Motorola's MPC7457 Soon?

[MacRumors]

Information on Motorola's MPC7457 PPC Processor emerged in October 2002, when Motorola accidentally posted a PDF on their website.

The basic information from that PDF provided rumor sites with a roadmap to Motorola's 2003 plans with the PowerPC, with a chart describing a MPC7457 with MHz speeds from 867-1833 in 2003. In 2004, a MPC7457-RM chip plans to incorporate RapidIO technology.

A second PDF discussed at Xlr8yourmac provided further information on the 7457 with increase in L2 Cache to 512k and L3 to 4MB.

Yesterday, CubeZone posted a rumor that Powerlogix is planning a 1.4GHz upgrade for the Cube, and according to them, the new product will use a 1.4GHz 7457 G4 from Motorola -- with a 512k L2 and 4M L3.

They note that it may not ship for weeks/months...

The basis of this PowerLogix rumor may have been a G4 cube mailing list post and a reply which downplays this possibility.

 

[Freg3000]

New chips for everyone. Keeps on getting better. The 7457 and then the 970. Can't be bad for Apple.

Better late than never Moto. I guess....

 

[Performfreak]

hmm, this is interesting news, any news of progress in the processor realm is good news to me. I'd be interested to see how quickly, if at all, these get introduced into systems

 

[freemidnight]

Just rumors

And so little!

 

[pgwalsh]

I like hearing rumors of possible upcoming procs. Makes me feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe we'll see a new xServe with that proc in it. That would make sense with the large lever 3 cache. But what the hell do I know, I wouldn't know if it would help a server or not. Anyone!?!

 

[Sun Baked]

Re: Rumor

It's doubtful the chip is a complete rumor, since Motorola is going to be talking about the chip at SNDF 2003 Dallas. This is in March..

SNDF 2003 Dallas Host Processor Topics

edited for length

Session: Understanding and Utilizing Caches on the MPC7457 PowerPC Host Processor, Including Backside L3 and Private Memory
Session ID: H1103
Level: Basic
Presenter: Ted Peters, Applications Engineer, Motorola Networking & Computing Systems Group
Abstract: This session will cover several topics on how to manage the three levels of caches available on the MPC7457 PowerPC Host Processor. The topics will include cache locking, utilizing L3 as private memory, data movement and replacement algorithms between the three cache levels, initializing and testing the caches, and cache-related performance monitor counters. This talk will also help system designers understand the benefits and trade-offs of implementing an L3 backside cache.

Session: Specifying Power Consumption and Heat Sink Requirements for the MPC7447/7457 PowerPC Microprocessor
Session ID: H1106
Level: Intermediate
Presenter: Malcolm Ward, PowerPC Applications Engineer, Motorola Networking & Computing Systems Group
Abstract: This session will evaluate the power consumption on our newest host processors, MPC7447 and MPC7457, when performing the workloads described in the benchmarking session. This evaluation will examine the core and I/O power consumption when using an L2 cache, an L3 cache, a floating point unit and an AltiVec™ unit. We will also look at heat dissipation and how to determine if you need a heat sink for your processor.

Session: Motorola PowerPC Processor Benchmark Update, Including the Latest Performance Data for the New Motorola MPC744/57 PowerPC Host Processors
Session ID: H1112
Presenter: Chuck Corley
Abstract: How does the performance of the MPC7447/7457 compare to competition? To other PowerPC parts? This subject has been very popular at previous Smart Networks Developer Forums. It will include updated EEMBC performance figures for the MPC7447/7457 and other benchmarks as available.

 

[MrMacMan]

Quite intresting...

If it turns out to be true... this is just very intresting.

Edit: Bus interconnects?!?!?!?
desussion on the processor itself with new features and more L3. cool.

 

[shadowfax]

what the world needs now, is cubes, great cubes.


i want one!

 

[Gyroscope]

Hmm.

Just wondering why Apple hasn't put them into new PM. May afterall be that they re moving away from Motorola for their pro line. 970 comes to my mind.

 

[rice_web]

This could actually be a great stop on the way to the 970. A G4 at 1.5GHz or so (heck, overclocked PowerMacs have already hit 1.5) with the huge cache and full-DDR usage would provide a significant speed boost over the current batch of PowerMacs.

