Apple Using Exclusive 3GHz Xeon from Intel?

[SMM]

Considering that you can't buy this puppy anywhere else, I'd say it's a safe bet. Everyone was afraid that Apple would be second fiddle to other PC manufacturers because of size, but as I had predicted, Intel is doing exactly the opposite and using Apple as kind of a technological showcase, likely because on the modern Windows machine, 20-30% of all the processing power is hogged by background and unnecessary processses such as Spy/Adware tools. It is good to affirm my belief that Apple entered into a good contract with Intel, I'll have to keep an eye on what my stock does if this news that Apple has exclusivity to an Intel chip hits the street.

It is kind of ironic, and not something that I expected, that after all the ruckus regarding Apple's Intel switch about how Apple was guaranteed now to never be faster than a Windows machine, that they truly are the fastest desktop computer that you can buy for less than the price of a small village. Good job Apple.

Apple is a computer manufacturer, but they are also an engineering company, like Intel. Dell is an assembly company. HP is both, but they do less engineering with their desktop, laptop lines. Apple is far more likely to try innovative technology, and develop a collaborative relationship with Intel than almost anyone else. Apple also has a tremendous presence in the consumer electronic market, and soon the telecom market. So, Intel's chip sales to Apple are not limited to desktop computers.

What I find encouraging is the fact, Intel must have been well-convinced Apple's future roadmap is very promising. Just speculating, but the Apple/Intel deal must have taken a couple years to go from concept to announcement. So, it was Apple, circa 2003-2004, that Intel was negotiating with intitally. Apple would not have been able to keep too many secrets from their new partner. Both companies seem to be hitting on both cylinders. Good ju ju.

 

[johnee]

I am going to have to say this move by Intel was to assure Apple that they will come through. Apple could adopt AMD and court them if they wanted. But after years of IBM delays and problems, the last thing Intel wants is Apple to start shopping around. I just see this as being the good salesperson, and letting known that they are reliable.
How many years ago did Jobs promise the magestic 3GHZ G5? Take that IBM and neigh-sayers, there is 8 3GHZs Zeons to break that mark.

You are right that intel is afraid apple will go to amd.

apple likes to play two competitors against each other, just like walmart.

and we NEVER promised apple 3Ghz, they assumed we would provide that to them.

 

[dartzorichalcos]

Interesting. This is the fastest mac Apple has ever made. I would want to see some benchmarks on how it compares against PowerMac G5 Qaud. I will get the next Mac Pro update model and keep the G5. I will have two powerful computers.

 

[AidenShaw]

Otherwise, it would have been confusing.

Should I get a 3GHZ Quad Core or a 2.66GHz Octo-core sort of thing.

And what will Apple do this summer when the 3.16 and 3.33 GHz dual-core Xeons come out?

Stop selling the octo, because it will be confusing?

 

[Benjamindaines]

Apple has been getting all sorts of special treatment from Intel ever since the switch, it seems... Intel must have had some particular reason that they really wanted to hook up with Apple, which I think would transcend current profits.

Testing If it explodes it's only 4% of the market

 

[AidenShaw]

Considering that I cajoled the SysAdmin at my last job to replace 6 servers with 2 MacPro's and virtualization.

And did you lose your job because of that advice?

 

[Lone Deranger]

Really? With Adobe CS3 just out (after a loooong wait) and NAB right around the corner? You don't see the logic in this?
This is the time the Power users (VFX industry, editors, pro-photographers, etc.) are primed and ready to purchase.

Honestly I dont know why Apple is doing it, it doesnt make very much sense.

 

[Eidorian]

And did you lose your job because of that advice?

It'd be nice if you gave a reason why they would.

 

[Lone Deranger]

>Here< are some numbers posted in the modo forums. Matt Craig, one of Luxology's developers, mentions speed increases up to a factor of 1.96x compared to his old quad (2x2) 3.0Ghz Mac Pro. Those are some impressive numbers.

Compared to the even older G5 quads the numbers reach a sustainable 3.1x increase.

Interesting. This is the fastest mac Apple has ever made. I would want to see some benchmarks on how it compares against PowerMac G5 Qaud. I will get the next Mac Pro update model and keep the G5. I will have two powerful computers.

 

[Linkjeniero]

just because there are 8 processing cores, does not mean that you're getting 24GHz out of it.

Yes it does. What it doesn't mean is that the computer will behave like a one core 24 GHz machine; but you do get 24 GHz of processing power. All you need to take advantege of it is a task that's optimized to use all the processors at once (like SETI@Home, for example; or a well optimized audio or video encoding), or be doing several tasks that all together max out the processors' capacity.

