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May 18th? G5 Updates?

Should I buy or should I wait?

Actually My question is the same as one of the above...is there any reason to wait longer? I keep hearing tales of buzzing whining and screeching fans...Thanks in advance for any of your advice.
crank!
 
thehuncamunca said:
apple really needs to update the G5's ASAP, even if they're not a whole lot faster cut the prices up the video RAM to 128MB standard 256MB on the 9800, add some higher end graphics options, include bluetooth and AE standard like on the new powerbooks
Click to expand...

You know, it's not that simple. Apple can't just drop cards in and pretend that they're going to work. They need ADC soldered onto the board, drivers written for the cards, additions to the frameworks of the OS to reference everything... Even though I agree with you that the graphics cards should be updated in a very serious way, that doesn't mean it will be easy or cheap for Apple to do so. Economies of scale still apply.

I just wish they'd get the Wildcats and FireGLs back in the game. I think the G5 would scream on some of those benchmarks we're starting to fall behind in if they'd just get pro cards again.

My dream for WWDC is to see dual 3.5ghz G5s running an NV6800, with a top-specced dual PC alongside it. The obvious outcome, since this is a dream, is the total trouncing of the PC world's best, and an announcemnt of the PowerPC 980 for the next summer, by which time Apple will have transitioned to a whole new batch of chips.

Picture this, if you will, in a year and a half:
The eMac and iBook are running PPC 750vx singles at 2.5ghz in the same form factors and with a heat cost of only 12 watts.
PowerBooks have moved to dual processor 750vx at 2.5ghz, while keeping their heat profile as well.
The iMac as an all-in-one is dead. In it's place, there's a three-step consumer mac running dual 970fx chips at 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 ghz, with limited expansion and a smaller case.
The PowerMac is now running next-generation chips that have been designed from the ground up alongdie their heavier-grade sibling. Dual 980s are under the hood at 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 ghz, accessing DDR2 RAM and providing for the trend Apple has of following emerging markets, like PCI-Extreme and the next revision of IEEE 1394 and 802.11.

Hey, I can lust after it if I want! :D

x86isslow said:
The thing is, IBM actually made the effort to get chips out when they said they would (xServe), but blew it by trying to add TWO new technologies at one at the same time as shrinking the process to 90nm.
Click to expand...

Yeah, pretty much. There's some good information out there about how everyone has gotten their designs hurt by going 90nm, because of leaks, interference, and crosstalk. Nobody expected things to be this severe when the jump was being discussed a year or two ago.

IBM could probably have delivered 2.3Ghz G5s for the xServe in time, provided they be at the old 130nm design. But people are reporting that finally, the Dual 2Ghz xServes are arriving, so this is good news.
Click to expand...

It would have gotten a bit warm, though. The G5 at 2.0ghz was right around 45-50 watts, as I recall, and you get decreasing performance for increasing heat past a certain point. That's why the Pentirum 4 is racing to and past 100 watts.

As for the 3s. Apple will probably go dual 2.4 and 2.8, and then have the Dual 3s show up after the summer ends- provided Fishkill is up to capacity on the 90nm by then. (crosses fingers)
Click to expand...

I expect them to at least demo 3.0ghz machines at WWDC, actually. I'd love to believe we'll see a quantum jump, though, on the order of a 75% increase in clock from the process shrink and redesigns. Sure, it'll run a little hotter in the end, but who doesn't want a 3.5ghz G5? ;)
 
I have been waiting and waiting forever, but you know what, i will continue to wait. This will be the first Mac that i have owned and it will be well worth the money when it comes out. If its May 18th thats ok i will have to wait as it is, as i just purchased a Nikon D70. If not no big deal. I just want a G5 with PCI Express and a new form factor display to go with it. That and no more production problems from IBM, so the G5 can make it into the Powerbooks by the time i need a new laptop next summer and before my student discount is up.
 
thatwendigo said:
Picture this, if you will, in a year and a half:
The eMac and iBook are running PPC 750vx singles at 2.5ghz in the same form factors and with a heat cost of only 12 watts.
PowerBooks have moved to dual processor 750vx at 2.5ghz, while keeping their heat profile as well.
The iMac as an all-in-one is dead. In it's place, there's a three-step consumer mac running dual 970fx chips at 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 ghz, with limited expansion and a smaller case.
The PowerMac is now running next-generation chips that have been designed from the ground up alongdie their heavier-grade sibling. Dual 980s are under the hood at 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 ghz, accessing DDR2 RAM and providing for the trend Apple has of following emerging markets, like PCI-Extreme and the next revision of IEEE 1394 and 802.11.

