Motorola MPC7457 PDF

[MacRumors]

Motorola has posted a PDF with details of the MPC7457 processor.

The MPC7457 is described as the fourth implementation of the G4 Processor. It's a 32-bit chip with a 512KB L2 cache, and support for 1MB or 2MB of L3 cache.

According to the July, 2003 Motorola document, processors will be coming in at 867MHz, 1.0GHz, and 1.3GHz, with bus frequencies up to 167MHz. This is contrary to previous rumors from The Register that the chip would support a 200MHz bus.

Current Powerbooks sport 133-167MHz buses. Speculation has placed the PPC7457 in the long-awaited Powerbook revisions... but no significant confirmation of this is available.

 

[DrGonzo]

laughable

Sorry folks, this chip sounds lame for how long it's been. Apple might as well reduce the prices on the current powerbooks by a few hundred dollars and just tell us to wait for the smaller die G5s to appear in the powerbooks and stick those 7457's in the ibooks and what not. This is hardly what i would call a worthy update to the current line of g4s. If this chip does indeed make it into the powerbooks, the price better be damn good because imo there's no way they can charge what they charge now for something only SLIGHTLY better.

 

[IJ Reilly]

If true, what a positively underwhelming development this will be.

 

[tazznb]

Big WHOOP!

So what advantages (if any) are there to having this new chip?

Seems more like a snowjob.

 

[sharky2313]

wow moto lets us down again, I'm shocked. I agree with the previous posts. Apple should forego the chip entirely and just reduce the price on the books. That would help move units more than these chips

 

[chazmox]

I usually think most readers have their expectations set too high, but here comes Motorola to underwelm again. I am Jack sense of disappointment.

I wouldn't be surprised if the speed they were aiming for was not a bit higher, but the yields failed to materialize.

And 167 MHz bus speed? What are the advantages to this chip? The slightly higher speed? Has Motorola just chosen not to compete at all.

BTW, industry ratings of the top ten semiconductor firms came out today ( not sure what the criteria was ). Mot's been in the top ten since 1959. This is the first time since then they didn't make it...

 

[snofseth]

It's good news for owners of 12 or 17 pbooks. they will not seem obsolete. It makes me happy with all the hype about this update. Im glad I wont have a reason to get a new 12"

 

[jaedreth]

Possibilities

Now if they moved these chips to iBooks, then made the following configurations:

PB G4 12" 1GHz

PB G4 15.2" 1.3 GHz
PB G4 15.2" Dual 1GHz

PB G4 17" Dual 1GHz
PB G4 17" Dual 1.3GHz

Now that wouldn't suck. (or at least as much)

Jaedreth

 

[TWinbrook46636]

So I guess this means MacBidouille was full of it...

 

[arn]

Originally posted by chazmox


And 167 MHz bus speed? What are the advantages to this chip? The slightly higher speed? Has Motorola just chosen not to compete at all.

Increased L2 Cache (to 512k)

 

[arn]

Originally posted by TWinbrook46636
So I guess this means MacBidouille was full of it...

regarding which?

arn

 

[daveL]

This info isn't new, by any means. Moto has stated that the 7457 at 1.3 GHz is 40% faster than the 7455 at 1 GHz. Besides the 30% clock increase, you get another 10% from the doubled L2 cache. I suspect they increased L3 cache size to a max of 2 MB to help overcome the 167 MHz bus speed.

So, you know, 40% is 40% It's not like everyone was expecting performance to double, at least not without a G5. For a speed bump, I don't think it's that lame.

 

[nicorojas]

I really want to switch, but these specs make it very difficult.

What's the point in waiting, if there's no performance gain. The Cnet test already showed the 17" was no improvement over the Tibook. All thanks to Moto.

I only expect a price drop at least.

... and a G5 pb before 6 months

...

..

.

 

[edgar_is_good]

overclocked bus

Speaking as a complete ignoramus on all issues that end with "Mhz", I thought I recalled some comments previously stating that Apple had overclocked the current G4 bus (maybe 133 to 167 in the current model?) and that to do so again might go from 167 to 200. Did I read this? Was it a dream induced from late-night mexican food?

