Any chance of Nehalem processors fitting into the current MacPros? Processor upgrade path?
Dream on. No more FSB will definately require an updated motherboard.
And read my sig - I wish it could be true...
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Intel Outlines Next Generation Processors (Nehalem) Due in Late 2008
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Dream on. No more FSB will definately require an updated motherboard.
And read my sig - I wish it could be true...
But you know what. If you need a computer in 2008, or 2010 they would have a new processor. They come out with new stuff several times a year. And you knwo what else? No matter when you buy there will be something new in six months that is better
I learned this lesson very early on in my Apple journey. My first Mac, a G5 iMac was updated 3 weeks after my purchase...
I couldn't return it, plus there was a $200 price drop!So, with my MacBook Pro in November 2006, I waited until Merom came out. I wanted a laptop, bought the 17" model the day it hit the stores. It was the same price as the 32-bit Yonah MBP, so I got the best at the time. Merom ended up lasting 6 months until May '07 when Santa Rosa came out.
My game plan remains the same for the future, I really recommend this to everyone. Buy the computer soon after they are updated. I won't get another MBP until 2009, since my current MBP will be 2 - 2.5 years old. Nehalem will bring so many more improvements versus Santa Rosa and Penryn. I'm EXTREMELY excited (plus I get to use my discount for working at the Apple store!!)
Ah, the System Controller (called Northbridge to PC folks) will still be there. what happens is the memory will connect to the CPU's directly as will the CPUs. They will no longer have to talk to the System Controller (Northbridge) to talk to one another. The System Controller could be integrated in to the I/O controller (which is called a Southbridge to PC folks), but that isn't needed. The downside? Any new memory types will require a new socket a new processor and a new systemboard.
New design
As i have stated in several previous posting, my expectations is that 2009 will bring some design changes for the laptops and the Mac Pro.
Due to the consolidation of chips, there is less need for real state in the motherboard and due to less cooling required and the placement of the chips, vents and fans placement are likely to be affected.
These babies will scream and look a little different, but it is just a guess on my part.
As i have stated in several previous posting, my expectations is that 2009 will bring some design changes for the laptops and the Mac Pro.
Due to the consolidation of chips, there is less need for real state in the motherboard and due to less cooling required and the placement of the chips, vents and fans placement are likely to be affected.
These babies will scream and look a little different, but it is just a guess on my part.
You might want to edit that last line in your post... Jobs has an all seeing eye!
What hard drive? Solid state drives are developing as fast as the intel platforms.
Advice for "Waiters"
If you are waiting for the "next great thing" from Apple and want to predict when Apple will use some new Intel chip, do not look at Intel's projected release date. Look insted at the date that Intel says they will phase out the old chips. It is these "phase outs" that seem to motivate Apple.
If you are waiting for the "next great thing" from Apple and want to predict when Apple will use some new Intel chip, do not look at Intel's projected release date. Look insted at the date that Intel says they will phase out the old chips. It is these "phase outs" that seem to motivate Apple.
I can never seem to get away with mentioning that I work there.... but I didn't even talk about stock levels, super secret plans!!
What else is Apple to do? Stick with the older CPU's and pay more? Or stop using Intel?
Well that's certainly pessimistic of you. I've had many Revision A Macs and have never had a single problem....including a Core Duo iMac, which was Apple's first foray into using Intel chips.
Well, I'm not waiting for new technology/chips, specifically. I'm just not in need of replacing my current Mac right now. I'm targeting WWDC/June 2009 for my next purchase...which is why this Nehalem article is exciting as it seems like it will be launched in that time frame.
By super-secret plans, I assume you're talking about the headless Imac that is undoubtably in the works....
Cue the headless Imac posts - another thread destroyed!
Shh dont joke about Skynet! I live a mile from a one of the worlds most secretive and largest military underground bunkers, which had once investigated UFO's and alsorts of stuff, but anyway a section of it is called Skynet, and they are listening to every word you say.
I kid you not!
do a google for "skynet corsham" or/and "Rudloe Manor UFO"
My next computer
My next computer will be a MacBook air with a 2.4 Ghz processor based off this new architecture, 4 GB of memory, and a 128 GB solid state hard drive. It will have at least 5 hours of battery life (or Apple claims for 6 hours), and it will run very cool. I expect it will hit around early 2009.
My next computer will be a MacBook air with a 2.4 Ghz processor based off this new architecture, 4 GB of memory, and a 128 GB solid state hard drive. It will have at least 5 hours of battery life (or Apple claims for 6 hours), and it will run very cool. I expect it will hit around early 2009.
