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90nm PowerPCs Arrive
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I think we can expect PowerMac updates in the very near future. Steve usually doesn't announce speed bumps in his keynotes, only new form factors. Don't forget the rumors Apple Insider has been giving us.
As for the vents, I'd say Apple is probably playing it safe. It's bad karma to have your Xserves die because they got too hot. And just because it has 8 fans, doesn't mean they all run full speed. They are probably low speed fans to keep the server quiet.
As for the vents, I'd say Apple is probably playing it safe. It's bad karma to have your Xserves die because they got too hot. And just because it has 8 fans, doesn't mean they all run full speed. They are probably low speed fans to keep the server quiet.
Well, if you watched the Keynote, at the beginning when Jobs talked about this being an exciting year, he seemed very sincere. Not like it was just some catch phrase, but that he really meant it. I don't know, that's something I thought I noticed. It also seemed like he really was pumped about how Apple is doing which leads me to believe that Dec. was a really good month for them and that sales are increasing....and not only with ipods. The G5 Xserve will fly off "the shelves" so to speak when schools start to figure out that in 15 racks they could have a top 5 supercomputer. (I think it only takes 13 to match the VT computer? 84 processors per 42U rack...). If I were a research institution (I'm at one) I'd buy those NOW.
The Virginia Tech supercomputer has 1100 dual 2 GHz G5's.
It would take 47 racks to fit 1100 dual 2 GHz G5 Xserves, with space left over. With RAIDs, UPS's, and such included, you can easily see a 50-rack job or more.
100 racks would be a nice job
It would take 47 racks to fit 1100 dual 2 GHz G5 Xserves, with space left over. With RAIDs, UPS's, and such included, you can easily see a 50-rack job or more.
100 racks would be a nice job
Next step PowerPC 980
When the next generation G5 chip arrives, the PPC 980, we'll see G5 PowerBooks. The current chip, the 970, is a modified server chip with performance as the number one priority. The 980 is going to be an intelligent CPU, one that can slow or even shut off execution units that aren't in use. That should cut the power consumption and heat generation in half.
At the same time the 980 includes performance improvements in both subtle design areas and brute force ones like the amount of on-chip cache. Early reports from IBM insiders suggest the 980 is 50% faster than the 970 at the same clock speed. If true that means the 980 will be a bigger step up from the current G5 than the G5 is above the G4. Wow!
When the next generation G5 chip arrives, the PPC 980, we'll see G5 PowerBooks. The current chip, the 970, is a modified server chip with performance as the number one priority. The 980 is going to be an intelligent CPU, one that can slow or even shut off execution units that aren't in use. That should cut the power consumption and heat generation in half.
At the same time the 980 includes performance improvements in both subtle design areas and brute force ones like the amount of on-chip cache. Early reports from IBM insiders suggest the 980 is 50% faster than the 970 at the same clock speed. If true that means the 980 will be a bigger step up from the current G5 than the G5 is above the G4. Wow!
so what does it mean when apple says there are 42U racks? that doesn't seem too far fetched. 1U=1.75" so that's 6.125' tall. So if you can fit 42 Xserve G5's in one rack, and with 2 processors per Xserve, that's 84 processors per rack. So 1100/84 is 13.09. That translates to 13 Racks and 4 extra 1U slots. So 14 Racks would hold the VT cluster. Now that's a compact SOB.
How bout that old rumor that ibm was producing 90nm 970's at 2.0, 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6Ghz , this could turn out to be true, the 2.2 would then hopefully become the low end PowerMac since the 2.0 went into the xserve. This falls right in line with 3Ghz by summer. 2.6 Ghz would deifinitely keep us on track to our ultimate goal of making Intel and AMD look like the pinto of the CPU market.
The Virginia Tech cluster has 1100 *computers*, all of which are dual-processor. That leaves us with 2200 processors. The correct math is 1100/42, or 2200/84.
Seriously, what is wrong with Apple? If the 90nm chips are ready, why the **** did they not release updated PowerMacs or PowerBooks? Who cares about the XServes? I know the answer--no one. This MacWorld was the most disappointing I can ever remember. They released nothing that most people will be interested in. The new iPods are a ridiculous rip-off. $249 for only 4gb or $300 for 15gb? That's a no-brainer! What kind of idiot would buy the new iPod?!? At the most, it should cost $199, and $149 would have been even better.
I don't care about GarageBand, and I'm pretty sure not very many other people will, either. What a waste of time and money for Apple engineers. So the only thing of interest at Macworld is bad news--now I have to pay for iPhoto! Yippee! Way to go Apple. I only use two of your iApps, iTunes and iPhoto, and now I have to pay for a whole suite of useless junk like GarageBand and iDVD just to get one program I want. At least sell them separately for $10 or something.
I don't care about GarageBand, and I'm pretty sure not very many other people will, either. What a waste of time and money for Apple engineers. So the only thing of interest at Macworld is bad news--now I have to pay for iPhoto! Yippee! Way to go Apple. I only use two of your iApps, iTunes and iPhoto, and now I have to pay for a whole suite of useless junk like GarageBand and iDVD just to get one program I want. At least sell them separately for $10 or something.
