PowerMac and Xserve Revisions at MWSF 2004?

[Sailfish]

This newer process means cooler chips, which mean 64 BIT POWERBOOKS!!!!

YIPPIE!!

You all didn't think Apple wouldn't be the first to produce a 64 bit laptop now did you?

I will buy the Dual 3.xx next summer, that's a given, I just enjoy my 23" too much to buy another laptop.

 

[ksz]

Originally posted by dongmin
don't you guys bother reading the actual articles?

No, not always.

If the new entry-level 90nm dual 2GHz starts at $2099 or $2199, it's still a substantial savings from the current price of $2999. I don't expect (or hope) that Apple will reduce the specs of the base configuration which are already pretty minimal:

Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
1GHz frontside bus/processor
512K L2 cache/processor
512MB DDR400 128-bit SDRAM
Expandable to 8GB SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA
SuperDrive
Three PCI-X Slots
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
64MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

So we may be looking at a $800 or $900 drop for the dual 2GHz.

 

[Jerry Spoon]

Good news...although it just makes me realize how old my computer it. Can't imagine how fast one of those would be.

 

[pgwalsh]

This seems realistic. 2.4 is a good number. However, if they did happen to have 2.6, what a surprise.

 

[spinner]

This is good news if its true. I hope they go dual across the board after all these are pro level machines and I think dual proc should be the difference between consumer and pro products. Besides I want an entry level dualie

Also, if its true that IBM is already sampling 2.6GHz procs I can't see why they wouldn't use them, unless they are not yet available is sufficient quanities. Apple was held back by Moto for so long I can't believe that if Apple had the opportunity to go higher that they wouldn't jump on it.

 

[Belly-laughs]

Re: problem with the mobo

I mean just imagine PC world is still at 800MHz...[/B]

It´s not hard to imagine. Until September we were stuck at 133Mhz. With only 1.42GHz processors. No, it wasn´t a myth!

 

[ksz]

Originally posted by spinner
Also, if its true that IBM is already sampling 2.6GHz procs I can't see why they wouldn't use them, unless they are not yet available is sufficient quanities. Apple was held back by Moto for so long I can't believe that if Apple had the opportunity to go higher that they wouldn't jump on it.

Agreed. It's a good 6-8 months before the 3GHz is released. If the rumor mill is correct, the 3GHz PM will be based on the PowerPC 980, making that release more exciting than a speed-bumped process-shrinked 970. So to increase the excitement factor for the new high-end, raise the clock to 2.6 GHz and keep it there for next 6-8 months.

 

[Gizmotoy]

Originally posted by Sailfish
You all didn't think Apple wouldn't be the first to produce a 64 bit laptop now did you?

If I understand you correctly (and I'm not sure that I do, given the overabundance of negatives in that sentence), you do realize that there are a multitude of Athlon64 laptops out, don't you?

 

[x86isslow]

Originally posted by Sailfish
This newer process means cooler chips, which mean 64 BIT POWERBOOKS!!!!

YIPPIE!!

You all didn't think Apple wouldn't be the first to produce a 64 bit laptop now did you?

while its fine an apple partisan, please get your facts straight. there are already quite a few 64-bit laptop solutions. the oldest that i know of is a sparc-based computer tadpole computers

the most recent is amd-based gaming laptops from companies like voodoo

edit: looks like someone beat me to it.

 

[animemaster]

xserve

Ok, about the xserves. The Xserve and the Xserve RAID are extremely different machines. They work on completely different principles, like night and day.

The Xserve is pretty much a powermac G4 repositioned into a 1U encloser. That is why the machine relies so heavily on the G4 processor to do its computations. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's still a very powerful machine, but a G5 will run circles around the Xserve while reading a book in 5 different languages, and writing the next great novel.

On the otherhand, the Xserve RAID, is entirely different. The RAID does not rely on the G4 processor, it actually does not have a G4 processor in the machine. It uses extremely high bandwidth processors, that, for what the xserves do, can transfer information faster than a G5.

These processors are called RAID controllers, and do just that. In a server like the RAID, the only thing that is important, is how fast data can move from point A to point B, and to go the shortest distance. With the Fibre channel cables being used in the RAID, date can move at 2Gb, or 200MB's/sec. So putting a G5 in the RAID won't do it any good. Now, putting a G5 in a 1U encloser would be astounding. So much power, in an extremely tight environment.

For upgrading the RAID, I'd like to see Serial ATA make its way into the machine, a VGA port, but that's not needed, and for it to weigh a little less.

-animemaster

 

[ShnikeJSB]

I hate to be the spoiler...

<This newer process means cooler chips, which mean 64 BIT POWERBOOKS!!!!

YIPPIE!!

You all didn't think Apple wouldn't be the first to produce a 64 bit laptop now did you?>

I hate to spoil your fun Sailfish...

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9486,00.html

 

[Mr.Hey]

I was wondering why MR was late in reporting this hot bit O news (checking sources I guess). I'm so excited about the progress that we're seeing from Apple/IBM (feel like a kid again).

I understand that the pace of these updates is mostly because of the years (3?) of MOTOs inability to produce competitive (arguable I know) chips for Apple and so there is a great urgency to restore consumer faith in Apple's product line. So what's the typical upgrade cycle for Apple; is it similar to the x86 timetables.

Now that Apple has IBM supplying them with chips (but failed to supply the dip! ) in their state of the art facilities, will we continue to see these kinds of upgrades in such short amounts of time.

