First Intel Penryn Chips Due in 2007?

[Multimedia]

iMacs Need Dual-Link DVI Ports For Their External Monitors

iMac with dual monitors works absolutely fine for me.

But if that external monitor port was Dual-Link DVI and you could drive a 30" external 2560 x 1600, that would be a much better solution than the current cap of 1920 x 1200.

 

[ChrisA]

I fear I am just going to have to switch to linux so I can build the machine I want.

With no "mainstream" computer to sell that's what Apple is forcing us to do. I have a G4 Powermac and two Linux machines one in the office and one at home. The home Linux machine is a P4 running 2.2Ghz and it absolutly runs circles around the G4. Yes even running the exact same software. At work I have a dual xeon machine here and it's a lot like a Mac Pro. I'll run Leopard inside a VM on these Linux machines unless Apple offers a better option. The G4 is getting old.

 

[ChrisA]

Dell has about 4 times the volume as Apple over the entire market. However Dell is also shipping probably somewhere close to 12-15 different processor lines.

Dell does not write any of the software that deals with all those different processor lines. Dell is basically just a marketing and shipping company. Everything they sell is made by some one else.

Where Apple saves money is in engineering costs. Remember how Apple did the switch to Intel. Apple designed the notebooks and the iMacs and let Intel design the Mac Pro. Apple saved on engineering time and cost by using basically only one design for the entire notebook and desktop line.

It takes a long time for an engineer to come up to speed on a new part. You have to pay him while he reads the specs and does some experiments in the lab and visits the manufacturer or goes to a training class. Have you ever seen the amount of technical docs you have to read before you can write, say, a driver for an Ethernet controller? Apple was smart to not use to many different kinds of hardware.

But still they could build a headless imac using the same mobile parts or a "one half Mac Pro" with one processor chip in a smaller box.

 

[Sam0r]

Not sure if this has already been said, but from my understanding, the main reason they're using mobile processors in the iMac and Mac Mini is because the Core Duo only came out in mobile form.

Apple then saved money by just putting in the new Core 2 Duo mobile processors when they became available instead of redesigning the board to accomodate the desktop version.

I'm 99% certain a redesign of the iMac and Mac Mini will bring us Socket 775 processors.

Just my 2c though.

 

[jcrowe]

Do your homework

I'd also like to see them put those components into an enclosure the size of the iMac and have it run for more than 2 minutes without overheating.

Not gonna happen.

I might suggest you go out to Intel's website and read the datasheets on their processors, all of them including the ones that currently appear in XServes. The challenge for Apple putting this type of processor in a future iMac is not technical...that's quite doable. The real question is what valid requirement other than bragging rights does this type of power address? I'm not denying that those of us who do amateur video could not use such power, and gamers might legitimately make use of the power, but perhaps the iMac is not the best choice of vehicle. Apple will balance price point issues with potential sales in a class of machine and make a decision based on facts, not speculation. In any case, check out the processor data sheets...they are pretty interesting.

 

[imacdaddy]

Hot Hot Hot

The biggest complaint everyone had about the G5 iMac was the heat. You stick your hand above one of those and you can feel how hot the exhaust is. Leave it in a closed bedroom and that room is 5 deg hotter then the rest of the house.

My G5 iMac is running at 67 degrees now.

 

[flopticalcube]

Mediocre speed updates in macs this year... lets see, SR in MB and MBP, 8-core option in MP, and... and... that's it.

Santa Rosa has not made it to the MacBooks yet. In the MBPs it yielded very little speed improvements (around 10% IIRC). The octo-core MP are great but not an update. They are a whole new (higher priced) option. The current MPs didn't even drop in price when the octo-core was introduced. So, yeah, so far speed increases have been mediocre at best.

We're going to see GREAT speed increases. They've held back so they can develop that **** iPhone.

I sure hope so but no one knows for sure.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

iMac with dual monitors works absolutely fine for me.

BUt if the monitors arent at exactly the same height and size it can get disorienting moving the mouse back and forth between screens.

 

[lukechip]

If Tuesday is iMac day (which I believe it is), then almost anything is possible. A complete redesign is exactly that - you go back to a blank sheet of paper, specify the requirements, and then design something that delivers on those requirements. So if Apple decided that the new iMacs would run on desktop CPUs, then the design would accomodate that.

Of course, if all they've done is polish up the current design, then things are more limited.

I'm hopeful for a major overhaul, but I'm holding out until Penryn regardless of what happens on Tuesday.

I just can't see Apple running an event, only to say "look at our great new computer. It runs virtually no faster than what we were selling yesterday, but doesn't it look great !!!". Then again, the Jobs reality distortion field might get engaged and the media will just lap it up.....

 

[kenaustus]

I think that if you look at the new form of the iMac (if it is introduced) you'll be able to see where it is going for the next 18 - 24 months.

When I first saw a PowerMac G5 (with a clear side to show the inside) in a store I felt that there was a lot of room to grow and we would be seeing that box for a long time.

The Apple introduced a slight revision of the G5 iMac a few months before the Intel version was introduced. That G5 iMac was probably designed for the Intel, with an early introduction to ease the production line with the switch to Intel.

So Apple shows off the new iMac form - look at it and see if you believe it will easily support a quad, more desktop parts, etc. It'll give you a good picture of where Apple is going with it.

 

[ctango]

Timing or coincidence

I agree that is probably is unlikely that these processors will make into the new iMac. Its too late in the production process.

Unless Intel already had plans with Apple to release these chips on next Tuesday. A very short notice for a media event. An interesting time for releasing an "ahead of schedule" release by Intel.

