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Single and Dual Core PM's
I'm not a high-end user with tons of extra cash lying around, but it sounds like many of you guys are... If ThinkSecret's rumored PM specs are correct, I would expect that the updated single-core machines would come with significant price drops. If the lowest model is a dual-processer 2Mhz system for $1500, that'd be killer! 😱
There's no reason that one or two dual-core top-end machine(s) couldn't be introduced in a couple of months and added to the existing PM line when production is ready. It will take some time for these pricey new chips to filter down to the rest of the line anyway - whether there from IBM, Intel, or AMD. From what I've read, the new dual-core chips from Intel and AMD that were introduced this week will only be found in machines with staring costs at $2500 and up at this time. 🙄
I'm not a high-end user with tons of extra cash lying around, but it sounds like many of you guys are... If ThinkSecret's rumored PM specs are correct, I would expect that the updated single-core machines would come with significant price drops. If the lowest model is a dual-processer 2Mhz system for $1500, that'd be killer! 😱
There's no reason that one or two dual-core top-end machine(s) couldn't be introduced in a couple of months and added to the existing PM line when production is ready. It will take some time for these pricey new chips to filter down to the rest of the line anyway - whether there from IBM, Intel, or AMD. From what I've read, the new dual-core chips from Intel and AMD that were introduced this week will only be found in machines with staring costs at $2500 and up at this time. 🙄
crpchristian said:
If there is no update until WWDC, then we aren't talking about a 10 month cycle - it's more like 18 months by the time they start shipping them. Say Apple announces a minor update on Tuesday, available on the 29th. Then at WWDC a big announcement comes - 3ghz or 970MP. Those machines will be announced, but not available until Q3 or Q4. Even if Apple did announce a big update like dual core, you gotta expect it's not going to be available until fall at best. That means there's plenty of time (6 months plus) that people like me could use an 'updated' machine, hopefully at a lower price.
If a big announcement like 3ghz or dual core is coming, I agree...it's not going to come until WWDC. But, with all the rumors, the changes in shipping dates and BTO on the Apple Store's website, something is up. And the faster Apple clues us in, the better chance I'm not going to jump ship and get a PC.
AidenShaw
macrumors P6
low cost dual-core Pentium D next month
The AMD dual-core chip coming out shortly is an Opteron for servers, and will be about $1500 to $2700 per chip! (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22646)
The Pentium 840 Extreme Edition dual-core announced this week is rumoured to cost about $1000 per chip.
In May, Intel will be introducing a second dual-core chip that should be as low as $241 - this puts a dual-core 2.8 GHz at about the same price as a single-core 3.2 GHz. (http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20050405/pentium_d-05.html)
It is known that Intel has more than 10 different multi-core projects - the one released this week is only the first to market. You can be sure that better designs are coming. The comments that "Intel's dual-core sucks because..." won't apply to the later designs.
OnaMacSince1989 said:
The AMD dual-core chip coming out shortly is an Opteron for servers, and will be about $1500 to $2700 per chip! (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22646)
The Pentium 840 Extreme Edition dual-core announced this week is rumoured to cost about $1000 per chip.
In May, Intel will be introducing a second dual-core chip that should be as low as $241 - this puts a dual-core 2.8 GHz at about the same price as a single-core 3.2 GHz. (http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20050405/pentium_d-05.html)
It is known that Intel has more than 10 different multi-core projects - the one released this week is only the first to market. You can be sure that better designs are coming. The comments that "Intel's dual-core sucks because..." won't apply to the later designs.
Mav451
macrumors 68000
Dang...looks like I'm sticking to my XP for a bit longer (lol).
*edit*
Actually its not so bad for dual-core that is desktop (non-server):
Model Frequency L2 Cache Pricing
4800+ 2.4GHz 1MB + 1MB $1001
4600+ 2.4GHz 512KB + 512KB $803
4400+ 2.2GHz 1MB + 1MB $581
4200+ 2.2GHz 512KB + 512KB $537
Looks like dual 2.2Ghz will be the "mainstream" chip in the next 6 months. And for the price of a single FX-55 (unlocked multiplier and all), you can get dual 2.4Ghz...uh this is looking like a no brainer (if you were deciding between the two). Plugging into existing 939 boards? Talk about a seamless transition
*edit*
Actually its not so bad for dual-core that is desktop (non-server):
Model Frequency L2 Cache Pricing
4800+ 2.4GHz 1MB + 1MB $1001
4600+ 2.4GHz 512KB + 512KB $803
4400+ 2.2GHz 1MB + 1MB $581
4200+ 2.2GHz 512KB + 512KB $537
TechReport.com said:
Looks like dual 2.2Ghz will be the "mainstream" chip in the next 6 months. And for the price of a single FX-55 (unlocked multiplier and all), you can get dual 2.4Ghz...uh this is looking like a no brainer (if you were deciding between the two). Plugging into existing 939 boards? Talk about a seamless transition
Yeah, it's not that bad.