Brilliant idea! Thermonators can be made entirely out of heat sinks
Get to work on the designs and submit it to skynet in 2011. I can't guarantee skynet won't steal your idea as it's own though..But I still mean terminators
Is Nehalem "Gilo" that meaningful an upgrade?
Since the mobile versions of Nehalem won't have an IMC, won't this update be yet another average 10-15% speed bump as has been the norm?
I get that there are refinements in the arch that will help encoding, probably something similar to the Yonah -> Merom upgrade, but can anyone with more knowledge explain why Nehalem would be such a meaningful upgrade to MB/MBP users?
Since the mobile versions of Nehalem won't have an IMC, won't this update be yet another average 10-15% speed bump as has been the norm?
I get that there are refinements in the arch that will help encoding, probably something similar to the Yonah -> Merom upgrade, but can anyone with more knowledge explain why Nehalem would be such a meaningful upgrade to MB/MBP users?
Oh noes, Skynet already exists!! It's just waiting... waiting underground for the time to strike..... and collect enough Coltan to build terminators... I see what it's doing..... I see!
I better not keep typing Skynet, but it's ok if I type it now because I'm using it in a sentence about not typing it.
Wait....... that means that....... James Cameron knows about it! And if James Cameron knows..... then Lena Heady knows.... and I think Grace Park knows too....... But why, skynet why!
Don't wait for 2011! Run AWAYYYYYYYY
Not just strike from underground but from the air, as this recent job description makes out...
"
Duties will include:
•Controlling Skynet 4 and Skynet 5 Spacecraft in accordance with authorised procedures.
•Working as part of a team on a 2 Days, 2 Nights, 4 Off Shift Cycle.
•Contributing to the drafting of Operational Documentation and development of Test Plans in support of Spacecraft Operations.
The successful candidate must be a:
•A Spacecraft Professional with previous practical exposure in Spacecraft Control operations.
•Previous exposure in the SKYNET programme is highly desirable.
•Security Clearance is a requirement for this position. "
link: http://www.justengineers.net/vacancies/vacancy-details.asp?id=552303
Intel sure do their best to keep these things confusing! In the old days, the chips in each CPU family started at a low number and when an improved chip came out the number went up or added a letter.
68000 cpu => 68010 => 68020
601 cpu => 603 => 604
G3 cpu => G4 => G5
Now with intel we have
clovertown (= core2?) => penryn? (core2duo?) => nehalem?
I'm sure that last progression of CPUs is completely incorrect, and that's my point. There is absolutely zero logical sense in how intel names their CPUs.
68000 cpu => 68010 => 68020
601 cpu => 603 => 604
G3 cpu => G4 => G5
Now with intel we have
clovertown (= core2?) => penryn? (core2duo?) => nehalem?
I'm sure that last progression of CPUs is completely incorrect, and that's my point. There is absolutely zero logical sense in how intel names their CPUs.
I learned this lesson very early on in my Apple journey. My first Mac, a G5 iMac was updated 3 weeks after my purchase...
So, with my MacBook Pro in November 2006, I waited until Merom came out. I wanted a laptop, bought the 17" model the day it hit the stores. It was the same price as the 32-bit Yonah MBP, so I got the best at the time. Merom ended up lasting 6 months until May '07 when Santa Rosa came out.
My game plan remains the same for the future, I really recommend this to everyone. Buy the computer soon after they are updated. I won't get another MBP until 2009, since my current MBP will be 2 - 2.5 years old. Nehalem will bring so many more improvements versus Santa Rosa and Penryn. I'm EXTREMELY excited (plus I get to use my discount for working at the Apple store!!)
My first mac was G4 Powerbook I bought from a friend who gave me a good deal (just to get me to 'switch'). The day the SR MBPs came out I bought a 17" one. I expect it to last a long time given the power it has. Unless my usage (no games or major graphics...just Xcode and communications) or something else radically changes I can't see a time when I'm going to buy another computer in the near or medium term...
The complexity is such that I would still like to see a diagram. In a two Nehalem system, do the QPIs connect to the Northbridge or to each other? If the memory is "3 Ch" does that mean that each Nehalem has three banks of memory? If I have one application running on both Nehalems, then on which Nehalem's memory does the program code reside? Could it sometimes reside with both? Can OSX handle that? Is it possible and perhaps easy to create a four Nehalem system? Would that require a different Northbridge chip? Etc.