Not that it would necessarily clock this high, but imagine this:

- dual-1.6GHz G4s
- 1MB L2 Cache (in total)
- 8MB L3 Cache (in total)
- 200MHz System Bus (400 effective)
- Hella fast DDR-RAM

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by rice_web
This could actually be a great stop on the way to the 970. A G4 at 1.5GHz or so (heck, overclocked PowerMacs have already hit 1.5) with the huge cache and full-DDR usage would provide a significant speed boost over the current batch of PowerMacs.

Not that it would necessarily clock this high, but imagine this:

- dual-1.6GHz G4s
- 1MB L2 Cache (in total)
- 8MB L3 Cache (in total)
- 200MHz System Bus (400 effective)
- Hella fast DDR-RAM

imagine this:

7,000$ base price (for that model)

 

[TMay]

Apple is ready for these...

My buddy is waiting for one of these, as it "fixes" the current front side bus deficiencies in the PowerMac.

My spin is that the "windtunnels" were designed for the 7557, but alas, these were late. My guess is that the 7557 will be used in a dual processor configuration even after the release of the 970.

As for RapidIO, I'm pretty sure that Steve wants Hypertransport, so, I would be surprised if this variant is picked up by Apple.

This is a good thing, and I would expect to see these this spring. Heck, at the right price point, I might buy one and not wait for the 970.

Nice to see Motorola getting back in the game, even a little bit, as they are a company with a significant heritage, and even an important future in the mac world(note that they have some microprocessor fabrication/material technologies that could scale to 70Ghz and may come on line after 2005).

 

[neonart]

"The new 70 Ghz G6."

Yup. That would piss off the Wintel dudes!

 

[shadowfax]

Re: Apple is ready for these...

Originally posted by TMay
My buddy is waiting for one of these, as it "fixes" the current front side bus deficiencies in the PowerMac.

My spin is that the "windtunnels" were designed for the 7557, but alas, these were late. My guess is that the 7557 will be used in a dual processor configuration even after the release of the 970.

As for RapidIO, I'm pretty sure that Steve wants Hypertransport, so, I would be surprised if this variant is picked up by Apple.

This is a good thing, and I would expect to see these this spring. Heck, at the right price point, I might buy one and not wait for the 970.

Nice to see Motorola getting back in the game, even a little bit, as they are a company with a significant heritage, and even an important future in the mac world(note that they have some microprocessor fabrication/material technologies that could scale to 70Ghz and may come on line after 2005).

i don't much care what they have in line for 2005, no company should be forgiven for what they have done to apple. sure, it's nice they are upping the G4 a little more, but it really needs to go away or become a LOT cheaper.

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by neonart
"The new 70 Ghz G6."

Yup. That would piss off the Wintel dudes!

not if they had 300 GHz P7s

 

[scem0]

I don't care what happens as long as the 970 comes out soon .

 

[Catfish_Man]

Re: Apple is ready for these...

Originally posted by TMay
My buddy is waiting for one of these, as it "fixes" the current front side bus deficiencies in the PowerMac.

No, it just goes to 200MHz. We've already had a bus speed boost (to 167MHz), what we need is a DDR bus. That said, the 200MHz bus will certainly help things.

 

[shadowfax]

Re: Re: Apple is ready for these...

Originally posted by Catfish_Man



No, it just goes to 200MHz. We've already had a bus speed boost (to 167MHz), what we need is a DDR bus. That said, the 200MHz bus will certainly help things.

i read it like he meant he wanted a true DDR bus. he didn't say it flat out, but he didn't say "with the same bus architecture only at 200 MHz" either. but thanks for the clarification for the sake of this thread, beacause the bus apple is using is one of the most senseless things i have seen them do.

 

[Abstract]

So what's going to happen? A 7457 into the PM, PB, iMacs and eMacs, and a G4 into the iBooks until the 970 comes out? And then 7 months down the line, the 970's go into the PM, PB, iMacs and eMacs, while the little iBook then picks up the MPC 7457? Why don't they just NOT use the 7457 at all and move entirely to IBM? If they move to the 7457, it would only be for 1 generation. It doesn't make sense for Apple to push this "next generation" chip when they're only going to use it for several more months. I would rather see the rumoured 2nd generation zippy G3's in the consumer line at 1.5+ Ghz, and the 970 in the PB/PM than anything that Motorola comes out with. It doesn't make sense for Apple to stick with the company that got them into this position to begin with. What is this, Battered-wife syndrome or something? Can't we just leave Motorola once and for all when we have the chance!!!

