Other Uses for the PowerPC 970

[MacRumors]

News.com reports that IBM plans on introducing more "Blade" systems this year.

The Power blades, first demonstrated in October, will use the PowerPC 970 processor. The 1.8GHz processor is expected to arrive later this year, IBM said

These Power Blades were first demonstrated in October 2002. These machines will run Linux as their operating system. In October, IBM would not disclose the procesor that would be used in these machines:

Dougherty didn't disclose which member of IBM's Power processor family the blade servers would use, but acknowledged that it could use a repackaged version of the Power4 processor used in IBM's high-end Unix servers. In current products, the Power4 is packaged in groups of four into large, power-hungry "multichip modules" ill-suited for skinny blade servers.

The company said that it plans to build servers that use the Power4 processor without the multichip module.

This Power4 derivative will apparently be the PowerPC 970. This information simply reiterates a 2003 release for the PowerPC 970.

 

[springscansing]

Bah, I am dying for some new info!

 

[dricci]

This is _great_ news because with other uses for the processor besides in Macs, the 970 will always have some type of demand so they will constantly be updated and won't risk becoming stale like Motorola has let the current G4s.

 

[branko]

Potentially good news !

Considering that IBM just sold 5000 blade servers last year, which is peanuts compared to the number of PowerMacs...
They might make the 970 available immediately for Apple as well, unless the yields are very low...

 

[job]

Originally posted by dricci
This is _great_ news because with other uses for the processor besides in Macs, the 970 will always have some type of demand so they will constantly be updated and won't risk becoming stale like Motorola has let the current G4s.

Also good to see that this chip was made for the high end server market, much unlike the embedded-legacy G4.

 

[3G4N]

XBlades

Mmmm...

Racks of 4U XServes with a dozen 970 blades apiece
(running OSX &/or linux), mated with XServe RAIDs...

Down the line, but happening. Within Apple's Vision.

Render, Composite, and Compress, and Stream/Serve
mounds of hollywood video.

 

[effectivity]

is it worth buying a G4 PowerMac this year?

If IBM is going to be shipped servers based on the PowerPC 970 in 4Q03, is it likely that Apple will be shipping in the same timeframe?

Basically I am wondering if it is worth purchasing a new G4 PowerMac between now and then. I've found a 500Mhz PowerMac (768MB RAM) to be very sluggish on OS X and have wondered if getting the dual 1.42 is the ticket to some speed on OS X.

But I don't want to spend this money and then six months later have all new 64 bit PowerMac machines come out that REALLY can run OS X fast.

Any thoughts? If IBM can put their plans in print, why can't Apple? It would help many people with their buying decisions.

e

 

[shadowfax]

Re: is it worth buying a G4 PowerMac this year?

Originally posted by effectivity
If IBM is going to be shipped servers based on the PowerPC 970 in 4Q03, is it likely that Apple will be shipping in the same timeframe?

Basically I am wondering if it is worth purchasing a new G4 PowerMac between now and then. I've found a 500Mhz PowerMac (768MB RAM) to be very sluggish on OS X and have wondered if getting the dual 1.42 is the ticket to some speed on OS X.

But I don't want to spend this money and then six months later have all new 64 bit PowerMac machines come out that REALLY can run OS X fast.

Any thoughts? If IBM can put their plans in print, why can't Apple? It would help many people with their buying decisions.

e

if you NEED a new computer for some reason, don't sit around waiting for the next big thing. there will always be something on the horizon, especially with apple. if you don't really need one badly, of course you can wait, but i wouldn't rely on the assumption that apple is going to use 970s in the pmacs this year. there's nothing conclusive pointing to that in the least.

 

[Sol]

Don't hold your breath

I second that last comment. Nothing official has been declared about the next generation PowerMacs so I would not be delaying any purchases waiting for that. A new PowerMac will certainly give you a faster OS X experience than the 500 MHz system you speak of. So long as you have two processors and a lot of RAM OS X should run fine.

 

[Awimoway]

Just to clarify / calm my nerves...

Do we have any solid evidence or confirmation that Apple will even be using the 970?

Apple is poised to crush our optimism should all our assumptions be in vain. Imagine the mass exodus from the platform if the Next Big Thing is a G5 1600 or some such garbage.

I'm not usually so gloomy. I just want to verify that all of our hopes are based on some kind of factual news that I somehow missed.

 

[Sol]

It does not matter

Neither Apple nor IBM have announced anything about 970s running OS X.

If there would be a mass exodus because of the processors in Apple hardware it would have allready happened. This might sound a bit cinical but whatever processor Apple uses next, people will still believe that Windows computers are faster.

 

[effectivity]

why would the PowerPC 970 be a secret?

Why would Apple want to keep a new 64 bit machine secret? If I knew it was coming, I could budget for it. As I don't know it's coming, I'm not able to plan ahead. I can stick with a slow machine for 6 more months if I know the new machine is going to be much faster than what is available now.

I guess this is why it's important to know someone at Apple as otherwise, customers are pretty much kept in the dark. Even on the machines that in the store now, it doesn't say when the Radeon 9700's are going to be ready. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[dongmin]

Re: why would the PowerPC 970 be a secret?

Originally posted by effectivity
Why would Apple want to keep a new 64 bit machine secret? If I knew it was coming, I could budget for it. As I don't know it's coming, I'm not able to plan ahead. I can stick with a slow machine for 6 more months if I know the new machine is going to be much faster than what is available now.

I guess this is why it's important to know someone at Apple as otherwise, customers are pretty much kept in the dark. Even on the machines that in the store now, it doesn't say when the Radeon 9700's are going to be ready. It just doesn't make sense.

