Apple Releases New PowerMacs

[Colonel Panik]

They've gone from 2x2.0GHz to 2x2.5GHz. That's a 25% increase in chip speed. I don't think that's too bad. But... it would have been nicer to say a 50% increase...

As for the ballywho with graphics cards, I guess the problem is just choice. Perhaps Apple should offer base configurations and let people choose what they need. A true BTO system, not 'variations on a theme'. Then their pricing would be more transparent.

Still, for me it all comes down to being able to get on with the job, and not faffing around trying to get a Dell/Windows system to do what I want.

 

[Rhydon]

30" display

Jeeze, i dont think that would be a wize move for apple. Sacrificing 2 of your monitor outs! Can it even be done? in one display? Ive never herd of that before.....seems like a kindof 'hack-job' on apples behalf.

And as it is, there are already enough cables comming out of the new displays, but then again, what else is there for apple to do? Recall the entire powermac line? lol!

 

[Multimedia]

Wow. Two 1 GB Sticks For $389 Is Such A Deal

It is.

Crucial - Two 1 gig sticks: 389.00

I'm using 2 gigs in my 1.25 G4 right now with it's agonizingly slow FSB.

I can't imagine how well 2 gigs of RAM in a dual 1.8 will do with a 900 Mhz FSB.

Wow! Two 1 GB Sticks For $389 Is Such A Deal. You got a URL for that deal?

 

[zimv20]

seems only 2.5 is 90nm

from here

The new product line does include some new technology in the processor. First introduced in the Xserve, the 2.5GHz G5 now uses the new 90-nanometer processor technology.

if true, i'm thinking i may put off my purchase. maybe.

 

[Bhennies]

from here


if true, i'm thinking i may put off my purchase. maybe.

You know what...I got the same answer from Apple today that the "new" 1.8 and 2.0 are not 90nm chips. I got flamed to hell by people claiming they did have the 90 nm chips. So it seems I may have been right- the 2.0 and 1.8 are old stock chips. This makes sense anyway...I mean, why would apple release a new chip at the same speed? It seems that they could just clock back the 2.5 for the mid and low end...but I guess it wasn't an economical choice for them to put the revised cooling system in the low and mid model. Well...it's irrelevant at this point: I'm getting the 2.5 if anything.

p.s. anybody want to buy a powerbook?

 

[Multimedia]

No. The Display purchase must be at the same time.

Ok...so I think i'm getting a 2.5 ghz with only the bluetooth as BTO. Can I add a display to my order later on to get it wrapped in with apple care if they release the displays later on (shipping by end of July anyway).

No. The Display purchase must be at the same time.

NOTE: BlueTooth + Apple Wireless Keyboard & Mouse option only $100 instead of doing the Bluetooth module for $50 alone. Only $50 more for both the Keyboard and Mouse is about 60% discount from previous cost of $138 for the pair. Tradeoff is you get no wired keyboard and mouse. But I have a ton of those laying around. How 'bout you?

 

[pjkelnhofer]

from here

new product line does include some new technology in the processor. First introduced in the Xserve, the 2.5GHz G5 now uses the new 90-nanometer processor technology.

if true, i'm thinking i may put off my purchase. maybe.

I reread the article you link to several times and couldn't find the quote you pulled anywhere in it.

 

[zimv20]

I reread the article you link to several times and couldn't find the quote you pulled anywhere in it.

hm. it's the last sentence before the section called "Compared to older models"

did you search for the text?

 

[iGary]

Wow! Two 1 GB Sticks For $389 Is Such A Deal. You got a URL for that deal?

Easy, easy...I've been here (at work) for close to 14 hours now...tired.

389.00 per stick.

 

[reyesmac]

People need to think about what they are saying more

People will say about this update: "Stop whining, you can get Apples top of the line 2ghz for $500 less now!". What you are really saying is that after a year of having sold the 2ghz Mac, Apple has decided to bring the price down on their year old technology because they don't sell well at their $3k+ price anymore. Do you think they did this because they love to do such things? They do it cause people don't want to pay up the arse for year old technology!