Hey, I can lust after it if I want! :D
Click to expand...
I don't think we'll see dual CPU machines based around the G3 anytime soon, the chip lacked the cache coherency protocol that the earlier 604 and the later G4 had.
 
Jag31X said:
I was planning on getting a new G5, but should I wait for an update?
Click to expand...

Although this particular update rumor is most likely bogus, the answer is YES.

Capital Y-E-S. :D

Unless, of course, you're one of those people who don't care that they pay top dollar for the top-of-the-line machine when they know that it will be a second-rate machine worth a good bit less in a matter of weeks.
 
numediaman said:
I'm waiting for a rev b, too. But May 18th? Sounds like a date pulled out of a hat. Besides, I thought the date was March 23rd?
Click to expand...

Remember the Paul Mason winery commercial?

Apple will ship no revB G5s, until its time. :p
 
Does it matter?

Unfortunately, at this point in time any G5 updates that do not involve a 3Ghz processor will suffer greatly in the sales department. Even if they are the best Macs ever they will suffer from the old pre-MacWorld sales slump, with everyone waiting for the bigger and better announcement.

As for the displays, Apple needs a monitor with an adjustable design like this:

http://www.eyegonomic.com/page.dsp?page=133

and the the professional color management like this:

http://www.barco.com/corporate/en/products/product.asp?element=2251

That is something alot of proffesionals would pay for.
 
I predict that new Powermacs will appear sooner than that. Probably this coming Tuesday. Maybe even tomorrow. My reason? Just bought a dual 1.8 (was holding out for SOOO long but need it now for a project :-/) So thank me when new ones come out! :)

Got a decent deal, though -- $1999 (it's new, not refurb) -- only regret is not buying it earlier... hope I don't have fan noises, I'll report back with any problems, but so far the thing is awesome -- just ordered 2 gigs of ram so once that goes in it'll be even better (but even with only 512 mb it's still quite the speedy machine)...
 
Who really needs a 3.0 GHz machine?

It amazes me how spoiled everyone is acting. Honestly, who really needs a 3.0 GHz dual processor machine?

In my opinion a 2.4 GHz model at the top end would be more than acceptable...
 
alexf said:
It amazes me how spoiled everyone is acting. Honestly, who really needs a 3.0 GHz dual processor machine?

In my opinion a 2.4 GHz model at the top end would be more than acceptable...
Click to expand...

Yes thats true some people just want bragging rights! On the other hand people who are seriously into Video Editing will really want a dual 3.0 GHz PowerMac G5. I'd just like to have a 1.6 GHz G5. That would more than satisfy my needs.
 
alexf said:
It amazes me how spoiled everyone is acting. Honestly, who really needs a 3.0 GHz dual processor machine?

In my opinion a 2.4 GHz model at the top end would be more than acceptable...
Click to expand...

No matter what comes out when it does i am purchasing the mid level G5 no matter what it is as long as its a dualie. I just need something that will last me for a few years, as i know the rev A G5s will but i don't like to purchase a computer on the first revision. I would like the computer befor i start classes next fall.
 
.a said:
somehow i do not care about 3ghz ... whatever comes i'll get it - i simply have to update my dual g4 450 mhz ... well, people will be "disapointed" - though a 2.4 ghz machine for sure is great !!! especially if you have 8 gb of ram !!! this will scream !!!
.a
Click to expand...