 

[nagromme]

Apple HAS already dropped the PowerBook prices. if they keep those low prices, and move from 867/1GHz to 1GHz/1.3, and bring the mainstream 15" model up to spec with Bluetooth, lit keyboard, etc., then I think the PowerBook line will remain a VERY good deal.

But I will still hold out for the G5!

 

[nazariteguitar]

Not Impressed

Apples "Pro-sumer" laptops just are not compedetive any more.
I was searching for a high-end intel machine and I found
an amazingly fast Alianware Area-51 laptop for $3099 with:


Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
High-Performance Chassis
Pentium® 4 @ 3.06GHz
1024MB DDR SDRAM
ATI Mobility RADEON 9000 128MB DDR
15.0" inch UXGA LCD Screen
60GB 7200 RPM with 8MB Cache

and upgradable to:

CORSAIR 1024MB DDR PC-2100
80GB 4200 RPM ATA100

http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx


P.S. Ok I'll be a little fair to Apple, the Aria-51 laptop is huge, heavy, and consumes power like a horse, but for me a pro-sumer laptop should be just that, a very competetive powerful machine.

 

[daveL]

Re: overclocked bus

Originally posted by edgar_is_good
Speaking as a complete ignoramus on all issues that end with "Mhz", I thought I recalled some comments previously stating that Apple had overclocked the current G4 bus (maybe 133 to 167 in the current model?) and that to do so again might go from 167 to 200. Did I read this? Was it a dream induced from late-night mexican food?

I thought I read that somewhere, too, but I never saw anyone verify it with facts/models/numbers.

 

[DrGonzo]

Originally posted by daveL
This info isn't new, by any means. Moto has stated that the 7457 at 1.3 GHz is 40% faster than the 7455 at 1 GHz. Besides the 30% clock increase, you get another 10% from the doubled L2 cache. I suspect they increased L3 cache size to a max of 2 MB to help overcome the 167 MHz bus speed.

So, you know, 40% is 40% It's not like everyone was expecting performance to double, at least not without a G5. For a speed bump, I don't think it's that lame.

While i don't doubt that a 40% increase isn't possible, I don't think it should have taken this long (and we STILL don't know how long it will take) and that's only a theoretical 40%, we won't know until it actually ships. But here's to optimism. cheers.

 

[jamilecrire]

Re: Not Impressed

Originally posted by nazariteguitar
Apples "Pro-sumer" laptops just are not compedetive any more.
I was searching for a high-end intel machine and I found
an amazingly fast Alianware Area-51 laptop for $3099 with:


Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
High-Performance Chassis
Pentium® 4 @ 3.06GHz
1024MB DDR SDRAM
ATI Mobility RADEON 9000 128MB DDR
15.0" inch UXGA LCD Screen
60GB 7200 RPM with 8MB Cache

and upgradable to:

CORSAIR 1024MB DDR PC-2100
80GB 4200 RPM ATA100

http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx


P.S. Ok I'll be a little fair to Apple, the Aria-51 laptop is huge, heavy, and consumes power like a horse, but for me a pro-sumer laptop should be just that, a very competetive powerful machine.

I've got that beat hands down:
http://www.powernotebooks.com/configurator.php3?regular_model_id=269&model_id=272

Its only $2855 w/ 3 year warranty 17" screen, DVD-R/RW, XP Home (if you want it), etc.

Tell me apple isn't making a killing.

 

[freundt]

Re: Not Impressed

Originally posted by nazariteguitar
Apples "Pro-sumer" laptops just are not compedetive any more.
I was searching for a high-end intel machine and I found
an amazingly fast Alianware Area-51 laptop for $3099 with:


Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
High-Performance Chassis
Pentium® 4 @ 3.06GHz
1024MB DDR SDRAM
ATI Mobility RADEON 9000 128MB DDR
15.0" inch UXGA LCD Screen
60GB 7200 RPM with 8MB Cache

and upgradable to:

CORSAIR 1024MB DDR PC-2100
80GB 4200 RPM ATA100

http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx

P.S. Ok I'll be a little fair to Apple, the Aria-51 laptop is huge, heavy, and consumes power like a horse, but for me a pro-sumer laptop should be just that, a very competetive powerful machine.