If they announced 970-based Powermacs to be available in 6 months, NO ONE except for the truly clueless and desperate would buy the higher end models for the next 6 months. It would kill sales and Apple would be stuck with months of inventory that they can't get rid of. It would be suicide.

 

[gotohamish]

Re: why would the PowerPC 970 be a secret?

Originally posted by effectivity
Why would Apple want to keep a new 64 bit machine secret? If I knew it was coming, I could budget for it. As I don't know it's coming, I'm not able to plan ahead. I can stick with a slow machine for 6 more months if I know the new machine is going to be much faster than what is available now.

I guess this is why it's important to know someone at Apple as otherwise, customers are pretty much kept in the dark. Even on the machines that in the store now, it doesn't say when the Radeon 9700's are going to be ready. It just doesn't make sense.

Er, because no one would buy a current machine!

In response to the earlier post about hanging on - I'm in exactly the same position - using a G4 500, and wanting to upgrade. I figured I'd wait but then got an AMAZING deal on the Dual 1.42 (cheaper than the dual 1.25!!!) so I couldn't resist.

I also figured, as with the G3s and G4s, I wouldn't buy a Rev.1 of the Power4 machines if/when they materialise.

 

[awulf]

Since IBM will use these CPU's it may be that these processors aren't aimed at Apple and therefor may not be included in Macs.

But I really hope we will see PowerMac 970's this year. The Motorola CPU's are dead.

 

[Blackcat]

Altivec

Servers have no real need for Altivec, so the fact it is included means something.

 

[BenRoethig]

Re: Other Uses for the PowerPC 970

On the good side: The more 970s are produced, the lower the price per chip. It also would be in IBM's best interest to keep the chip competitive.

On the bad side: As awulf said, the chip could be destined for IBM's servers only and never see the inside of a PowerMac.

However, I might be wrong here, but MacOS X is currently the only operating system to take advantage of Altivec. If IBM did not have a use for Altivec, they wouldn't have included it.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Re: Altivec

Originally posted by Blackcat
Servers have no real need for Altivec, so the fact it is included means something.

Agreed,thats in there for apple! I think we will see a 970 in the mac announced this summer! maybe iam just optimistic but when moto comes out and says we are going to have are fastest g4 that will run at 1.3 ghz and apple is allready marketing dual 1.42 g4s i think this is telling us all something. Time will tell

 

[straphound]

g4?

When the 970 makes it into Apples this year (hopefully), how far down their line do you think they will go with it? If they come out with the top Power Macs with 970's Apple could finally make a cheap "prosumer" tower that still uses the G4 and say, bump up the iBooks to G4's also.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Re: g4?

Originally posted by straphound
When the 970 makes it into Apples this year (hopefully), how far down their line do you think they will go with it? If they come out with the top Power Macs with 970's Apple could finally make a cheap "prosumer" tower that still uses the G4 and say, bump up the iBooks to G4's also.

Boy thats a tuff guess, i would thank that they would show in the pro machines and continue g4's in the consumer line. I would love a 970 imac but dont really think that will happen!

 

[jamilecrire]

Re: is it worth buying a G4 PowerMac this year?

Originally posted by effectivity
If IBM is going to be shipped servers based on the PowerPC 970 in 4Q03, is it likely that Apple will be shipping in the same timeframe?

Basically I am wondering if it is worth purchasing a new G4 PowerMac between now and then. I've found a 500Mhz PowerMac (768MB RAM) to be very sluggish on OS X and have wondered if getting the dual 1.42 is the ticket to some speed on OS X.

But I don't want to spend this money and then six months later have all new 64 bit PowerMac machines come out that REALLY can run OS X fast.

Any thoughts? If IBM can put their plans in print, why can't Apple? It would help many people with their buying decisions.

e

Just go to http://www.clubmac.com and get a dual 867. It runs 9 & 10 and it's cheap so you won't feel like you've wasted some change.<br>

I've got a QS 733 and just got a 22" Cinema so I'm as happy as a drunk sailor in a strip club (?). lol... Mmmm..... Cinema Display </homer>

 

[Tue12]

There may not be any 'hard proof' that the PPC970 will be used by Apple, however, the presence of an Altivec unit on the chip is awefully convenient.

 

[TheMightyG]

Re: is it worth buying a G4 PowerMac this year?

Originally posted by effectivity

But I don't want to spend this money and then six months later have all new 64 bit PowerMac machines come out that REALLY can run OS X fast.

e

I wouldn't be rushing to buy a Rev A of a 970....can you imagine the potential number of bugs that will crop up both insoftware and hardware? OS X will need at least a partial recompile....the motherboard and bus will be different, what about drivers for all your peripherals?

I say get a dual 867 as someone else has recommended which should hold you until the major kinks in the new architecture are worked out.

Granted, I'm a bit of a chicken about being a first adopter......I like to think that "v1.0" actually means "shipping beta with a price tag"

 

[drastik]

The rumors about the 970 have been pretty steady, there seems to be a lot of undelying tide about the new chips. I like to think that we have a good chance to get the chips. If there were any information declaring it dead wrong, I think Arn would let us know.

Think of it, a PowerPC w/Altivec is produced by one of Apples bigest and most respected friends. You think Steve's going to let that walk away?

 

[GPTurismo]

Maybe Apple is going to work with IBM and release MOSX for the PPC970 Blades O

Maybe that's what apple is doing with marklar too, all those wonderful 100+ processor intel systems out their with MOSX on them.... oh that would be nice...

Mainly because what I have read about Marklar, the interface is very clunky but runs very good as a server O

So maybe the mid range or higher server market is where they are going with it

But a PowerMac G5/PPC970 is just a wonderful thought.