I see your point about CPU heat generation. I'm surprised that it didn't hit me as well.
Picture is related.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Waiting on Quad-Core Desktop CPUs for January?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Picture is related.
Still, that custom made, overclocked 3.06GHz CPU is a mobile CPU paired with a mobile platform. And it is surely an exception. The other iMac CPUs have a TDP of 25W and 35W, respectively.
The quad cores mentioned in the article are desktop CPUs.
Either Apple will switch to a desktop platform in the iMac, or we will see an entirely new product. Or this is just one of these completely unfounded rumours coming from and going nowhere ...
Btw, there are mobile quad cores announced for 2H09. It is more likely that these will end up in the iMac. It's not really the case that the typical iMac user is craving for more CPU power, is it. The GPU is the weak spot.
They should re-design the Mac Mini or discontinue it and make Mac Pros with desktop processors and standard RAM for $1000 less than the current Mac Pro as an option.
Would be very strange to see them switch from ignoring the Mini for over a year to giving it better hardware that's even offered on the MBP.
Unless you make the Mac mini bigger I don't think you'll be seeing a revised 45nm 65W quad core in it. I'm surprised that Intel isn't going to deliver 45W desktop dual cores alongside these new cooler quads. I know that the Celeron E1xxx is rated for 45W TDP.
You're also going to run into more things. These desktop processors require a desktop chipset as well since this is LGA775. The E8345 runs into a gray area of a E series on the PM965 chipset. Finally the number of LGA775 boards that have SODIMM RAM. Not that it's impossible but we know Apple its clever logicboards.
The Mini is interesting, but it needs to be updated.
The Mac Pro is interesting - an expensive workstation for those who need 8 cores and lots and lots of RAM.
What's missing is the mini-tower - it should be added as a third headless option, rather than shrinking the Mac Pro.
I'm sure Apple could convince Intel to make a special run of these quad cores like the E8435.
desktop
too bad it's desktop CPUS. i was kinda hoping for one that'd be compatible with the current imac.
then again, maybe it'd be better to just get a new imac rather than upgrade my current one. anything other than the RAM is extremely difficult (but not impossible.)
too bad it's desktop CPUS. i was kinda hoping for one that'd be compatible with the current imac.
then again, maybe it'd be better to just get a new imac rather than upgrade my current one. anything other than the RAM is extremely difficult (but not impossible.)
go to terminal and type "top" without quotes.
look at the top line and you'll see how many threads you are running right now. Each of these can run on a different core.
All versions of Mac OS X benefit from multiple cores if you are running multiple programs at once. I'm running 518 threads right now on my dual core MacBook Pro.
In the past 3 posts I've forgotten each time to mention that the 9400 all-in-one IGP chipset has a desktop version as well.
This is also an option alongside Apple finalizing Hybrid SLI in OS X. A low end iMac with the 9400 chipset for under $1,000 isn't that bad of a solution.
Handbrake, Aperture and also some PhotoShop filters easily max out my Quad Core Mac Pro, meaning that all cores are running at full load, so the simple answer is: Absolutely, yes, we need more CPU cores.
With Snow Leopard and the next generation of software optimized for Snow Leopard, computing might become real fun again: 32 GPU cores plus four or eight CPU cores that can be used by software... Huh-Hah! ;-)
Some comments
"The Khronos group was present to celebrate the launch of the upcoming OpenCL specification which Apple is planning to implement in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard."
Apple is not planning to implement Open CL in Snow Leopard, it has already done it!! It has so, because Apple developed Open CL. But because they submitted their technology for standardization, Apple needs to wait until the API is fully standardized (that the full specifications are defined among all actors) before to ship Snow Leopard.
"While few details were revealed, Khronos' president Neil Trevett explained how quickly the OpenCL specification had come together."
It happened like this because the API was well designed and because Apple has worked with the hardware guys in order to produce a first draft for the specifications to become standard.
"Trevett was very optimistic about the prospects of OpenCL specifically implemented in Snow Leopard:"
Well Open CL defines an standard API, and all software vendors are responsible for the implementation. But given that Apple created Open CL, their implementation in Snow Leopard will be probably second to none.
@ChrisA
"No, apaerently Apple didn't do this all by themselves. What they did is work or a long time with Intel, nvidia, AMD and other before going to Kronos with their draft OpenCL spec in hand. They did the work in a small club.