So what do we have from Apple now? Year old Powermac tech except for one model that won't ship yet. Two year old Powerbook chips. 3 Year old iMac and iBook speeds, and the eMac, which is their cheapest system based on the oldest tech. Out of all of that, the only new thing in terms of technology is a chip that is 500mhz faster. What is wrong with this picture?

The only new thing Apple came out with today is a chip that is 500mhz faster than what they have had for a year. And this new product wont even come out for a month! They messed up, can't people see that? Will we forgive them, sure! But we won't let them do this to us without letting them know that this stinks.

 

[pjkelnhofer]

hm. it's the last sentence before the section called "Compared to older models"

did you search for the text?

I found it now. Weirdest thing, I did a text search for "nanometer" and it didn't come up.
Sorry.

 

[PowerMacMan]

Dude, you should choke out an extra 90.00 now for the 160gb drive, yes?

Congratulations, BTW

Actually, I am going to do this. I was pondering over whether or not I needed the 160 GB, but hey, more is better... Right?

 

[areyouwishing]

K, So I tried to read through the gallons of posts but it just didn't work.

I get the feeling that the 2.5 is overclocked... why else would they liquid cool it?

This update is kinda sad given the fact that apple hasn't updated in a year, and the new system won't be out til july. Apple clearly does not want market share with these updates and killing off the 1699 option.

I could buy THREE emacs at 1.25ghz for $2397 or i can buy ONE dual 2.0 for 2500... with no monitor. Im sorry but thats ridiculous.

 

[zimv20]

I get the feeling that the 2.5 is overclocked... why else would they liquid cool it?

there is something odd about a supposedly cooler-running chip needing such cooling, but i'm a tad skeptical about possible overclocking being the reason. the others aren't water cooled because they're still at 130nm, apparently.

i think it's possible that, once they entire pmac line is at 90nm, they'll all be liquid cooled.

 

[thehuncamunca]

i'm kinda disappointed they didn't keep a single processor G5 so there's a less expensive option for those who don't really need 2 processors but need something faster than the G4

overall not a bad update, should have come earlier the extra video ram in the graphics cards and the processor boast is nice, the 1.8Ghz Dual only having a 4GB limit doesn't seem to be well planned out nor the fact that apple didn't redesign the case slightly to fit additional HD or optical drives

 

[Frohickey]

its not overclocked...
if you were paying attention, you would know that the 2.5GHz are of the 90nm variety of IBM970. With the 90nm variety, the computer chip itself got a bit smaller than the 130nm variety that the original G5s came with.
when you shrink something, and it uses the same amount of power, or a little bit more, you need to cool it faster, hence, the liquid cooling.

 

[Spades]

I have wanted a Powerful Game Machine for a long time.

And you have it right here. Just because it's not the top of the line doesn't mean it's not powerful. Like I said before, take a step back and really consider whether you need that much. People rarely do. The value of getting the latest and greatest video card (for gaming) has always been nothing but bragging rights.

The reasonable rule of thumb in the PC world has been to get the next-to-best card. Looks like that would be the 9800 XT. Or 9600 XT, considering the X800 isn't available for the Mac. Don't bother claiming you'll need the fastest video card for the new games. That's simply not true. Games are made to run on the hardware that people already have, not the hardware that people are buying tomorrow. Doom 3, Far Cry, and Half-life 2 will work just fine on "weak" cards like the 9600 and the 9800. There's no reason to think a PowerMac wouldn't be good enough. Other than the RAM. That 256 MB would need an upgrade.

In any case, if you want to play Far Cry and Half-life 2, do you want a Mac anyways? I wasn't aware those games had been or were going to be ported to the Mac. If those are the games you really want to play, then you should get the PC anyways. And then stop whining here.

 

[adamjay]

I could buy THREE emacs at 1.25ghz for $2397 or i can buy ONE dual 2.0 for 2500... with no monitor. Im sorry but thats ridiculous.

damn good analogy.. it IS ridiculous.

however 3 eMac's would still be a mere 501mhz in the Front Side Bus department, aka the tragedy of Motorola's G4.

unfortunately, i do need the FSB's that the G5's tout, in order to do what i want with Reaktor 4. so if there is a refurbished $1599 or $1699 dual 1.8 G5 in the next 2 months - i will have to buy it

 

[pjkelnhofer]

I could buy THREE emacs at 1.25ghz for $2397 or i can buy ONE dual 2.0 for 2500... with no monitor.

