8-Core Mac Pro In January? Displays Too?

[Multimedia]

If The 50" Is Only 1920 x 1080, It Will Likely Be Overpriced

They HAVE to update the displays soon because the 23" panel (LG LM230WU3) used in the 23" Apple Cinema Display is being discontinued in favor of the new 24" panel (LG LM240WU1), which means they have to switch panels. There's also a new 26" panel (LG LM260WU1) with better specs, but I don't know if Apple will use that one.

There's also a new 30" panel (LG LM300WQ1) with better specs (1000:1 contrast ratio, 92% NTSC color gamut), which the HP LP3065 and the Dell 3007WFP-HC are already using, so it seems logical that Apple will be next. The 20" will probably just get a brightness upgrade.

I don't think Apple will release a display larger than 30", but who knows. If they do, it will probably use a 1920x1080 panel. I don't know of any panels larger than 30" with a higher resolution.

True that. I just bought a 6000:1 Contrast CCFL Samsung LN-S4095D 40" 1920 x 1080 HDTV with dual HDMI inputs and PIP including sound swap so my EyeTV Quad G5 can play second tuner to it for only $1680 delivered. I doubt the Apple 50" will sell as cheap. All the updated displays should have a CCFL backlight to fix poor Color Gamut problems print and video pros have had to date.

 

[Grimace]

Before you make a bigger fool of yourself, you might want to go over to the 557 post 8 Core Mac Pro In November Thread to educate yourself on why 8 cores are practical and needed now.

Multimedia, you frequently come across very harshly in most of your posts. That's as nicely as I can word it.

I've read all of that stuff and I even know a little bit about the technology itself (gasp!). For right now, there are very few apps that can use all 8 cores efficiently. I'm not saying that it won't be a faster machine.

 

[Multimedia]

It's About A Multi-Threaded Worlkload of Many Applications At Once Or Multiple Of One

Multimedia, you frequently come across very harshly in your posts. That's as nice as I can word it.

I've read all of that stuff. 8 cores still won't be fully utilized by most apps, even a lot of pro apps. If they are updated soon, great. But for right now, there are very few apps that can use all 8 cores efficiently. I'm not saying that it won't be a faster machine, just not incredibly faster for most people.

Not frequently, occasionally. I apologize. I'm sorry, but it annoys me when someone like you posts how most apps can't use all those cores when the whole point is to be able to use many multiple applications or multiple instances of the same application simultaneously. Moreover, AppliedVisual has recently posted how the 3D applications can be set up to use all 8 cores at once if you understand how to do so - even though it is only built for 2 cores.

 

[dllavaneras]

I hear they are putting those 50" into MBP's

Nope, they'll be in the real video iPods! Your home theater. In your pocket (assuming you have a really big pocket)

And yes, there will always be the need for better hardware I can just dream of folding with 8 cores...

 

[Grimace]

Not frequently, occasionally. I apologize. I'm sorry, but it annoys me when someone like you posts how no apps can use all those cores when the whole point is to be able to use many multiple applications or multiple instances of the same application simultaneously. Moreover, AppliedVisual has recently posted how the 3D applications can be set up to use all 8 cores at once if you understand how to do so - even though it is only built for 2 cores.

I didn't say "no apps". Many/most apps cannot. Multiple applications will benefit - yes. For the sake of the newbies, educate us with more graceful strokes

 

[MrTed]

That's strange, I asked to my source (and what a source !...can't tell...) about a clovertown macpro update, he/she said nothing before spring...

 

[altivec 2003]

The current 30" cinema displays use dual-link DVI connectors and have a resolution of 2560*1600. I did a few calculations, and I found that for a 50" screen to keep the same 8:5 proportions and pixel pitch, the new resolution would have to be something near 4267*2667 (50" monitor should be 42.4" wide by 26.5" tall, while 30" should be about 25.44" wide by 15.9" tall). Is dual-link DVI even capable of supporting such a screen with a typical (60Hz) refresh rate? My brief glance at the wikipedia DVI article suggested that it might not.

Sorry if I've messed up with these computations... it is a bit late. At least one thing's for sure: my Macbook Pro wouldn't be able to drive the monster.

 

[D34thPwny]

Way to many cores for my applications... but who cares! Bring it ON! =)

 

[ChrisA]

the apps have to be coded to see and utilize all those cores. 99% are not.

the 8-core system is targeted at some one who edits video and or multi-track audio.

