Apple: Quad-Core Processors in New Macs

[longofest]

If you look at Apple's Mac Pro page, it claims that the Mac Pro is "Quad Core". And remember the Power Mac G5 "Quad"?

This is just marketing. While I agree that it is dubious of Apple to use these terms interchangeably and muddy the waters like that, in this case, Apple is talking about the total numbers of cores in the system rather than the cores per chip.

EDIT: I see that they explicitly say "quad core processors" in the ad. I still think that is a marketing slip-up rather than anything else, due to Apple's heavy use of the "Quad Core" term in other references to their pro desktop products.

 

[twoodcc]

i think it's a slip-up.....and they are coming soon

 

[bearbo]

No, they are not talking in fine-grained technicalese in advertisements. They don't do that. "Quad-core Intel processors" is just shorthand to address the fact that one of their product lines happens to have four cores in it. It's not bait-and-switch, it's simplification. You guys will just grasp at any straw, won't you..

Quad-core intel processors is a long way from a product with 4 cores in it.

gimME a break

Gimme a break. Of course we all know quad-core processors in Mac Pros are a matter of time; I am not contesting that, I'm contesting the idea that this silly little ad has anything to do with it.

apple is simply being very not careful in this case, just like the UK leak... and this is simply not the right thing to do, ethically or legally.

if they don't offer quad-core processor, don't advertise for it

 

[brianus]

If you look at Apple's Mac Pro page, it claims that the Mac Pro is "Quad Core". And remember the Power Mac G5 "Quad"?

This is just marketing. While I agree that it is dubious of Apple to use these terms interchangeably and muddy the waters like that, in this case, Apple is talking about the total numbers of cores in the system rather than the cores per chip.

QED, ma brotha

 

[bearbo]

If you look at Apple's Mac Pro page, it claims that the Mac Pro is "Quad Core". And remember the Power Mac G5 "Quad"?

This is just marketing. While I agree that it is dubious of Apple to use these terms interchangeably and muddy the waters like that, in this case, Apple is talking about the total numbers of cores in the system rather than the cores per chip.

Mac pro's page does say quad core, but it only says dual-core processor when they refer to processor... they have not refer to anything as quad-core processor anywhere else except the CS3's page

 

[belovedmonster]

Theres only 3 letters of the alphabet anyone need remember when it comes to the release date of the new quad cores, and those letters are N, A and B.

NAB is when they will release the new pro systems, its as simple as that.

 

[Mr.damien]

Hmm. It's nice to think this is a legitimate slip-up, and we really are expecting quad-core Mac's, but the way I see it... If you call a single Core 2 Duo a dual-core, why wouldn't two of them be quad-core?

Ok, no problem. So If I follow your mind, where are the mac pro dual core ? (ie with only one CPU )

 

[brianus]

Quad-core intel processors is a long way from a product with 4 cores in it. gimME a break

A technical fact which the average consumer doesn't give a whit about.

apple is simply being very not careful in this case, just like the UK leak... and this is simply not the right thing to do, ethically or legally.

No, it's not "just like the UK leak", because the UK leak was a leak (or a mistake, but I think it was a leak) -- it was information about an upcoming product. This, on the other hand, is just an imprecise description of a current product.

 

[longofest]

Mac pro's page does say quad core, but it only says dual-core processor when they refer to processor... they have not refer to anything as quad-core processor anywhere else except the CS3's page

see my edit above

 

[AidenShaw]

"processor" is ambiguous.

They don't do that. "Quad-core Intel processors" is just shorthand to address the fact that one of their product lines happens to have four cores in it. It's not bait-and-switch, it's simplification.

The terms "CPU" and "Processor" are ambiguous - for example, you use "CPU affinity" tools to assign threads to cores.

"Core" and "socket" are unambiguous.

Unless you look very, very closely at internal structures - you can't tell if a dual core system has two single core sockets or a single dual-core socket. A "core" is everything that we've always called a "CPU" or a "processor".

Just look at all of the references to the octo-core Mac Pro on these pages - everyone knows that refers to a two socket system with four cores per socket.

Or look at headlines like AnandTech upgrades and tests Octo-Core ‘Clovertown’ Apple Mac Pro.

What's most important is the total number of cores in the system. The number of sockets is much less relevant for performance.

And if we really want to get into mind-numbing pedantics - isn't the octo-core MacPro really a dual-dual-dual MacPro, not a dual-quad MacPro?

