Apple Releases Dual Core PowerMac G5s

[caccamolle]

The Quad is very interesting and new but the rest are Lame, Apple has removed two chips for one and same goes for the Cooling system so where is the beef? Sure this is cheaper for Apple to make but what did the consumer get that the older models didnt offer. All of these updates really go to show the problems apple is having with the CPU makers IBM/Motoscale.

you get it. And that's that.

I think that Apple is also to blame though, at least in part, at least for not being more prepared to face a situation that is not entirely unlikely, that is, mainly IBM failure to achieve a timely evolution of its processors.

 

[JW8725]

Ok how long before this is seconded to the Intel macs? 6 months? I'm temped on the Quad mutha but I'll wait patiently till the switch over. BTW where can one find technical specification on the new powermacs? My apple site wont refresh??

 

[aafuss1]

And the 7800GT-but not GTX, Quadros (finally and with Stero 3D)

 

[JW Pepper]

EOL products are always the best, just as a car goes out of production the manufacturers load them with extras and the deal looks great. From what I can see these new machines should make anyonme happy who buys them, great processors, PI express and a really good graphics card as standard as well as a decent DVD burner. For once it seems that Apple are not sandbagging to save money, these machiones are loaded. I just hope that this policy will continue, and filter down the product range to some extent.

I would like to see intergrated video cams in the next itteration of books just as we have seen in some Sony's.

 

[Makosuke]

The Quad is very interesting and new but the rest are Lame, Apple has removed two chips for one and same goes for the Cooling system so where is the beef? Sure this is cheaper for Apple to make but what did the consumer get that the older models didnt offer. All of these updates really go to show the problems apple is having with the CPU makers IBM/Motoscale.

Hmm... well, the speed should be identical with (at least in theory) somewhat less cooling and power requirements, but they've added PCI-e slots, EEC RAM (RAWK!), double the RAM capacity (quadruple at the bottom end), FINALLY a workstation-grade graphics card, and a bonus ethernet port that most people will probably never use but'll be great for low-budget servers (really, the G5 tower is now a totally viable server machine).

Speed wise there's no improvement, but the architecture now looks like a real workstation. At the bottom in particular there's no more "iMac in a G5 case"--you get all 8 EEC RAM slots and the full compliment of PCI-e for the same price as before. That's double the RAM slots, better expansion, and a far beefier motherboard for exactly the same price--nice upgrade, making it a totally viable pro machine again.

I really wish that the nVidia 7800 GT was a BTO option like they claim it is on their website. It's the only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger, I'm not spending $1650 on a 4500 FX that I don't really need, I'm not buying a PM to be used as a workstation.

If you really want a new computer now, why not just get the 6600 for now and buy an add on 7800GT or ATI Xwhateveristhebest in a bit when Mac-compatible PCI-e versions become available. No doubt it's only a matter of time, and that gets you a nice machine now with a speed boost later.

 

[Bakerman]

BTW, the specs say ONE Firewire 800 port, but I swear I see two here:

(From the Design page)

I see, from top to bottom:

Dual ethernet
Modem
FW 400
Dual FW 800? Am I crazy?
Audio I/O
Three USB

(And on the front: headphones, another USB, and another FW 400. That makes the total 4 USB and 2 FW 400, as the specs state.)

Those aren't FW800. The FW800 port is where you thought the modem is (there is no built-in modem). From the top, it's:
Dual ethernet
FW 800
FW 400
Digital audio I/O
Audio I/O
Three USB

/Erik

 

[phd]

Goddammit I'm so pissed right now...saved up for months to buy a Dual 2.7 Ghz Power Mac back in April (although it took a whole month to arrive but that's another story) thinking it would last...and now this a few months later. Apple have screwed me and many others again....70% performance advantage over yesterdays "top of the line" mac!!! But still we buy their products! If you're listening Jobs, offer to buy mine back and give me a mega discount on a quad, that will make me happy.

Bummer... you should have waited like I did. It was painful but well worth the wait

Just got my confirmation # WOO HOO Duel Duel 2.5.... Sheesh I have more waiting to do.. 3 to 5 weeks

 

[VanMac]

IDoesn't seem fair really...to reiterate, if Apple, or some other reputable firm offered a part exchange system I'd use it!

It's called eBay.

 

[w_parietti22]

Aaaa... perfect....

PS- and thats w/o a display!!!

 

[nagromme]

Man, all of these announcements is going to make next year kind of slow. I mean, the only thing to see now is the first Mactel, which I think will be the mini and iBooks. But these dual core's will have to hold over until 2007.

Don't be so sure. If PowerMacs (and/or iMac) stay PPC through 2007 then there WILL be more updates to them of some kind.

But PowerMacs do not HAVE to wait for 2007. Steve said the transition would be done BY some time in 2007. Doesn't mean they can't make the move sooner. I'm sure many factors will go into that decision, and the schedule is not finalized THAT far in advance.

Besides, I'd expect the XServe might be the last to change--it might wait until 2007 while the PowerMac changes in late 2006.

The end of this year HAS been fun, but I think next year will be the most exciting ever. The Intel transition will be bumpy (no helping that--it's worth it). It will also be exciting, especially on the laptop front. And we'll start to get tidbits about OS X 10.5 Leopard too. And then there's the "digital lifestyle" side. The folks that brought us iPod, iTMS, AirTunes, iSight, etc. may have more non-Mac surprises in store for 2007. Lastly, there's software. Aperture isn't the last big app from Apple, and iLife is likely to get some fun additions too.