I don't think applications all need to be re-written to make use of more processor cores. If Apple makes their "core" libraries use multiple cores then all pprogrames that user Core Image can take advantage of 4 or 8 processor cores.

And remember ZFS is coming. ZFS is a file system that really does take advantage of today's excess of CPU power and does on the fly compression, encryption and checksumming.

I'd be very happy if Apple sold a mid-range Mac that had just one dual core Xeon with RAM configurable to 8GB and PCIe based graphic card Just about exactaly 1/2 of a Mac Pro. I'd buy it.

 

[Cepe Indicum]

I know I'm a newbie, and it is a very small point, but isn't it Clovertown not Cloverton?

 

[MacsAttack]

I'd be very happy if Apple sold a mid-range Mac that had just one dual core Xeon with RAM configurable to 8GB and PCIe based graphic card Just about exactaly 1/2 of a Mac Pro. I'd buy it.

Such a design would not need to use a Xeon. The only practical differences between the Xeon and the Conroe desktop Core 2 Duo is that the Xeon is wired up and certified for use in a multi-cpu system (like the Mac Pro).

Using a Conroe Core 2 Duo would also allow the use of mainstream chipset on the logic board, and DDR2 memory - all of which would pull production costs down.

Given the Core 2 Duo's low thermal properties it was a big surprise that Apple never used them in the iMac - they could probably have got away with it even in the small form factor. Apple could have increased margins on the iMac, made them faster, and reduced the price...

Perhaps we will see a redesign that does so in 6 months or so?

 

[brandon6684]

Well 8 core Mac Pros seem like a safe bet, probably 8 core Xserves soon(probably silently with out fanfare for these) too. People need that power, and it's an easy upgrade. With the switch to Intel, I wouldn't be surprised to see more frequent bumps of this type.

As for the 50" display, I'm not so sure, but with the new focus on consumer electronics, I wouldn't be surprised by LCD TVs(but not Plasmas), especially with iTV(or whatever it will be called) around the corner. MacWorld '07 will probably be very consumer electronics and media oriented. I wouldn't be surprised if new Mac Pros are not introduced here, and instead get released later in December with a simple press release.

 

[brandon6684]

Given the Core 2 Duo's low thermal properties it was a big surprise that Apple never used them in the iMac - they could probably have got away with it even in the small form factor. Apple could have increased margins on the iMac, made them faster, and reduced the price...

Perhaps we will see a redesign that does so in 6 months or so?

The desktop Core 2 Duo may have good thermal properties compared to other desktop chips but using the laptop variant was probably a good idea for acoustic reasons. I never hear the fans in my iMac, but I'm guessing that would change if it was the desktop version.

 

[Marx55]

Hopefully:

- The 50-inch display can be used as a plain monitor TV. With iTV perhaps?

- More and more applications become fully multicore and multiprocessor savvy, so that a 8X core Mac will run them near 8X faster than a single core Mac. Great for scientific computing which takes days, weeks or even months on the current 4 core Macs.

Be prepared for 16X to 64X cores by 2008 to 2010.

 

[JackAxe]

My checklist for what I'll be upgrading to in 2007;

- 8 Core Mac.
- Maya 9 UB.
- CS3 Suite
- Flash 9 Pro UB
- FCP Studio
- AE Pro 8 UB
- Painter x

- Empty wallet.

<]=)

 

[tog22]

Hmm, lets see...

If the 8 Core models can bring down a 4 Core model to $2000, that would mean we could see a MP refurb for around $1700, maybe? If that were the case, then one is definitely within my means. It's when a computer breaks the $2K, $2500, and $3K (w/ display) that I start to think there's no way I can afford one before college.

__________________
Apple Macbook | White | 2GHz | 1.25GB | 60GB | SuperDrive |
Toshiba 46" HD | PS3 | | X360 | Wii | Dreamcast |
PSP | DSLite | 30GB iPod|

Maybe you could sell one of your six consoles to help pay?

 

[aswitcher]

Quad core Mac Multimedia is looking more promising to me with this news.

50"...surely a 40" LCD HD TV screen would be more affordable and realistic...

 

[avkills]

Before you make a bigger fool of yourself, you might want to go over to the 557 post 8 Core Mac Pro In November Thread to educate yourself on why 8 cores are practical and needed now.

Yes. Almost every single app I use can utilize what we like to call "Symmetric Multiprocessing".

