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First Intel Penryn Based PCs Arrive... Apple to Follow?

sblasl said:
Will these be the same chips expected to be used in the updated Mac Pro? If so, am I reading this correctly that they actually might be a little slower than the current offerings?

http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/11/07/hp.penryn.xeon.desktops/

"The xw6600 and xw8600 will use the upcoming Xeon 5200 (dual-core) and Xeon 5400 (quad-core) in twin sockets to include as many as eight cores in a single system; the smaller 45-nanometer manufacturing process for the chips improves their performance while also reducing heat and power draw. Professionals can juggle intensive modeling and image editing programs without a significant speed drop, HP says."
Click to expand...

It's possible Apple may go for the 1600MHz FSB processors rather than the 1333MHz ones HP are going to be offering, as Apple aren't likely to update the range before Nehalem after the new ones, and would want them as fast as they could offer.

As for speeds, the quad 2.83GHz has the same pricing as the dual 2.66Ghz Apple currently use. So expect faster speeds regardless if the base price remains $2500.

edit: misunderstood what was meant, but my point remains.
 
Don't forget that there were rumors a while back about Apple paying big bucks to secure top speed Penryn chips to ensure it had sufficient quantity. Thats the kinds of things Apple is doing with that $15B cashpile it has - paying up front to ensure it gets first crack at the newest fastest chips. Its probably why HP and Lenovo aren't shipping until January - Apple gets most of the penryn xeons until then.
 
sblasl said:
am I reading this correctly that they actually might be a little slower than the current offerings?

http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/11/07/hp.penryn.xeon.desktops/

"Professionals can juggle intensive modeling and image editing programs without a significant speed drop, HP says."
Click to expand...


I don't think so. That strikes me as a statement about better performance in heavy multitasking scenarios. To me it's saying "feel free to work on that 3D model while you're running those photoshop filters and transcoding that video...you won't notice it."

Although I admit the phrasing is confusing.
 
Sounds promising. I think these constant incremental steps are great. Oh and a new Mac Pro case would be a nice bonus. Black glass Apple logo anyone? ;)
 
G4DP said:
Dear Roy,

I presumed due to this being a MacPro thread, that people would be able assume that I was talking about the MacPro. Funnily enough I actually thought people here were able to think for themselves, not needing to be told every single detail.

Just for you lets start again from the beginning.

Yesterday afternoon, I was browsing on the Apple online store, I added a standard configuration MacPro to the basket and saved this order for future reference. I then logged off, made dinner, watched some TV and went to bed.

Now on to today, I went for a walk took the dog for a walk. I get back in the door and 10 minutes later a member of staff from Apple in Ireland asked me about the order for a MacPro saved in my basket. He asked what I was waiting for I told him about the possible Penryn update to the MacPro next week. He said fine. To give him a call towards the end of next week and see what can be done about a possible discount.

Is that condescending enough for you?

Kindest regards.
Click to expand...

And now I know the full story. Thanks for filling in all the holes you left in your original post.
 
darthraige said:
Ya Gah dang right Apple will follow. Hopefully November 13th or 14th. Apple can't wait any longer, I might as well get a PC if Apple don't release them in November. :mad:
Click to expand...

Actually the HPs won't ship 'til "mid-December" and the Lenovo's won't be available 'til January, so you'll have to wait even for a PC. ;)

Some people are mentioning that the HP will ship in January, but they're confusing the HP article and the Lenovo article.

Just to clear it, according to the articles:

HP's Penryn-based PCs: shipping mid-December
Lenovo's Penryn-based PCs: available January
 
G4DP said:
I always thought that Apple would be a market leader when it came to this and announce what was coming with a week lead time. I guess those days are gone.
Click to expand...

When has Apple announced any new design from Intel even on the same day as the other manufacturers? Those days aren't "gone", they never existed except as a fanboy myth.

The only thing that even comes close is that 5 months after other manufacturers were shipping quad Clovertowns, Apple started shipping Clovertowns that were one notch faster than the top published speed. Not a new design, just a faster bin.

Later, of course, we find out that Apple is using older 150 watt versions of the Clovertown - and that the other vendors passed on using that chip and waited for the faster, cooler 120 watt "G0 stepping" version. Also note that the 150 watt chips were available from some of the smaller vendors at about the same time as Apple.

Other dates:

Yonah - Apple announced a week after most of the other vendors.