 

[dartzorichalcos]

>Here< are some numbers posted in the modo forums. Matt Craig, one of Luxology's developers, mentions speed increases up to a factor of 1.96x compared to his old quad (2x2) 3.0Ghz Mac Pro. Those are some impressive numbers.

Compared to the even older G5 quads the numbers reach a sustainable 3.1x increase.

Thanks. That's what I wanted to see.
But I still wonder if a 8GB or 16GB PowerMac G5 Quad will beat the stock 8 Core Mac Pro in performance.

 

[Eraserhead]

Considering that I cajoled the SysAdmin at my last job to replace 6 servers with 2 MacPro's and virtualization. I'm not sure that 8-Cores are not worth it for servers.

What I mean is that you can probably save money by using two 4 core servers, whereas a Pro user can only use one computer at a time (at least efficiently).

 

[BornAgainMac]

I knew this would happen

Apple is going to be the first for the latest Intel offerings. They tend to cover the high-end consumer / business. Dell and HP take the low end stuff.

 

[Eidorian]

This gives some hope for Santa Rosa based Macs at NAB.

 

[guzhogi]

And what will Apple do this summer when the 3.16 and 3.33 GHz dual-core Xeons come out?

Stop selling the octo, because it will be confusing?

If this is any indication, probably pull a few strings at Intel and have them quad-core. If not, probably wait a while. We'll just have to wait and see. Americans are so impatient for newer and faster things!

 

[Benjamindaines]

And what will Apple do this summer when the 3.16 and 3.33 GHz dual-core Xeons come out?

Stop selling the octo, because it will be confusing?

I can see the speed bumps happening this summer but I don't think Apple would drop the Quad before Fall or Winter because they would want to keep the price the same in not lower it.

 

[Umbongo]

And what will Apple do this summer when the 3.16 and 3.33 GHz dual-core Xeons come out?

Stop selling the octo, because it will be confusing?

I think the price drops will allow them to sell only octo and avoid such a situation. I'd expect 2.00, 2.66 and 3Ghz models. Not the greatest solution for the consumer by far, but very Apple like.

 

[Lone Deranger]

If you'd render a scene small enough to avoid heavy memory swapping, then no way. Throw enough geo and textures at it, then sure, the 16GB G5 would probably beat a 1GB Mac Pro.

Bit of a strange way to benchmark though.

Thanks. That's what I wanted to see.
But I still wonder if a 8GB or 16GB PowerMac G5 Quad will beat the stock 8 Core Mac Pro in performance.

 

[shawnce]

Arent Apple the biggest computer maker in the world now? Im sure I read somewhere that out of all the computer brands like HP and Dell they are now the biggest selling. Isnt that reason enough for Intel to give them special treatment?

Huh? What possibly made you believe that? Apple ships 10+ times fewer system then Dell or HP per year.

 

[MonkeyClaw]

Huh? What possibly made you believe that? Apple ships 10+ times fewer system then Dell or HP per year.

Well to be honest I havent heard that either but there is a difference between fastest selling and how many are shipping from others. So Apple technically could be the fastest selling yet still have a smaller market share and still be shipping less than other companies.

 

[princealfie]

Huh? What possibly made you believe that? Apple ships 10+ times fewer system then Dell or HP per year.

Yeah but it's power to the mac people now.

 

[shawnce]

Well to be honest I havent heard that either but there is a difference between fastest selling and how many are shipping from others. So Apple technically could be the fastest selling yet still have a smaller market share and still be shipping less than other companies.

"fastest selling" what does that mean?

I think the price drops will allow them to sell only octo and avoid such a situation. I'd expect 2.00, 2.66 and 3Ghz models. Not the greatest solution for the consumer by far, but very Apple like.

I personally believe that after the price drop we will see Mac Pro with a expanded set of build-to-order processor options. I bet it will include dual-core and quad-core processors.

 

[dartzorichalcos]

Bit of a strange way to benchmark though.

I sure want to see somebody test the 16GB G5 against the 8 Core Mac Pro and see which one is better.

 

[shawnce]

But 3 GHz isn't the same for different chips.

The dual-core Xeon (53xx family) and quad-core Xeon (also part of the 53xx family) contain the same cores. So when comparing a 3 GHz core in one and a 3 GHz core in the other they would have the same performance/capabilities (granted bus and cache outside of the core are slightly different and hence would affect relative performance).

 

[Digitalclips]

Not really. Just another way to keep up the prices by staying on high price curve.

Wow! What a 'half-empty' glass you drink from.