Heh, I still have a Dual 450 G4 as well. It works fine but I would love to upgrade. I'm still holding out until Apple releases some updated Cinema displays.
 
thatwendigo said:
Picture this, if you will, in a year and a half:
The eMac and iBook are running PPC 750vx singles at 2.5ghz in the same form factors and with a heat cost of only 12 watts.
PowerBooks have moved to dual processor 750vx at 2.5ghz, while keeping their heat profile as well.
The iMac as an all-in-one is dead. In it's place, there's a three-step consumer mac running dual 970fx chips at 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 ghz, with limited expansion and a smaller case.
The PowerMac is now running next-generation chips that have been designed from the ground up alongdie their heavier-grade sibling. Dual 980s are under the hood at 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 ghz, accessing DDR2 RAM and providing for the trend Apple has of following emerging markets, like PCI-Extreme and the next revision of IEEE 1394 and 802.11.
Click to expand...
When Apple puts dual processors in their powerbooks, i'll eat my left lung. after i cook it in my own urine. get real. if you can make a single processor run at 12 watts, putting 2 in will take at least 24 if not more from random overhead. that's a lot of heat for a laptop proc. plus, think about size. powerbooks are small laptops. fitting two CPUs on a single logic board takes loads of space. it's not going to happen. There will be single G5s in the powerbooks, just face it.
 
shadowfax said:
When Apple puts dual processors in their powerbooks, i'll eat my left lung. after i cook it in my own urine. get real. if you can make a single processor run at 12 watts, putting 2 in will take at least 24 if not more from random overhead. that's a lot of heat for a laptop proc. plus, think about size. powerbooks are small laptops. fitting two CPUs on a single logic board takes loads of space. it's not going to happen. There will be single G5s in the powerbooks, just face it.
Click to expand...

very true, if you ever look a dual CPU logic board you'll see its alot more complex than a normal board. Alot more traces and more densely populated, and thats on a normal ATX size board. I can't imagine them shrinking it that much more to make it fit a powerbook.
 
Oh yeah!

&RU said:
Unfortunately, at this point in time any G5 updates that do not involve a 3Ghz processor will suffer greatly in the sales department. Even if they are the best Macs ever they will suffer from the old pre-MacWorld sales slump, with everyone waiting for the bigger and better announcement.

As for the displays, Apple needs a monitor with an adjustable design like this:

http://www.eyegonomic.com/page.dsp?page=133

and the the professional color management like this:

http://www.barco.com/corporate/en/products/product.asp?element=2251
Click to expand...

I saw the links to the Eyegonomic website in another thread. Those ARE nice monitors, if I may say so.
 
alexf said:
It amazes me how spoiled everyone is acting. Honestly, who really needs a 3.0 GHz dual processor machine?

In my opinion a 2.4 GHz model at the top end would be more than acceptable...
Click to expand...

I didn't notice anyone acting spoiled. I think that most people just like to get what they are promised.

Of course we don't need a 3 Ghz machine (well, maybe some of us do), but Steve said 3 in under a year. And we're almost there. And 2.4 is not what was promised.

If being excited about getting what Apple promised is acting spoiled, then I'm a royal brat.

Actually, I know I'm a brat regardless, but that is beside the point. ;)
 
Borg3of5 said:
I saw the links to the Eyegonomic website in another thread. Those ARE nice monitors, if I may say so.
Click to expand...
They are amazing- fantastic industrial design! But...they are the most ridiculously overpriced monitors I've ever come across. 4,000 euro for the 24 (23" or 24, can't remember)? Get real. Plus, I called them and they said the monitors aren't recommended for video or color-critical work. What the hell are they for, email and word processing? And we though apple was overpriced.
 
otter-boy said:
It does seem like a very awkward time. If they release a product, it needs to be the 3 GHz. Otherwise, a lower clocked model would seem to indicate no 3+ GHz models until after the summer--many people would be quite unhappy with that.
Click to expand...

I agree. However, I think it seems obvious that 3 GHz Macs, if they do show up by the June-Sept. timeframe, will be staggered. I think we'll see dual 2.5 GHz 970fx PowerMacs in the May timeframe. In late June they will describe the all new 975 based Macs running at 3.0 Ghz, and a ship date of early August. I would assume the new G5 lineup would include a mix of 970fx and 975 G5's.

Seems plausible, yes? Ofcourse I suppose they may just miss the 3 GHz target, too. Nah...
 
oh so may reasons to wait for the next line!


I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS CASH APPLE!
 
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