 

[Mr.damien]

Fact: in advertisements, technical subtleties are often glossed over.
Fact: if they go with dual quad-cores in the next Mac Pros, they'd be 8-core systems, something Apple would want to trumpet (rather than simply saying, 'quad-core processor' as opposed to 'system')
Fact: Apple is very secretive and tries to avoid releasing product details before they're announced
Conclusion: this ad refers to the current systems only, and means nothing.

FACT: so where are the dual core only Mac Pro ? humm ? Don't see them at the apple store.

 

[bearbo]

A technical fact which the average consumer doesn't give a whit about.

i don't give a whit about what average consumer give a whit about. the fact is apple misused the word "quad-core processor" and is not right. and the fact is apple mislead the consumer, average or not, intentionally or not

No, it's not "just like the UK leak", because the UK leak was a leak (or a mistake, but I think it was a leak) -- it was information about an upcoming product. This, on the other hand, is just an imprecise description of a current product.

you honestly think this is NOT a mistake?
it's INACCURATE (NOT IMPRECISE), but that doesn't make not a mistake
and it's inaccurate enough, that it's a description of a upcoming product.

see my edit above

while i agree that they didn't intentionally say that "oh, we have the quad-core processor, aka octo core mac, come here and buy one", but they did make sounding very close to that.
and also i'm more or less trying to let brianus see that Quad-core processor is NOT currently offered my Apple in Mac Pro or any Apple product, and saying Quad-core processor is not equivalent as saying a product w/ 4 of those cores in there

 

[Small White Car]

I find your conclusion to be wrong. We all know that it's only a matter of time before we get quad-core processors in Macs, so why is it so hard to admit that they might have had a case of "premature specification" here? It wouldn't be the first time.

Because IF it was really "premature specification" it would say 8-core system!

Do you really think that the day the 8-core MacPros come out they're NOT going to call them that? Of course not...the number "8" will be all OVER the damn page, I am sure.

This is just sloppy writing, not "premature anything."

 

[Mgkwho]

People should call up Apple and ask them about it...I want to know what they say.

-=|Mgkwho

 

[Zwhaler]

I can't see two dual core Meroms in any of the low end macs, I think this is a misunderstanding, just like that thing that said "Meet the new Macs" which turned out to be nothing. Well I thought this meant that all macs will have a quad core option, but I think this is a reference to the Mac Pro.

 

[4np]

Quadcore MacBook Pro's! Nah... is not gonna happen

 

[Tehy]

Interesting... I'm sure we will see upgrade soon

 

[sinisterdesign]

yup, dual quad cores are coming soon. i believe it will be called "Oct", but that just looks like an abbv for October to me. hmmm.

i still vote for an eight-core Mac Pro & Leopard combined promo entitled "Octopussy". think jobs will go for it?!?

 

[Lynxpro]

Fact: in advertisements, technical subtleties are often glossed over.
Fact: if they go with dual quad-cores in the next Mac Pros, they'd be 8-core systems, something Apple would want to trumpet (rather than simply saying, 'quad-core processor' as opposed to 'system')
Fact: Apple is very secretive and tries to avoid releasing product details before they're announced
Conclusion: this ad refers to the current systems only, and means nothing.

But why stop at 8 core systems? Why not have a special version of the Mac Pro with 4 processor slots on it for a total of 16 cores? I would think that would be a step in getting even more attention from the pro market...

Hell, once IBM/Sony start cranking out higher yields for the Cell processor, a Cell processor(s) daughter card/expansion card would also probably be a success for multimedia applications and scientific data crunching...not to mention running PS3 games.

 

[SeanMcg]

Nope, changed. Someboday at Apple reads this site

it still says quad-core

See image

 

[wildmac]

Theres only 3 letters of the alphabet anyone need remember when it comes to the release date of the new quad cores, and those letters are N, A and B.

NAB is when they will release the new pro systems, its as simple as that.

Nope four letters. WWDC. or MWSF

 

[bearbo]

See image

you aren't looking at the right place

 

[zebra451]

Quad core Mini!

Quad core Mini!
AWESOME! I can't wait. Now that will be one screamin' machine!

 

[Thor74]

Well, this settled it. I became tired of the waiting/guessing game, and just purchased a used single 1.8 G5 for about $800 to get me by in my home office until the new Mac Pros finally (I want to say here sarcastically "If ever") comes out. My Dual 2.0 G5 is now at the office as the work machine. Sigh, soooo not a big deal, but we Mac nuts like to focus on these thigns I guess. The "get me by" purchase of the older G5 was definate buzz kill.

 

[Clive At Five]

But why stop at 8 core systems? Why not have a special version of the Mac Pro with 4 processor slots on it for a total of 16 cores? I would think that would be a step in getting even more attention from the pro market...

Because the softawre can't effectively use 16 cores.

-Clive