"
More precisely Apple developed the technology and worked with Intel, Amd and Nvidia in in order to create a first draft for standardization of the API, which of course makes sense for such an API that is supposed to talk to the hardware, so working with the hardware guys is normal.
"The Khronos group was present to celebrate the launch of the upcoming OpenCL specification which Apple is planning to implement in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard."
Apple is not planning to implement Open CL in Snow Leopard, it has already done it!! It has so, because Apple developed Open CL. But because they submitted their technology for standardization, Apple needs to wait until the API is fully standardized (that the full specifications are defined among all actors) before to ship Snow Leopard.
"While few details were revealed, Khronos' president Neil Trevett explained how quickly the OpenCL specification had come together."
It happened like this because the API was well designed and because Apple has worked with the hardware guys in order to produce a first draft for the specifications to become standard.
"Trevett was very optimistic about the prospects of OpenCL specifically implemented in Snow Leopard:"
Well Open CL defines an standard API, and all software vendors are responsible for the implementation. But given that Apple created Open CL, their implementation in Snow Leopard will be probably second to none.
@ChrisA
"No, apaerently Apple didn't do this all by themselves. What they did is work or a long time with Intel, nvidia, AMD and other before going to Kronos with their draft OpenCL spec in hand. They did the work in a small club.
"
More precisely Apple developed the technology and worked with Intel, Amd and Nvidia in in order to create a first draft for standardization of the API, which of course makes sense for such an API that is supposed to talk to the hardware, so working with the hardware guys is normal.
The Mac Pro will be great without the workstation hardware in it. An $1499 Mac Pro with DDR3 RAM and Desktop (not Workstation CPU) CPU would fly off the shelves. There is a market for that.
With how powerful computers are getting today there is a smaller and smaller pro segment that actually needs the xeon server processors. So I'd imagine that eventually they will have to start offering desktop grade CPU's since if the pros aren't given a choice they'll switch over to Windows since the hardware is so much cheaper yet be able to do all they could ever want.
That's my point. They're too much money for what the majority of creative professionals need. I'm sure there are some really mathy guys who need to xeons, or people using their Mac Pros as website servers, but the vast majority of the 'pro market' would be more than content with desktop chips.
And don't the workstation CPUs use more power than desktop CPUs? If Apple is going to make a "green" Mac Pro, they need to move to desktop CPU.
Or all Desktop CPUs for the Mac Pros. Xeons should be only in the Xserve. That is it.
I thought they already used the Quad core or are there 4 cpu's in the Mac Pro?
The sad thing, but great for PC users is, with it's lower wattage, these things are going to overclock way, WAY upward in the area of 3.8 or more with 4 CORES.
To bad we can never see the price cuts (intel) reflected on the hardware - similar to the UNI BODY - same thing (just about) for MB and MBP yet price differential is same with more $$$$ in Apples pocket and none for consumer.
Hmm, might be a good time to think about X-EFI, especially if they are that low and can clock that high. (or free with OSX86). I know it sounds like a hassle but if the new quad clocks high and can be twice (almost) as fast as NEW MACHINE and 4X faster than PRESENT day machine, then it really is hard to argue as a complete rig, 4 GB ram and all sets you back $600-$800 and you get performance (especially with EFI-X) that trumps apple.
Fine if you're doing AT HOME rendering/video work - some speculate they (EFI) are working on a laptop device.
Apple needs a price cut in the PRO markets.
Needed a good entry level headless mac, OR iMAC with matte, expansion slot.
The sad thing, but great for PC users is, with it's lower wattage, these things are going to overclock way, WAY upward in the area of 3.8 or more with 4 CORES.
To bad we can never see the price cuts (intel) reflected on the hardware - similar to the UNI BODY - same thing (just about) for MB and MBP yet price differential is same with more $$$$ in Apples pocket and none for consumer.
Hmm, might be a good time to think about X-EFI, especially if they are that low and can clock that high. (or free with OSX86). I know it sounds like a hassle but if the new quad clocks high and can be twice (almost) as fast as NEW MACHINE and 4X faster than PRESENT day machine, then it really is hard to argue as a complete rig, 4 GB ram and all sets you back $600-$800 and you get performance (especially with EFI-X) that trumps apple.
Fine if you're doing AT HOME rendering/video work - some speculate they (EFI) are working on a laptop device.
Apple needs a price cut in the PRO markets.
Needed a good entry level headless mac, OR iMAC with matte, expansion slot.