the dual-core version would be less power usage, less heat, and cheaper - so suitable for iMacG5 use, say, or a low-end tower.

russed, the lack of level 3 cache does mean less performance than having a L3 cache; on the other hand, it's cheaper. The current G5s don't have a L3 cache either.

[combatcolin]

Originally Posted by GonzoRob

i dont own a PB .. but im moaning Im starting a job in a week that needs a laptop (not essential .. but v.helpful) but i cant bring myself to buy the current models
this waiting is killing me

im just hoping for a 13.3" screen that would be sweet
*sigh* ... ok , this isnt a powerbook thread , so i should shutup now

Rob

Christ that was a quick reply!!!
Anyway, just get a mid-ranged iBook - much cheapness.

I too stared a new job recently and am waiting for the next Rev PM.
(If i pay off £200 a month on credit card i should easily make room for one)

[gekko513]

The good news is that either way (Freescale or low-power G5) the PowerBook will get a processor with a faster front-side bus. It's about time.

[Rincewind42]

Originally Posted by russed

does someone whish to tell me what it means not having any L3 cache?

The L3 cache is basically another place near the CPU where it can keep data that it may need again soon. Generally additional levels of cache are only useful if memory/bus is sufficiently slower than the CPU, or if the CPU is always working on very large data sets. There could be cases where the G5 would benefit from an L3 cache, but since the bus is so fast and the rumored 970GX will have a larger L2 cache the situations where this is true are far fewer than with the G4.