 

[~Shard~]

Re: nice!

Originally posted by Brian Hickman
All I have to say is ...

WOOOOHOOO!!!!

But I would still like to see some kind of powerbook update.

Hickman

PowerMacs, xServes and LCDs are all due for updates before PowerBooks. I think all we'll be seeing in the near future as far as PBs go are maybe speed bumps, but as for G5 PBs, I'd wait until summer for them.

 

[~Shard~]

Originally posted by Sailfish
This newer process means cooler chips, which mean 64 BIT POWERBOOKS!!!!

YIPPIE!!

You all didn't think Apple wouldn't be the first to produce a 64 bit laptop now did you?

I will buy the Dual 3.xx next summer, that's a given, I just enjoy my 23" too much to buy another laptop.

There are already 64 bit laptops out there - they're called Athlons.

 

[~Shard~]

I'm pretty sure the rumors are true and we will definitely be seeing these speed bumps @ MWSF. Ah, I can't wait to hear all the complaining. Remember all those crybabies who complained of being ripped off after buying 1.8 G5s, when the DP 1.8 G5s were then released only 2 months later? I can hear the posts being typed up as we speak, in anticipation: "I just got my DP 1.8 GHz G5 (or DP 2.0 GHz G5) a month ago and now it sucks! I got so ripped off man! How can Apple do this to me!!!"

And I will experience much enjoyment responding to those posts.

 

[machinehien]

64 bit laptop

Originally posted by Sailfish
This newer process means cooler chips, which mean 64 BIT POWERBOOKS!!!!

YIPPIE!!

You all didn't think Apple wouldn't be the first to produce a 64 bit laptop now did you?

Sorry to burst your bubble but Hypersonic beat Apple to the 64 bit Laptop punch.

http://secure.hypersonic-pc.com/scripts/custom_sys.asp?sysid=Aviator_AX6

 

[jayscheuerle]

Yawn...

Apple won't move me until they come out with a headless eMac. I don't care if they put out 4 gHz G5s.

An affordable mp3 walkman would be nice too.

Heck I'd be happy if they just release a system update that supported all the BTO 2nd monitor cards so I could use Panther at work...

This is just more news for nerds!

 

[~Shard~]

Buyer's Guide Incorrect?

I realize these PM speed boosts are technically just rumors, but since they are very liekly to be true in some form, I am wondering if the Buyer's Guide section of MR needs to be updated. It still lists the PM as a "Buy Now! Product Recently Updated!". I realize this is due to the DP 1.8 release, but still, should it have such a strong rating when updates are imminent? At least make it a "Neutral" or a "Buy" as opposed to a strong buy? Just my opinion...

 

[Mr.Hey]

Re: I hate to be the spoiler...

 

[Mr.Hey]

Originally posted by ~Shard~ And I will experience much enjoyment responding to those posts.

You're salivating at the mere idea of it now!.....remind me to stay clear of you when this happens.





bringing the ruckus since 1998

 

[paulypants]

So putting a G5 in the RAID won't do it any good. Now, putting a G5 in a 1U encloser would be astounding.

The G5 will go into those type of enclosures soon--there are many universities that want to do similar clusters like virginia tech but providing enough space for the behemoth G5 boxes is not feasible--they need rack mounted servers to take advantage of what space they have available--Apple is very aware of this

 

[animemaster]

I'm not saying at all that it won't be a bad thing, it would be actually quite good. I mean, if done correctly, a G5 in a RAID, built correctly, could utilize the power and quickness, and the 64bit processing that the G5 offers, plus the ability to transfer data so quickly in a RAID system.

It all depends on how something like this is built. I think that once a G5 finds its way into a Server, a lot of companies will be looking to purchase an apple server. The added power of a G5 is amazing. However, compared to even that of higher end processors, such of which the G5 is based off of, major enterprises are still going to want those higher end servers.

-animemaster

 

[coolkamio]

Originally posted by x86isslow
while its fine an apple partisan, please get your facts straight. there are already quite a few 64-bit laptop solutions. the oldest that i know of is a sparc-based computer tadpole computers

the most recent is amd-based gaming laptops from companies like voodoo

edit: looks like someone beat me to it.

8lbs+ with a 15" screen and a theoretical battery of 3Hours (1,5Hours really) IS NOT TRULY A LAPTOP IS A PORTABLE COMPUTER..

Apple Powerbook 17" = 6,9pounds
Apple Powerbook 15" = 5,6pounds

 

[dongmin]

Originally posted by Sailfish
This newer process means cooler chips, which mean 64 BIT POWERBOOKS!!!!

YIPPIE!!

Not too sure about this. Indications are that 90nm 970s may still be too hot for PowerBooks. We might get another iteration of PPC 7447s (up to 1.6 ghz??) before they introduce 980-equipped PBs in Nov. 2004 - Jan. 2005.

As for this AppleInsider report, I'm skeptical that the new low-end will be dual[i/] 2.0 ghz. From single 1.6 ghz to 2 x 2.0 ghz??? More likely, it'll be a single 2.0 ghz or dual 1.8 ghz. Personally, I'd like to see them do the dual 1.8 ghz and drop the price a bit, to $1599. $1800 for the low-end is too high.

 

[jouster]

Sheesh, does anyone read before they post? Did it really need FIVE people to post about there already being 64 bit notebooks?