 

[Hyde]

OMG

FINALLY - I have been holding out on upgrading for the Dual 3.0's FOREVER. The Quad isn't much of a compromise. I will buy one today - and be BLOWN AWAY by its performance... because I am still on my trusty Dual 500Mhz w/ 1.5GB of RAM from back in the day

Since they are using the Dual 2.7Ghz as a BASELINE - imagine the difference a guy like me is going to notice lol. I can't freakin' wait!

 

[Kid Red]

Well, I just order the dual core 2.3 and 23" LCD. I hope this thing is fast and that it doesn't have any of the bugs (chirping) the previous models had.

I assume it will be faster then my dual gig, but will it be quieter?

 

[Mr Maui]

and for US$ 21.999 you can bring home your top of the line, (16G Ram 1TB hard drive) quad!

Funny ... but I tried the same thing. Just had to know what it would cost.

 

[shawnce]

The low and mid end G5s remain essentially unchanged. Great support for 16GB of RAM but the most anyone is ever really going to need is 4GB.

Basically unchanged?

1MB L2 cache per core
...compared to old...
512KB L2 cache per core

PCI Express (1x 16 lane - basically for video, 1x 8 lane, 2x 4 lane... all full length slots)
...compared to old...
PCI-X / AGP (1x 133MHz, 2x 100 MHz, and 8x AGP)

533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-4200)
...compared to old...
400MHz DDR SDRAM (PC-3200)

Option for ECC memory
...compared to old...
No such option

2x gig ethernet
...compared to old...
1x gig ethernet (without taking up PCI slot)


etc...

 

[harveypooka]

Oorrggggghhh. Lovely. Powerbooks are a bit of a no go though...suppose a nicer screen and better HD and graphics...shame no 2ghz G4.

 

[slu]

Can someone help me understand the need for two ethernet ports on a server? I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what the use would be. And I know that all (most) server class machines have them.

 

[Mr Maui]

Oorrggggghhh. Lovely. Powerbooks are a bit of a no go though...suppose a nicer screen and better HD and graphics...shame no 2ghz G4.

Got my new 15" PB anyway ... cheaper and better than the ones from yesterday's Apple Store.

 

[nagromme]

Those aren't FW800. The FW800 port is where you thought the modem is (there is no built-in modem). From the top, it's:
Dual ethernet
FW 800
FW 400
Digital audio I/O
Audio I/O
Three USB

Thanks--and to the others who answered too. (The dangers of asking a Q in a popular thread ) I thought optical audio was handled like on the iMac. Now I know

I think that Apple is also to blame though, at least in part, at least for not being more prepared to face a situation that is not entirely unlikely, that is, mainly IBM failure to achieve a timely evolution of its processors.

Apple has put massive research, time, and dollars into preparing for exactly that event--which has been coming true. They've been programming OS X on Intel for five years! Long before it was needed. All that work "just in case." And good thing, too--now we need it! Apple IS prepared. Nothing Apple could do would make the transition simple, but with Rosetta and a gradual transition, the impact on users is lessened. I'd say they are VERY prepared.

 

[devman]

you get it. And that's that.

I think that Apple is also to blame though, at least in part, at least for not being more prepared to face a situation that is not entirely unlikely, that is, mainly IBM failure to achieve a timely evolution of its processors.

You mean like more prepared than secretly having a separate team maintain the OS in parallel for Intel - for at least 4 years! And then also have that team raise defects at other components that would affect cross-platform (but without giving the game away).

 

[joecool85]

Goddammit I'm so pissed right now...saved up for months to buy a Dual 2.7 Ghz Power Mac back in April (although it took a whole month to arrive but that's another story) thinking it would last...and now this a few months later. Apple have screwed me and many others again....70% performance advantage over yesterdays "top of the line" mac!!! But still we buy their products! If you're listening Jobs, offer to buy mine back and give me a mega discount on a quad, that will make me happy.

How can you be angry that they updated their products. Especially 6 MONTHS after you bought it? What did you expect, Apple never update the PM? Come on now. Grow up. Your machine is still great.

 

[shawnce]

How can you be angry that they updated their products. Especially 6 MONTHS after you bought it? What did you expect, Apple never update the PM? Come on now. Grow up. Your machine is still great.

I think he is joking... note the last smily, the one with the tongue.

 

[SiliconAddict]

VERY nice updates but why no 6800 GPU's?!?!

 

[plinden]

Aaaa... perfect....
{$17,724}
PS- and thats w/o a display!!!

You may as well just add everything else in. Two 30" displays, FC Express + Motion 2, Fibre Channel card, wireless mouse/keyboard and Applecare brings it to $25,375 or $21,602 education.

 

[andiwm2003]

Originally Posted by Dont Hurt Me
The Quad is very interesting and new but the rest are Lame, Apple has removed two chips for one and same goes for the Cooling system so where is the beef? Sure this is cheaper for Apple to make but what did the consumer get that the older models didnt offer. All of these updates really go to show the problems apple is having with the CPU makers IBM/Motoscale.

you get it. And that's that.

I think that Apple is also to blame though, at least in part, at least for not being more prepared to face a situation that is not entirely unlikely, that is, mainly IBM failure to achieve a timely evolution of its processors.

I think that Apple is also to blame though, at least in part, at least for not being more realistic and reduce the price for the single dual cores. they seemed to be overpriced before and they are overpriced for the speed they offer now.

 

[QCassidy352]

can i just ask the guy whose church had a dual 2.7 stolen... what does a church do with a top of the line dual G5??