Merom - How about http://digg.com/apple/MacBook_Pro_NO...ntel_Marketing

Woodcrest - Intel announces 26 June, Apple releases Mac Pro 7 August

Conroe/Kentsfield - Apple missing in action
 
It's about friggin' time! I was originally going to get a Mac Pro in Jan '07 thinking an upgrade as imminent. Outside of Configuration To Order (CTO) options, the Mac Pro has had ZERO price reductions or feature enhancements for 15 months! The Mac Pro is woefully uncompetitive right now.

In saying that, my wallet is ready when the Mac Pro comes out.
 
pohl said:
I don't think so. That strikes me as a statement about better performance in heavy multitasking scenarios. To me it's saying "feel free to work on that 3D model while you're running those photoshop filters and transcoding that video...you won't notice it."

Although I admit the phrasing is confusing.
Click to expand...

That's the way it read to me, too. I don't think we'll have to worry about the speed of the machines dropping, or even the clock speed being lower.
 
Help the un-quad-enlightened

Help us out here who are new to reading the tea-leaves. i'm very much enjoying being part of the mac world, but the speculation and rumors drives me a little batty!

If I'm interested in buying a quad-core, should I be waiting as well? It's only a week until the announcement but I'm wondering if its going to affect the higher models as well.

Everyone here keeps talking about the 3k macpro's and last time I checked just jumping in to the basic quad puts me in the unenviable 4k price range.

-g
 
jholzner said:
Well, knowing Apple, we should be seeing these in Macs in about 6 months or so.

:p
Click to expand...

haha, so true.

Hey, it is a great business model. Keep selling older hardware at the original release price.

Sort of like from field of dreams, If you KEEP building it, they will come.
 
gsg900 said:
Help us out here who are new to reading the tea-leaves. i'm very much enjoying being part of the mac world, but the speculation and rumors drives me a little batty!

If I'm interested in buying a quad-core, should I be waiting as well? It's only a week until the announcement but I'm wondering if its going to affect the higher models as well.

Everyone here keeps talking about the 3k macpro's and last time I checked just jumping in to the basic quad puts me in the unenviable 4k price range.

-g
Click to expand...

The pricing and options point towards an all 8 core range at similar prices to now. So you should wait to get value for your money.
 
AidenShaw said:
When has Apple announced any new design from Intel even on the same day as the other manufacturers? Those days aren't "gone", they never existed except as a fanboy myth.

The only thing that even comes close is that 5 months after other manufacturers were shipping quad Clovertowns, Apple started shipping Clovertowns that were one notch faster than the top published speed. Not a new design, just a faster bin.

Later, of course, we find out that Apple is using older 150 watt versions of the Clovertown - and that the other vendors passed on using that chip and waited for the faster, cooler 120 watt "G0 stepping" version. Also note that the 150 watt chips were available from some of the smaller vendors at about the same time as Apple.

Other dates:

Yonah - Apple announced a week after most of the other vendors.

Merom - How about http://digg.com/apple/MacBook_Pro_NO...ntel_Marketing

Woodcrest - Intel announces 26 June, Apple releases Mac Pro 7 August

Conroe/Kentsfield - Apple missing in action
Click to expand...

This seems to be the most convincing evidence that we won't see updates until MWSF in January. I hope you're wrong, but it makes sense.
 
badlydrawnboy said:
This seems to be the most convincing evidence that we won't see updates until MWSF in January. I hope you're wrong, but it makes sense.
Click to expand...

If I were concerned about needing one soon it's what would worry me also, but I think with the huge time span between Intel workstation refreshes, the rumours of Apple buying up penryn Xeons and the consumer focus of MWSF it's likely they will be here wednesday or thursday next week.
 
What "consumer" focus?

Umbongo said:
...the consumer focus of MWSF...
Click to expand...

http://support.apple.com/specs/

MWSF 2006 - MacBook Pro announced
MWSF 2004 - Xserve G5 and Xserve RAID (SFP) announced
MWSF 2003 - PowerBook G4 announced
MWSF 2001 - PowerMac G4 and PowerBook G4 announced
MWSF 1999 - PowerMac G3 announced

It looks like the pattern is every other year for a Pro announcement - so MWSF 2008 is due!
 
Roy said:
And now I know the full story. Thanks for filling in all the holes you left in your original post.
Click to expand...

There's always someone who needs their hand held. I knew he was referencing a Mac Pro, and it can't just be that I'm Irish, too.

