IBM's PowerPC 750GX

[jhar257]

Can they use this processor before 2004?

An ibook running at 1.1GHz with a 200 MHz bus and 1Mb L2 cache will trounce the current 12 inch powerbook. So there is no way they can use this chip until they can upgrade the 12 inch powerbook to at least 1 GHz WITH L3 cache. Of course they can always cripple the ibook

 

[fpnc]

Everyone who is saying that 1.1GHz is fine __would__ be correct if that system were available today or perhaps even three months from now. If IBM says that they plan on entering into production in December you have to allow some time for Apple to actually build new iBooks using these chips. So I'd say that a January 2004 ship date seems on the optimistic side, possibly later. That's over __six__ months from today, so I stand by my original statement -- too little and too late. Of course, maybe IBM will pull another "fast one" and introduce speeds at between 1.2 and 1.3 GHz (and sooner rather than later).

Apple's competition in the iBook/G3 product space probably has to be considered the Pentium M (Centrino products). However, the Pentium M low-end is already in the 1.2GHz to 1.3Ghz range (today, not in six more months). On the high-end Intel is already shipping Pentium Ms at 1.7GHz. So, while Apple is beginning to regain parity in the desktop space with the G5 it looks like there may be trouble ahead for the G3 notebook product line. And like I said, if we're lucky we may see G5 notebooks in the first quarter of 2004, and that would allow the G4s to move into the iBook line (assuming that Apple and Motorola remain in business together).

 

[Puppies]

Yeah, while I'm certainlly happy with anything that gives Apple more options-this would have been exciting three years ago. Now it's just...whatever.

And the current G3 can ALREADY use a 200MHZ system bus, it's just that Apple cripples it to 100mhz to make the jump from a G3 to a G4 larger. Apple could technically throw a Radeon 9600/Geforce 5600, 1Ghz G3 w/200mhz system bus and at least PC2100 DDR RAM together right now if they wanted to.

 

[macphoria]

So if this mythical AltiVec/SIMD enabled G3 from IBM called "Mojave" or 750vx does come out, what are the chances of it being called G4?

What would be better, newer G4 from Motorola or 750vx in the new iBook?

 

[utilizer]

Originally posted by macphoria
So if this mythical AltiVec/SIMD enabled G3 from IBM called "Mojave" or 750vx does come out, what are the chances of it being called G4?

What would be better, newer G4 from Motorola or 750vx in the new iBook?

I'd say the G4 and I'll qualify that statement: The G4 only if Apple pairs it with L3 cache, since a 200 mhz FSB is still waaayyy too slow for such an efficient chip. That is the worst thing Motorola did. They didn't design the elements around the system, they just made the parts and put 'em all together.
Just look at how the IBM/Apple G5 architecture looks up against anything Moto has ever done. Everything was designed from the ground up to work with every part in there to the best ability and some we wait for (AGP 8x). It's pitiful what Moto has done, although gotta hand it to them, great stop gap measures. (although, yes I know the Gobi is an IBM manufactured chip, but only modified by them, NOT designed by them, but ultimately Moto made the G3/G4 variants.)

 

[MacsRgr8]

Re: Re: Re: Mojave

Originally posted by frescies
Um.... Why are the G3 architectures named after deserts???

Probably 'cause there is no life left in both of them.
Get real. Starting half a year from now a G3@1.1 Ghz. I can't imagine anyone getting over excited on that one. It's hardly ground breaking news if Apple were to announce a 1.1. Ghz G3 iBook @ MWSF '04.... unless it were $ 599,- or so.

Still its nice having options.

 

[analogkid]

Originally posted by utilizer
This might be a terrific upgrade for PowerLogix to invest in for the Pismo PBs. Listen up guys: I'd buy it!

No way am I going buy a G4 laptop now and Moto has driven up the wall, I can't stand them anymore. I'll wait for the G5 PowerBooks, thank you very much!

Besides, the G5 desktop is all I need for heavy duty graphic composition and I can take the 1.1 Ghz Pismo (hopefully) on the road with me with some power to spare. Jump on it PL!

Make mine Wallstreet. The best Powerbook yet.
how about 2 pmcia slots, 3(!) harddrives, and built in scsi and serial (which are important to my old synth devices)
The current upgrade card from Sonnett is a 500mhz G4 for $400, supporting 512mb ram... not bad for a Wallstreet but it would be nice if they doubled it.

 

[murak]

1mb L2 good

With the G5 live and kicking Apple should increse the performance of the other computers faster than before. Speed gap is a problem, and I don´t think we should blame anyone for it - everybody is guilty, big blue should have released the "G5" earlyer, Motorola should have made the lowpower G4 available sooner and Apple should have pushed them both. The G3 is a fine cpu and there is no reason to replace it. Altivec is nice but more expensive and does not fit into the iBook line of thinking. Higher bus speed and more cache will boost performance a bit and give OSX a more rapid feel. New iBooks should be out before end of summer, considering the resent price fall. Ibook is here to stay.

And thats my oppinion, so you can´t tuch me

 

[BenRoethig]

There's another possibility. The 750GX could be for the embedded market only. It would not surprise me if Apple requested an Altivec G3 at the same time as they inquired about the 970.

 

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by adamfilip
1 year ago a pro needed a g4 tower.. now a g5? i mean yeah that would be great!. but a professional can do the same work on a B/W 350MHZ G3 tower as he can on a dual 2ghz g5, it might take substantially longer but the software is the same.

If you spend any of your time waiting for your computer, and you are in a competitive field, then, yes, you need the latest and greatest. Why? Because if you don't have it, your competition will.

It doesn't matter much how efficient you are if half of your time is spent waiting for the computer to do its part and your competition doesn't have to wait at all. Even if they take half again as much time to do stuff, since they don't have to wait on their computer they end up getting the job done faster (and cheaper) than you.

But, yes, if you never find yourself waiting on your computer, then a faster machine is not going to help you.

 

[NNO-Stephen]

This would be good for PB G3 upgrades... Pismo already has a 900Mhz G3 upgrade, but it only has 512k of L2 Cache... 1MB would be nice... would keep the Pismo rockin for another year or two beyond the current G3/900Mhz upgrade.

 

[Phinius]

Apple's intentions for 750GX

If Apple intends to only use the 750 processors for the iBooks then the next upgrade for the iBooks will be in December or January. It's fairly obvious that Apple will use the G4 in the iBooks very soon to make it more competitive in performance and this will probably be announced by Steve Jobs this month.

It would appear that Apple has other intentions for the 750GX other than the current sized iBooks. Since the 750GX is scheduled to be made in December its likely that a new product will be announced by Apple in January that makes use of this low watt 750GX. Perhaps some sort of a Apple tablet computer?