Yeah, you can also buy five Dell Dimension 2400's for the price of one maxed out Dimension XPS. What does that have to do with anything?

 

[MhzDoesMatter]

People will say about this update: "Stop whining, you can get Apples top of the line 2ghz for $500 less now!". What you are really saying is that after a year of having sold the 2ghz Mac, Apple has decided to bring the price down on their year old technology because they don't sell well at their $3k+ price anymore. Do you think they did this because they love to do such things? They do it cause people don't want to pay up the arse for year old technology!

So what do we have from Apple now? Year old Powermac tech except for one model that won't ship yet. Two year old Powerbook chips. 3 Year old iMac and iBook speeds, and the eMac, which is their cheapest system based on the oldest tech. Out of all of that, the only new thing in terms of technology is a chip that is 500mhz faster. What is wrong with this picture?

The only new thing Apple came out with today is a chip that is 500mhz faster than what they have had for a year. And this new product wont even come out for a month! They messed up, can't people see that? Will we forgive them, sure! But we won't let them do this to us without letting them know that this stinks.

Oh please. You aren't letting apple know anything. Apple customer care doesn't read a friggin rumor site message board. Go annoy them already. And then, you'll only hear some 21 year old receptionist ask if you actually bought a computer. If so, "Sit down and shut up" and if not, <dialtone>.


-Hertz

 

[iGary]

The 1.8Ghz Dual only having a 4GB limit doesn't seem to be well planned out.

Every G5 owner with 8 gigs of RAM in their tower raise their hands...


*crickets*


Please.

 

[jsw]

Every G5 owner with 8 gigs of RAM in their tower raise their hands...


*crickets*


Please.

More accurately:

"Every dual-1.8GHz G5 owner with more than 4GB of RAM in their tower raise their hands...


*crickets overwhelming sound of several raised hands amongst a crowd of thousands*


Please."

 

[Mac Kiwi]

I think its official now,Apple cant get Nvidia and ATI or 3d Labs etc to do a deal on Fire GLs,Quadros or Wildcats etc,they just are not interested ,which could be why the machines always have crap cards,as Apple cant admit this for business reasons...

 

[thatwendigo]

I agree with you, right now the 9800XT is the best card availible for the Mac.

Available for what, now? It's not available until the drivers exist and ATI is shipping one, or Apple bundles it into a box.

I keep saying it doesn't make sense to put the top of line card into the a G5, they make to much money on upgrades. When/if the X800 is availible for the Mac, the 9800XT will probably become the standard in the top line and they will still charge you $300 to upgrade.

I still hope that we see the FireGL's return in a few weeks, because that would be even bigger than these processor announcements. Yes, a lot of people are upset that things didn't go as high as they could, but the reality of things is that the current cases look like Apple is positioning itself for some serious runs at new technology. I mean... Liquid cooling? I'll own up to being a naysayer on that, but it looks like Apple found a stable way to do it, and good on them for managing it.

Pro machines need pro tools (no to be confused with ProTools ), and I think Apple could seriously benefit from pushing for more support for nonconsumer parts.

 

[rareflares]

I think you all are forgetting the June 1999 update to the Blue and White G3s. Apple, in June 1999, boosted the speed by 50MHz and changed specifications of it's Blue and White G3s in early June of 1999 as a move to clear inventory. Then, in September 1999 Apple introduced the PowerMac G4 that began shipping in October of that year.

It can happen. This update screams "Let's clear our inventory for the next generation."



As we all know, the G5 hasn't sold in the same amount of #'s as probably Apple expected. They probably have a lot of left over 1.8's and 2.0's from the last generation. And in addition to processors, all the old video cards, etc. are in excess inventory. That's why we're getting these old video cards and chipsets!

And the reason why the 1.6's are ousted are either because:

1.) The developer discount on the 1.6's. Apple probably emptied it's inventory with this.
2.) They will be shifted into the G5 iMacs. (if this is announced)
3.) Apple knew if they released a dual 1.6, they'd have a riot on their hands.


All the signs point towards a stopgap inventory dump.