My hands go together with the introduction of a 90nm core for the G5 Xserve. Yes that machice is very hot, hence the large amout of fans. Also just remember that you don't just have 1 xserve, but a whole stack, hence a whole lot more heat.
Come on AMD the Bar has been Raised.
Also that means that Apple have chips on 180nm, 130nm and 90nm cores.
haha, oh yeah, duh! i always forget something. Well, still, that's only 28 racks....hmmmm, not bad!
Xserve got the 90 nm first so they could fill that gap. 90 nm production is less than a month old and now is not the time to kill current inventories with a system wide G5 announcement.
I think the PM (and, hopefully, iMac) will get the 90 nm as soon as production is ramped up and sufficient quantities are available for assembly - and old inventory reduced.
I have a feeling that IBM has been working very hard with Apple to maximize their G5 business and will be making some sweet deals in order to shift as much as possible to the G5.
I think the PM (and, hopefully, iMac) will get the 90 nm as soon as production is ramped up and sufficient quantities are available for assembly - and old inventory reduced.
I have a feeling that IBM has been working very hard with Apple to maximize their G5 business and will be making some sweet deals in order to shift as much as possible to the G5.
I think dual G5 PBs is overkill and not necessary right now - a single G5 would be more than powerful enough. The current line up of G4 PBs is actually quite impressive and have plenty of power to burn.
Now that 90nm is out, I'm thinking we'll see PM updates in the upcoming weeks for sure. And this paves the way for G5 iMacs and G5 PBs, probably this spring or summer - can't wait!
Jamdr is right nice that Xserve got a G5 how many of those are going to be sold this year compared to how many G5 Imacs could be sold if they had one? Consumers outnumber the pro's by 100-1. Apple should focus on selling to the consumer but instead they focus on not stepping on other Macs they make toes so in effect they try to market old technology( slow old G4's, geforce 4mx,slow busses,1/2 used ram, non upgradeable machines to the consumer and then they wonder why they are still at 5% market share. Great they are a leader in MP3 players, what about consumer computers? In Feb 2001 you could buy a Imac with the same speed as Powermac 500mhz. i guess Imac/Emac can look for more hand me downs and Apple will make sure those hand me downs will be reduced in some ways so again they dont compete with Powermacs or Much else. 90nm 970's are Great but the Machine that needs them the most is Imac. Just give it the 2.0 G5. Oh well maybe they will get this one day. Here's to waiting.
you told me they would be out today, fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. How is that hand your munching on?
Anyone else notice Steve said our FIRST 20th Anniversary product is a poster.
What's the second?
Apple memory cheaper than Crucial's?
I never thought I'd see this, so something must be mistaken: Either
a) there's an error somewhere, or
b) Apple's selling memory chaper than Crucial. yeah, right!
Single Processor Version & Cluster Node:
XServe with 4x1Gig RAM: add $1700
XServe with 6x1Gig RAM: add $1950
XServe with 8x1Gig RAM: add $2350
so 4x1Gig = $650
Crucial sells each 1Gig for $399, so 4x1Gig = $1596
Dual Processor Version (more base RAM):
XServe with 4x1Gig RAM: add $1450
XServe with 6x1Gig RAM: add $1700
XServe with 8x1Gig RAM: add $2100
I never thought I'd see this, so something must be mistaken: Either
a) there's an error somewhere, or
b) Apple's selling memory chaper than Crucial. yeah, right!
Single Processor Version & Cluster Node:
XServe with 4x1Gig RAM: add $1700
XServe with 6x1Gig RAM: add $1950
XServe with 8x1Gig RAM: add $2350
so 4x1Gig = $650
Crucial sells each 1Gig for $399, so 4x1Gig = $1596
Dual Processor Version (more base RAM):
XServe with 4x1Gig RAM: add $1450
XServe with 6x1Gig RAM: add $1700
XServe with 8x1Gig RAM: add $2100
Re: Re: 90nm PowerPCs Arrive
Those blowers are for the whole system. Keeping everything cool in a chassis that small is no small task.
Look at it this way, there's one less fan than in the PowerMac G5.
Also, note that this appears to be the first version of these chips. The "should" in that post refers to future chips.
Those blowers are for the whole system. Keeping everything cool in a chassis that small is no small task.
Look at it this way, there's one less fan than in the PowerMac G5.
Also, note that this appears to be the first version of these chips. The "should" in that post refers to future chips.
Re: Re: Re: 90nm PowerPCs Arrive
Yeah, I'm being facetious. But I think it actually does have 9 fans. One for the PSU.
Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Those blowers are for the whole system. Keeping everything cool in a chassis that small is no small task.
Look at it this way, there's one less fan than in the PowerMac G5.
Also, note that this appears to be the first version of these chips. The "should" in that post refers to future chips.
Yeah, I'm being facetious. But I think it actually does have 9 fans. One for the PSU.
Re: Re: Re: Re: 90nm PowerPCs Arrive
Without pulling one apart, all I can go on is what's listed on Apple's site. Do they count the PSU fan on the PowerMac?
Without pulling one apart, all I can go on is what's listed on Apple's site. Do they count the PSU fan on the PowerMac?