Aside from Roy not having enough coffee yet, I'm not overly optimistic about Apple coming out with the update before the end of the year. (Roy - I'm talking about the Mac Pro update rumor.) Mostly because even this thread is based on a couple of PC makers coming out with theirs. I know that by inference you can say "well, hey! Apple can't be far behind, right?" but eihter Apple has been good at bottling up the leaks, or there isn't anything to leak. I really fear the latter.
 
3.2 GHz

So far, the PC announcements by HP et. al. mention only 3.0 GHz. I think the rumor about Apple buying up all the bins of 3.2 GHz 1600 MHz FSB might be confirmed by this. What I want to know in any upgrade of Mac Pro is what GPU will it have. I'm really looking forward to a dual-boot OS X / Vista machine that will become my dream gaming solution. The main issue there is driver support under OS X for ATI 2900X / Nvidia 8800 GTX. Of course it will always be a few percent FPS off from the best tricked out PC rig. But then it is also my workstation as well.
 
tivoli2 said:
I know that by inference you can say "well, hey! Apple can't be far behind, right?" but eihter Apple has been good at bottling up the leaks, or there isn't anything to leak. I really fear the latter.
Click to expand...

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you there.

It was reported on several websites three weeks ago that Apple was placing large orders for Intel Harpertown Xeons, which would leave other OEMs with just enough to ship initial orders. So Apple, in fact, is ahead and not "not far behind".

Setmose said:
What I want to know in any upgrade of Mac Pro is what GPU will it have.
Click to expand...

That has been a point of contention on many threads in the Mac Pro forum. I'd personally like to see the 8800GTX or the 8800GT and nothing from ATI. Besides the fact that the HD 2900xt is now being EOL'd and being replaced by a newer 55nm part, it is loud and hot and is ourperformed by the 8800GTX.

However glorious a day it may be to visit the Apple site next Tuesday and see new Mac Pros on sale, there is a very real and palpable probability that they could completely screw up the video card options with poor choices. It wouldn't be the first time Apple has made poor video card choices, and certainly not the last....
 
CPU limited?

Seriously, why is everyone so concerned with a new CPU? there is no way that practically anyone should be CPU limited with 8 cores processing at 3.0 GHz. i will guaruntee that most people are GPU limited though. come on, how old are these graphics cards? maybe everyone is excited because they think the new CPU's will force apple to update their GPU's. that's my call anyways.

thedudeabides
 
jholzner said:
Well, knowing Apple, we should be seeing these in Macs in about 6 months or so.

:p
Click to expand...

Not necessarily - Apple had a jump on their competition during the last revision after receiving "preferential treatment" from Intel.

triskadecaepyon said:
I suspect penryn based macbook pros will come in december/january. Seems like a logical progression.
Click to expand...

We may honestly not see the Penryn-based Mac Pros until that timeframe so I doubt we will see any updates to the MacBook Pros until Q1 08. Intel is starting with the Xeon workstation class of Penryn chip, with the desktop and mobile flavors to follow, so it will still be some time in my opinion...
 
thedudeAbides said:
Seriously, why is everyone so concerned with a new CPU? there is no way that practically anyone should be CPU limited with 8 cores processing at 3.0 GHz. i will guaruntee that most people are GPU limited though. come on, how old are these graphics cards? maybe everyone is excited because they think the new CPU's will force apple to update their GPU's. that's my call anyways.

thedudeabides
Click to expand...

How about better performance at lower wattages and a higher FSB for one??? Then there's also that fact that these new chips are price comparably to the dual core options in the current Mac Pro lineup. Dual quad-core processing for dual dual-core pricing.
 
thedudeAbides said:
Seriously, why is everyone so concerned with a new CPU? there is no way that practically anyone should be CPU limited with 8 cores processing at 3.0 GHz. i will guaruntee that most people are GPU limited though. come on, how old are these graphics cards? maybe everyone is excited because they think the new CPU's will force apple to update their GPU's. that's my call anyways.

thedudeabides
Click to expand...

Up to a point, I understand your position. But if the new CPU also bumps up the FSB to 1600 MHz, Intel themselves have estimated that the top-end quad core chips represent a 45% increase in performance over previous quads. That is quite massive on a per-socket basis. Agreed though, that much of the excitement hinges on what GPU will be available. Hope it's not a mega-expensive BTO choice.
 
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