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Abstract
So what's going to happen? A 7457 into the PM, PB, iMacs and eMacs, and a G4 into the iBooks until the 970 comes out? And then 7 months down the line, the 970's go into the PM, PB, iMacs and eMacs, while the little iBook then picks up the MPC 7457? Why don't they just NOT use the 7457 at all and move entirely to IBM? If they move to the 7457, it would only be for 1 generation. It doesn't make sense for Apple to push this "next generation" chip when they're only going to use it for several more months. I would rather see the rumoured 2nd generation zippy G3's in the consumer line at 1.5+ Ghz, and the 970 in the PB/PM than anything that Motorola comes out with. It doesn't make sense for Apple to stick with the company that got them into this position to begin with. What is this, Battered-wife syndrome or something? Can't we just leave Motorola once and for all when we have the chance!!!

i don't think the 7457 is a next generation processor. isn't it just a G4 that will be able to go to higher clock speeds, liks 1.6 GHz or what have you? there have been several or these numbers. i think the one in my PB is the 7455, but i am too lazy to check. they have a 7454 G4 as well, i am pretty sure. i don't have any concrete info, but rest assured, this is just a G4 that will perform OK at higher clock speeds. i doubt the iBook will be up to G4 till the 970s arrive. but if apple proves me wrong, i'll be happy!

 

[Gyroscope]

Can't really see the reason why some people here get so upbeat about this 7547's. It's still bloody 3.5 yrs old CPU design (designed for networking equip.) that really wouldn't do any justice to any Apple computer line. Who really cares about additional 256 KB L2 cache and few Mhz increase. What we really need is next generation CPU that kick ass and also justifies price tag Apple is charging for their desktops.

 

[Clockwork]

isn't it just a G4 that will be able to go to higher clock speeds

One of the most significant changes is the change to .13 micron. This will allow the processor to run cooler and it will allow the G4 to scale higher at a faster rate.
Ofcourse the 970 will be fabricated at .13 micron, but IBM has already said they will bring it to 90nm or .09 micron.
Just hope they can do it before Intel.

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Clockwork


One of the most significant changes is the change to .13 micron. This will allow the processor to run cooler and it will allow the G4 to scale higher at a faster rate.
Ofcourse the 970 will be fabricated at .13 micron, but IBM has already said they will bring it to 90nm or .09 micron.
Just hope they can do it before Intel.

right; it's still a G4 though; it should yield the same performance as older ones if at the same clock speeds, barring some minor boosts from maybe better bindings, and it will run cooler (and thus more reliably). that was my point. they'll now take that and use it to up the MHz...
is the 970 going to be .13 micron when it comes out later this year, or is IBM saying it is going to try to get it to .09 micron BEFORE then, thus making it even cooler (no pun intended)?

 

[kiwi_the_iwik]

I'm going to wait a while longer before I upgrade my Cube then...

If I do, then faster, cooler processor upgrades will become available - and I won't have to compromise my silent computer for speed (and I may even increase its lifespan...).

 

[MikeH]

It boils down to this:

Even if this rumor is true we won't see a PowerMac with a 1.8 chip in it for another 6 months. In price to performance terms the Mac towers are falling behind Windows boxs badly.

I've just read a review for £2000 work stations in Digit magazine (March 2003) and a dual 1ghz Mac was soundly thrashed by every Windows machine in the test. Most were twice as fast as the Mac in the Photoshop test - an application where Mac's are supposed to rule.

Considering the amount of cash they are asking for the tower Macs they just are not fast enough. They need better mother boards capable of taking more RAM, running at faster bus speeds and better graphics cards as standard. A geforce 4MX is a £50 consumer card, not a pro level graphics board.

Motorola's slowness in the processer arena needs to addressed - and very soon - or they should be dumped by Apple for a processer manufacturer who takes the situation more seriously, such as AMD.

I don't care what chip the have in them so long as they do the job. And at the moment, they are not.