All that combined with a significant price drop would be superb. =) Some of the people on this thread have pointed to not dropping the price at all and would still be competitive. If we know Apple, then of course there aren't going to be any price drops. With optimism I say, if we know Apple lately, we can see a price drop. =)
D*mnit, how do I respond to multple quotes? Anyways, someone else said soething about CRT's. I agree that they are dinosaur. But even offering a low-level mitsubishi tube with the Apple brand and fashion could be done fairly cheap- and I still think that there would be a big market in it, especially with the recent target of the low consumers who buy a Mac mini. A 15" or 17" LCD would be perfect.
le_coc said:
All that combined with a significant price drop would be superb. =) Some of the people on this thread have pointed to not dropping the price at all and would still be competitive. If we know Apple, then of course there aren't going to be any price drops. With optimism I say, if we know Apple lately, we can see a price drop. =)
D*mnit, how do I respond to multple quotes? Anyways, someone else said soething about CRT's. I agree that they are dinosaur. But even offering a low-level mitsubishi tube with the Apple brand and fashion could be done fairly cheap- and I still think that there would be a big market in it, especially with the recent target of the low consumers who buy a Mac mini. A 15" or 17" LCD would be perfect.
Mav451
macrumors 68000
calyxman: Of course you had to pick the most depressing quote out of that whole review -_-.
But yeah, availability is mostly for the high-end, with no "magic bullet" (e.g. sub $300 dual-core). Trickle down isn't even a possibility as its a production issue. Bleh.
On the other hand, it seems that the only one who will have dual-cores truly penetrating the market fully will be Intel. High production capacity and the economic stamina to be able to afford selling them for relatively low prices. Ah well.
But yeah, availability is mostly for the high-end, with no "magic bullet" (e.g. sub $300 dual-core). Trickle down isn't even a possibility as its a production issue. Bleh.
On the other hand, it seems that the only one who will have dual-cores truly penetrating the market fully will be Intel. High production capacity and the economic stamina to be able to afford selling them for relatively low prices. Ah well.
calyxman
macrumors 6502a
Yeah, but I'm still amazed by a company like AMD. Intel has all the wherewithal to roll out their product and absorb production costs, and yet still a smaller company like AMD can keep up and even outpace the chipmaking giant.
Hats off to those guys. They're staying in the race no matter what. 😎
Hats off to those guys. They're staying in the race no matter what. 😎
calyxman said:
Reason is pretty simple: AMD set out to create the kick-assest chip possible. They poured some serious engineering in to it, and the end-result was Athlon. And Athlon64/Opteron builds on that foundation. Basically the engineers created a CPU, and gave it to the marketing-folks.
Intel on the other hand set out to create a CPU that would be marketing-departments wet dream. They knew that people thought that "more Mhz, faster CPU". Basically, the marketing-department told the engineers what the CPU must be like. And the engineers did what they were told. End-results is the Pentium4, which runs very hot, but has high clocks.
The approach of the two is almost diametrically opposed. At AMD, it was the engineers who decided what the CPU will be like. At Intel, it was the marketing-department who decided what the CPU will be like. And we all know what the end-results are....
le_coc said:
I agree new PMs will be released next week. The announcement can happen any day next week though. (Apple has clearly moved away from Tuesdays only product launches recently).
Apple has large existing stocks of PMs, according to the rumor sites, so if they delay ship dates, it might mean something. Seven days ahead from when they changed the Europe stores (to seven days) and five from when they changed the U.S. store (to 3-5) points to early in the week (if not today).le_coc said:
But what happened when they came up with the Pentium-M? Those marketing guys must have been on a lunch-break or something with those clock speeds sub 2Ghz. 🙄Evangelion said:
aussie_geek
macrumors 65816
Go for launch!!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Have your credit cards ready for lethal assault next week. 😀
aussie_geek
Ladies and gentlemen,
Have your credit cards ready for lethal assault next week. 😀
aussie_geek
G.Kirby
macrumors regular
It is looking like the speed bumps will happen next week, althought I'm not expecting anything major.
Cash at the ready. PMac G5 (which ever one I can afford) 😀
Then the Klipsch speakers.
I'll go for the Dual duals after the second update, I don't want any problems like the 10.3.9 update on a hardware purchase.
Cash at the ready. PMac G5 (which ever one I can afford) 😀
Then the Klipsch speakers.
I'll go for the Dual duals after the second update, I don't want any problems like the 10.3.9 update on a hardware purchase.
BenRoethig
macrumors 68030
Mac-Xpert said:
And a slower bus, yet is significantly faster than the P4 per Megahetz. Anyone at Intel will tell you they shot themselves in the foot with the megahertz myth. A desktop version of the P-M is what they should be running against the A64, but they can't because they wouldn'6 go above 2.6-2.8ghz. So, here they are sitting a better chip that they can only use in notebooks because of their own marketing campaign.
G.Kirby said:
I would imagine it would be more cost effective for apple to just throw a tiger disk in with the delivery than to open PMs up and reinstall the OS (its not the parts that kills ya, its the labor...oh wait...where are these things put together?)...but i don't work in a mac distribution/packing place so i'm just speculating.
Anyone know if its just PMs with the shipping date change or is everything getting longer waits?