It does make some sense that these chips could be rolling out on Tuesday. At least there is probably cause to believe so.

 

[oduinnin]

MBP More likely to be updated

I base this on the Apple online store. Currently, only the 15" MBP shows a wait of 7 - 10 Days for base unit (no build to order options). All other computers including iMacs say they will ship in 24hrs. Based on prior updates, this seems to be a fair indicator.

I'm personally waiting for a new iMac after having been a tower user for the last 6 years. It would be really nice to get rid of the clutter. Current iMacs are fast enough for what I do, photo & home video editing, project management, tracking finances, entertainment.

 

[blasius]

Tuesday...really???

the apple store here in cleveland just closed until august 11th for remodeling... would they really introduce the new imac with one of there stores being closed
p.s the store was basically new and gorgeous before

 

[Bye Bye Baby]

Oh yes

Apple really needs to address this important desktop class of processors in their lineup. A lot of people (including myself) have to decide between an all-in-one iMac or a full blown Xeon based MacPro. Something small, thin, competitively priced and with a choice of monitor size. Something that can kick butt in gaming as well as easily handle the daily 2D/3D design work.

I just wonder how many of us need the same kind computer- we should start a poll!!!

I really need the same thing! I don't want the xeon and the imac isn't enough. Come on Apple do something instead of money grubbing over the iphone!

 

[LoganT]

I base this on the Apple online store. Currently, only the 15" MBP shows a wait of 7 - 10 Days for base unit (no build to order options). All other computers including iMacs say they will ship in 24hrs. Based on prior updates, this seems to be a fair indicator.

I'm personally waiting for a new iMac after having been a tower user for the last 6 years. It would be really nice to get rid of the clutter. Current iMacs are fast enough for what I do, photo & home video editing, project management, tracking finances, entertainment.

They just updated the Macbook Pro's so I doubt that.

 

[masse]

August 11th you mean....


After reading every post here I thought I was posting in an imac rumor thread.

I'm personally waiting for Quadcore Penryn in a MBP. PB G4 until then. It's slow as hell but I make due.

 

[blasius]

august 11

yea i meant august 11... sorry it's alittle late ha

 

[mavherzog]

But if that external monitor port was Dual-Link DVI and you could drive a 30" external 2560 x 1600, that would be a much better solution than the current cap of 1920 x 1200.

And that would be AWESOME. (the existence of a dual-link DVI port on the iMac's, that is)

Right now, I want a desktop machine that can drive at least one 30" display. My only options are the MBP's or a MacPro (which is overkill). Being able to have a 24" iMac and span to a 30" would be most excellent.

 

[mjonson]

I base this on the Apple online store. Currently, only the 15" MBP shows a wait of 7 - 10 Days for base unit (no build to order options). All other computers including iMacs say they will ship in 24hrs. Based on prior updates, this seems to be a fair indicator.

I'm personally waiting for a new iMac after having been a tower user for the last 6 years. It would be really nice to get rid of the clutter. Current iMacs are fast enough for what I do, photo & home video editing, project management, tracking finances, entertainment.

I think the wait is due to shortage of LED ? could be wrong but theres almost a 0% chance of a MBP update. It's an iMac/mini event

 

[LoganT]

I just want to be able to play a PS3 or an Xbox 360 on the iMac in High Definition.

 

[DVK916]

FYI people Penryn is also a mobile processor. There will be a 3+ GHZ 1066MT/S FSB Mobile Penryn in Q2 of 08 using the new Montevina Platform. So apple might just move to this when it comes time to upgrade. Likely the Mac Mini will move to Merom, when apple shifts all of its processors to Penryn.

Apple won't adopt the Q1 Penryns as those will still have an 800MT/s FSB, why adopt those when better things will be out a quarter later.

 

[AidenShaw]

Apple won't adopt the Q1 Penryns as those will still have an 800MT/s FSB, why adopt those when better things will be out a quarter later.

Because the Penryns will drop onto the existing Santa Rosa motherboards without a problem, and because HP/Dell/Lenovo/Acer/... will have the 3GHz laptops from day 1?

Intel will always have something better coming down the pipe, Apple will look foolish if they continually fall behind because they're waiting for something better.

 

[gnasher729]

BUt if the monitors arent at exactly the same height and size it can get disorienting moving the mouse back and forth between screens.

Yes, one of the monitors uses a considerable number of books to get it to exactly the right height And I would have suggested to Apple for some time to offer an external monitor in exactly the same size and shape as the iMacs.

 

[k2k koos]

exciting developments

As much as I loved the power PC architecture, I am quite happy that Apple made the switch and runs on Intel now. It has done the Mac platform many favors.
As far as the widely speculated next gen iMac release next Tuesday, I don't expect them to have this new CPU yet, but if Apple play their cards right (and I believe they will have done, since they had such an exclusive insight in Intel's roadmap) the new iMac may well be very easily upgraded to the new CPU's once they are available. If this is going to be user upgradable is doubtful though, Apple would rather sell a new machine, than users picking up CPU's at a 3rd party.

In any case, I'm in the market for a new iMac, or a next rev. Mac Mini (perhaps the Mini will be the famous 'one more thing' item )

 

[maccompaq]

I just wonder how many of us need the same kind computer- we should start a poll!!!

I really need the same thing! I don't want the xeon and the imac isn't enough. Come on Apple do something instead of money grubbing over the iphone!

As soon as Apple produces a power tower between the iMac and MacPro, I will buy it. I do not care for the slim iMac that retains too much heat that reduces life of components.