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did i miss read, all new powerbook have no L3 cache?
- Thread starter SLJ
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I can't say this for a fact, but I believe that all of the new PowerBooks do have L3 cache.
The reason that Apple chooses not to mention the L3 is that the G5s don't have L3. The uninformed consumer might think that the G4 has something the G5 doesn't. It's all marketing.
EDIT - Yes, Moto does make G4s with no L3 cache. Must of had a brain fade. Even so, I still believe that these updates include L3 cache.
The reason that Apple chooses not to mention the L3 is that the G5s don't have L3. The uninformed consumer might think that the G4 has something the G5 doesn't. It's all marketing.
EDIT - Yes, Moto does make G4s with no L3 cache. Must of had a brain fade. Even so, I still believe that these updates include L3 cache.
Well, obviously motorola makes G4s with out L3 cache, L3 cache is NOT on chiup memory, like L2 and L1. I'm almost 100% sure that the powerbooks all contain a L3 cache, the perfomance hit they would suffer by removing it would more than negate the speed bumps they just recieved.
Dude, I doubt the lack of L3 in light of a faster and slightly improved G4 chip, better video by far, better RAM, better HD, and soon to be better OS X will make the new PowerBook *slower*. Besides, it's got twice as much L2 cache which is a lot faster than the external L3 cache, anyway. I'm happy with it. My PowerBook doesn't have it. My girlfriend's iMac is fast and capable and doesn't have it. My friend with a dual 1 GHz G4 doesn't have it and it screams just as fast. If it really means that much to you, I am sure you can get an older model.
While I could be wrong about the technical aspect I beleive a l3 cache needs to be significantly larger than the l2 cache to be effective. Since the l2 has been increased to 512mb their choices were probably no l3 cache or 2mb of l3 cache and l3 cache memory is expensive.
My understanding on the processor issue.
The 7447 has NO L3 cache interface.
The 7457 has a L3 cache interface.
So ... if the PBs don't have L3 cache, then its likely a 7447.
If they have L3 cache then its a 7457.
My opinion ... its a 7447, Apple only says its a G4. Its even remotely possible its a 7445. If it was a 7457, marketting would likely use that. If its anything else, then down play the processor specifics.
The 7447 has NO L3 cache interface.
The 7457 has a L3 cache interface.
So ... if the PBs don't have L3 cache, then its likely a 7447.
If they have L3 cache then its a 7457.
My opinion ... its a 7447, Apple only says its a G4. Its even remotely possible its a 7445. If it was a 7457, marketting would likely use that. If its anything else, then down play the processor specifics.
Exactly, they don't really know anything but they are speculating and it's bad--it's all bad.
Maybe you people ought to wait for someone who has one to tell you how it performs because that's what counts.
It's amazing to me to watch people surprised that a 4 cylinder car can beat an 8 cylinder car in a race simply because the 4 cylinder car was much more nimble.
OK,
I guess for the people out there who are still confused as to whether the new PowerBooks have L3 or not (me included), the answer is no.
On another forum, a user who just purchased a 15" ran a system profile. L3 cache didn't show up.
So I guess they're using 7447s.
I guess for the people out there who are still confused as to whether the new PowerBooks have L3 or not (me included), the answer is no.
On another forum, a user who just purchased a 15" ran a system profile. L3 cache didn't show up.
So I guess they're using 7447s.
It's still going to be nice and zippy, though. L3 isn't the only thing making a G4 fast. These things have more internal cache, higher clockspeed, twice the RAM limit, a faster HD option, and one hell of a mobile video card that absolutely spanks the nVidia Go series. Not to mention it is one hell of a step up from the PowerBook I am replacing it with, all for cheaper than my old one was, so I am definitely happy.