Actually Alienware is comming out with a Centrino based laptop very soon. This means it will be smaller, lighter, and have a much better battery life. I read a first take on cnet.com here
http://reviews.cnet.com/Alienware_Area_51m_Sentia/4505-3122_7-30460807.html?tag=pdtl-list

It's one I'm looking to get instead of a powerbook.

_r

[edit] and for those of you who do not know alienware, they make some of the best put together PCs out there. They use the best parts, test everything thoroughly, and generally get great reviews on both products and support.[/edit]

 

[MattG]

Sometimes I read these forums and think I'm alone in thinking this, but...is anybody out there besides me not really concerned about what processor they put in there? A speed boost certainly wouldn't be a bad thing, however I'd even be happy with just a 1ghz processor like they're using now--I just want it in an aluminum body with a few other features current Powerbooks are lacking, like USB 2.0 for example. Up until a couple months ago I had a 667mhz Powerbook that I was very happy with (in terms of speed). I just want something built better!

 

[cc bcc]

Re: Motorola MPC7457 PDF

Originally posted by Macrumors
According to the July, 2003 Motorola document, processors will be coming in at 867MHz, 1.0GHz, and 1.3GHz, with bus frequencies up to 167MHz. This is contrary to previous rumors from The Register that the chip would support a 200MHz bus.

1.3 GHz and a 167 MHz FSB is not possible, multipliers of 7.8 don't exist. So it will either be a 1.33 @ 167 or 1.3 @ 200.
The other speeds do match up so I guess it will run at 1.33, and Motorola just rounded it to 1.3. But who knows, a 200 MHz FSB on the top model sounds good.

 

[Billy_ca]

Maybe Motorola will upgrade the 167 MHz bus to 200 MHz by 2007.

 

[freundt]

Originally posted by MattG
Sometimes I read these forums and think I'm alone in thinking this, but...is anybody out there besides me not really concerned about what processor they put in there? A speed boost certainly wouldn't be a bad thing, however I'd even be happy with just a 1ghz processor like they're using now--I just want it in an aluminum body with a few other features current Powerbooks are lacking, like USB 2.0 for example. Up until a couple months ago I had a 667mhz Powerbook that I was very happy with (in terms of speed). I just want something built better!

For me, it not what I want to do with the computer this year, but two years down the road.

I'm using a two year old hand built athlon 700 mhz box with a tnt 2 graphics card in it as my primary machine at home -- any Apple offering would be a step above that machine at this point.

However, what's the longevity of the hardware? My athlon is woefully outdated. It does some of what I want it to, but there is alot I want to do on it that is difficult, painful, and slow.

If I'm gonna lay out 3k+ for a computer and the software, I want to make sure it is a good investment that will last me 3-4 years. I want to be sure that it will be able to gracefully handle all the tasks I throw at it 1-2 years from now.

that's it.

to me, it's not the present needs but the future needs that are holding me back.

I dunno if that is gonna make sense to everyone, but it makes sense to me.

_f

 

[Abstract]

I don't see the problem. A 1GHz 7457 will be faster than a current G4 at 1GHz, and will provide a speed boost. If they put a 1.3GHz into the PB's, and the performance does increase by 40% like some have speculated., that will be a great enough increase in performance for most. 40% is a lot..............it is. People look at the G5's difference over the G4 and make their comparisons, but that was extremely exceptional case involving breakthrough technology. This G4 is just an upgraded G4. Its still a G4, but it may provide 40% performance boosts. That would be great for an update.

Originally posted by jamilecrire
I've got that beat hands down:
http://www.powernotebooks.com/configurator.php3?regular_model_id=269&model_id=272

Its only $2855 w/ 3 year warranty 17" screen, DVD-R/RW, XP Home (if you want it), etc.

Tell me apple isn't making a killing.

Sweet-ass!!! Even the standard config is kickin.