Intel Core 2 Quad in January

[weldon]

We are talking about a Mac here, not a Slingbox.

Uh, I thought we were talking about a media center box that could record two ATSC streams and play back a third, which is what the original post asked for. I only pointed out that you don't need much horsepower to do that.

I also ALREADY pointed out that you need more horsepower to do transcoding. Please stop trying to argue with me by setting up a point that I have already made and positioning it such that it appears to refute my other valid points.

I disagree that multi-core CPU's will make it into lots of consumer electronics (which is how you defined the market earlier). Sure, there will be high-end Home Theater PC's (Macs included), but most people will be happy playing HD-DVD, Blu-ray, and ATSC HD content that can be decoded quite well with an IC. Very few will be transcoding that content.

Quad-core CPU's will make it into lots of content CREATION applications where that power is desperately needed.

 

[weldon]

They may disagree, or they might just be distracted by the task of trying to stay out of jail....

Hehe. Maybe if they had spent less time trying to falsify documents, I would have that mini-tower Mac I want so badly...

talk about misspent energy. sheesh. As a shareholder, I'm angry about it. It's just greed, pure and simple.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing these quad-core chips in action.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

App's not multi-threaded?

Whenever multiple cores/cpus conversations come up here, people inevitably start complaining about app's that aren't coded to take advantage of them. I'm wondering what apps people are using now-a-days that are not multi-threaded / able to take advantage of multi-core's?

I use a Dual CPU G4 all of the time and I always see both CPU meters moving pretty much in sync. I know that multi-core is seen by the OS pretty much the same as multi-cpu so I would expect those of you with dual core chips to see similar results.

FWIW, the app's I use are fairly common: iMovie, iDVD, Final Cut Pro 4, Pages, Keynote, MS Office 2004

 

[askthedust]

makes sense

Steve's keynote is on the second day (9th) and CES seems to run at the same time. Intel can announce and then Steve can announce....

 

[SPUY767]

If a single four core processor is cheaper than two dual core processors, then Apple can use them to either make more profit or to sell cheaper MacPros or both.

The Mac Pro isn't going to change architecture, it will merely become an 8 Core Machine. Apple dove into the XEON pool, and not without reason. They aren't going to get out now.

 

[weldon]

I'm wondering what apps people are using now-a-days that are not multi-threaded / able to take advantage of multi-core's?

Another consideration (especially with consumer machines) is that, even if you run apps that don't use multiple cores, your system will still feed more responsive if the background tasks and system UI can still get access to another core should some app try and hog CPU time when doing something intensive. Pros probably understand what's happening when you start a compile or rendering. Consumers will just appreciate that even when a certain task takes a while to complete, they can still get other stuff done.

 

[AidenShaw]

not sure if you're implying that it can't be both

The Mac Pro isn't going to change architecture, it will merely become an 8 Core Machine. Apple dove into the XEON pool, and not without reason. They aren't going to get out now.

The multi-socket Xeons on the high end will continue to make sense, with various numbers of cores. Dell/HP/IBM/... sell quads (dual dual-core) and octos (dual quad-core) side-by-side. Before too long, there will be hex systems as well (dual octo-core).

Apple just needs to add a mini-tower/pizza-box to the lineup - the ProMac is simply too huge for many people.

The mini-tower would be single socket - so the ProMac would always have the capacity for twice as many cores.

The mini-tower would have some expandability - a real PCIe x16 graphics socket, a second bay for either a SATA hard drive or SATA optical drive, and one or two PCIe x4 option slots. (One slot would have the NTSC/ATSC tuner card for the Media Centre Edition.)

 

[sachamun]

Whew, so many cores to handle! I can't wait to see where this goes.

 

[Josias]

Before you all get your hopes up too much I just thought I'd point up that this is a processor for high end desktop pcs. The iMacs are technically made up of laptop components and use laptop processors which have a different pin configuration. We're going to have to wait for Core 2 Quad laptop processors before we see any quad cored iMacs, I'm afraid.

Not completely true.

CPU: Laptop (but used t desktop with the G5, and may very well happen again.
RAM: Laptop.
HDD: Desktop.
GPU: I don't know. Is it the X1600 Mobility?
Display: Desktop (I don't know of any 24" laptops )

The Mac Mini is built of laptop components, but the iMac is a desktop in it's best form, and I think it's very plausible with a C2Q in there.

 

[BenRoethig]

Not completely true.

CPU: Laptop (but used t desktop with the G5, and may very well happen again.
RAM: Laptop.
HDD: Desktop.
GPU: I don't know. Is it the X1600 Mobility?
Display: Desktop (I don't know of any 24" laptops )

The Mac Mini is built of laptop components, but the iMac is a desktop in it's best form, and I think it's very plausible with a C2Q in there.

There isn't a socket M C2Q and probably won't be for at least another year. Using desktop parts would lead to a machine much thicker and louder.

 

[FleurDuMal]

Not completely true.

CPU: Laptop (but used t desktop with the G5, and may very well happen again.
RAM: Laptop.
HDD: Desktop.
GPU: I don't know. Is it the X1600 Mobility?
Display: Desktop (I don't know of any 24" laptops )

The Mac Mini is built of laptop components, but the iMac is a desktop in it's best form, and I think it's very plausible with a C2Q in there.

I think the iMac GPU is mobile...but some really obscure mobile form that's impossible to find and is barely even made (apart from for iMacs).

It is very likely that I'm completely wrong on this though.

 

[BenRoethig]

I think the iMac GPU is mobile...but some really obscure mobile form that's impossible to find and is barely even made (apart from for iMacs).

It is very likely that I'm completely wrong on this though.

The x1600 used in the 17&20 inch models is a mobile part. The chips in the 24" model are desktop chips on a mobile mxm card.

 

[Mac'Mo]

ooo quad core, thats cool, rushing technology quickly

 

[twoodcc]

ooo quad core, thats cool, rushing technology quickly

yes it is

 

[AidenShaw]

http://news.com.com/Three+Intel+quad-cores+coming+Monday/2100-1006_3-6147614.html

Intel plans to launch three quad-core processors on Monday, covering two Xeons for lower-end servers and one mainstream model for desktop computers, sources familiar with the plan said.

As expected, the desktop chip is called the Core 2 Quad 6600 and will join the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 model Intel already ships. The new processor will run at 2.4GHz, and the front-side bus that links the chip to the rest of the system will run at 1066MHz, the company is expected to announce at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week.

Also set to arrive are two low-end Xeons, the 2.13GHz 3210 and 2.4GHz 3220. Both are designed for single-socket servers. The chips have 8MB cache and a 1066MHz front-side bus.

....

 

[BenRoethig]

Of note, the Xeon 3000 line are desktop Core 2s with ECC support. The C2Q 6600 and Xeon 3220 are for all intents and purposes the same chip.

 

[dogbait]

Whew, so many cores to handle! I can't wait to see where this goes.

AHHHH, that's funny!

I for one would love a more affordable 'Mac Pro', however Apple are right now seeing growing sales of their computers. I think that we'll have to wait till sales start to flatten before they introduce another product line.