Motorola moving ahead with "G5"

[gbojim]

Thought some people might find this interesting. It is from the latest RapidIO newsletter.

Live Demonstration of Next Generation MPC8560 Integrated Communications Processor Showcased for Customers and Smart Networks Alliance Partners

SMART NETWORKS DEVELOPER FORUM, DALLAS - March 26, 2003 - The revolution in high-performance communications processing has begun. Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today demonstrated live silicon functionality of the next generation PowerQUICC? III processor containing a PowerPC® core to a packed house at its Smart Networks Developers Forum (SNDF) taking place in Dallas, Texas. ...

 

[cubist]

The 8500 series processors aren't "G5"s. They're dedicated processors for I/O boards in routers and other comm equipment. Very good too, at work we use a board with the whole SS7 stack running on the card. It runs at a whopping 70MHz.

 

[gbojim]

Originally posted by cubist
The 8500 series processors aren't "G5"s. They're dedicated processors for I/O boards in routers and other comm equipment. Very good too, at work we use a board with the whole SS7 stack running on the card. It runs at a whopping 70MHz.

You are correct that they are embedded processors. However, Motorola classifies them as part of the G5 family.

 

[Sun Baked]

Originally posted by gbojim
You are correct that they are embedded processors. However, Motorola classifies them as part of the G5 family.

But Motorola also hijacked Apple's naming scheme...

And it's doubtful Apple would classify it as a G5, since it wouldn't really be the next processor of choice to go in the PowerMac.

But I think Apple may eventually decide to use an actual trademarked name, after having their naming scheme hijacked like the x86s.

 

[gbojim]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
But Motorola also hijacked Apple's naming scheme...

Not true. Apple did not start using the Gn naming scheme until the G3 arrived. Motorola started with the 601 which was the G1.

I agree that Apple will move away from the Gn scheme assuming they start using the 970.

 

[mangoduck]

Not true. Apple did not start using the Gn naming scheme until the G3 arrived. Motorola started with the 601 which was the G1.

what sense does that make? following that logic:

601 = G1
603 = G2 (or maybe G3, since they skipped 602?)
604 = G3
G3 ...waitamin, 604 = G3??

see?

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I kind of thought the "G" stood for Generation in regards to Mac chips. Thus:

68000 Series = G1
601 Series = G2
750 Series = G3
7400 Series = G4

So we're on the fourth generation of chips for the Macintosh, approaching the fifth generation. As opposed to PC Generations:

8088
8086
80286
80386
80486
Pentium
Pentium Pro
Pentium II
Pentium III
Pentium 4

 

[gbojim]

Originally posted by mangoduck
what sense does that make? following that logic:

601 = G1
603 = G2 (or maybe G3, since they skipped 602?)
604 = G3
G3 ...waitamin, 604 = G3??

see?

It is not based on what either you or I may consider as logical. Motorla's identification is:

G1: 601
G2: 603, 603e and 604
G3: 740 and 750
G4: 74xx
G5: 85xx

This data is straight from the Motorola PPC roadmap.

 

[GeeYouEye]

For Clarification:
G1 = 601, 604, & (IIRC) 603
G2 = 603e, 604e
G3 = 750
G4 = 7400
G5? = 8500?

Edit: two seconds late, and not as accurate as the post above. Ignore me.

 

[MisterMe]

Originally posted by mangoduck
what sense does that make? following that logic:

601 = G1
603 = G2 (or maybe G3, since they skipped 602?)
604 = G3
G3 ...waitamin, 604 = G3??

see?

As has been explained by others, the "Generation" naming scheme does not refer to the Macintosh. It refers to generations of the Power Macintosh. And since, the 601 and 604 are IBM products, it makes little even less sense for Motorola to name them anything.

 

[szark]

Originally posted by gbojim
It is not based on what either you or I may consider as logical. Motorla's identification is:

G1: 601
G2: 603, 603e and 604
G3: 740 and 750
G4: 74xx
G5: 85xx

This data is straight from the Motorola PPC roadmap.

Actually, it's very logical if you look at the right information on the roadmap. Motorola classifies each generation by the process technology it uses:

G1: 0.60µ process -- 601
G2: 0.50µ process -- 603, 603e and 604
G3: 0.27µ process -- 740 and 750
G4: 0.15µ process -- 74xx
G5: 0.10µ process -- 85xx