Anybody that does any content creation at all can and will use the horsepower of 8 cores. 3D rendering it is extremely beneficial. More cores the better. Lightwave can already spawn 8 threads on a single render machine.

-mark

 

[Multimedia]

Can We All Notify Administers & Moderators How To Spell Clovertown Please?

I know I'm a newbie, and it is a very small point, but isn't it Clovertown not Cloverton?

You are correct sir. Someone very high up in the administration of this website has had it wrong since day one and seems to be unwilling to correct their mistake. There was even a thread with the name Cloverton in it that I couldn't get them to fix. I've tried to get them to stop spelling it Cloverton but they insist on not fixing the misspelling.

I just sent them another notice by clicking on the red triangle in the lower left corner of Post #1 of this thread. Perhaps you and others here will do the same until they finally notice their mistake and correct their spelling error?

 

[gnasher729]

You are correct sir. Someone very high up in the administration of this website has had it wrong since day one and seems to be unwilling to correct their mistake. There was even a thread with the name Cloverton in it that I couldn't get them to fix. I've tried to get them to stop spelling it Cloverton but they insist on not fixing the misspelling.

Just tried this: On Google, "Clovertown" has 1.6 million hits, "Cloverton" has about 60,000. On www.intel.com, "Clovertown" has ten hits, and incredibly Cloverton has two!

 

[jellomizer]

These two products and iTV along with previews of Leopard may be the only new things to report at MW. Everyone is expecting the iPhone or the true video iPod, but Steve will most likely focus on iTV and Leopard. The new screens and bigger desktops will compliment the great features of Leopard and eventual release of PS3.

The MacBooks and iMacs are selling well enough along with the iPods that this MW will be geared to the professionals.

Well I am sure Apple is saving the "true video" iPod for when they really need it. Perhaps with Zunes release (although it being a flop) it might be enough to release a system with a bigger screen and higher resolution. I don't expect wireless ability because they still need a wire to charge up though. I really don't see Apple making a Cell Phone, there are way to many of them and a lot of really nice ones, they will be entering an already saturated market. I also expect more on iTV or whatever they will be really calling it. An attempt to make a media center that really work well without having to put a full computer next to your TV will be very nice. Bigger screens OK I guess. But how big do you really need them? Higher Resolution and Brighter Displays are always welcomed. Maybe a case style redesign but who know.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

I didn't say "no apps". Many/most apps cannot. Multiple applications will benefit - yes. For the sake of the newbies, educate us with more graceful strokes

I'd even challenge the "most aps" comment. I'll ask the same question that I've asked others that say things like that: What app's are you using that don't take advantage of multiple cores and/or CPU's?

 

[guzhogi]

I doubt that the 50" display rumor is true. Either the display is going to come out w/ a really low resolution for it's size (maybe a little above the 30") or it's not going to come out for another few months at least. I've heard that the 30" screen is pushing the limits of today's graphics cards in terms of resolution. B/c of that, the only way the 50" can come out is if it has the same resolution meaning you'll be able to see all the individual pixels better making everything look jagged. I don't see the 50" coming out until graphics cards can deliver a much higher resolution (at least 4200 x 2600). Besides, where can you put it?

On the other hand, since it's so big, it'll probably double as a TV. While I find that displays that double as both computer & TV screens have low resolutions for their size, Apple will probably find a way to make it able to have a higher res. I'd like to buy one if it came w/ a good res, saying I got paid at least 20 grand a year more.

Edit: Oops, didn't see altivec 2003's post saying pretty much the same thing.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Monitor prices

I just wish they'd get their LCD prices in line with the competition. I just got a 20" widescreen Dell LCD (model E207WFP) at my work for about $260. Why in the world are Apple's 20" LCD's $699!?!?!
Oh, maybe it's because they're better monitors.... actually, no, the Dell is much better:

• 800:1 contrast vs. 700:1
• 7ms response time vs. 14ms
• HDCP compatibility
• DVI-D & VGA compatibility vs. DVI-D only

Apple's does have a built in Firewire 400 and USB 2 hub and better cable management. (whoop-de-frickin-doo; it's not worth doubling the cost)

 

[Sam0r]

I would be in favour of Apple releasing a range of budget displays.

I don't give a crap about their 'pro' monitors at all, they're not overpriced at all because they're much better than any other flat panel out there due to their specifications (S-PVA or something..), but they're still too expencive for the non-pro consumer market.

I would like to see new apple displays using less 'pro' technology at a much lower price, then I'd buy one.