PowerMac G5 Update?

[3.1416]

Now that's not right, why in the world would they be sticking in GPU cards that are more than a year old? At the very least the ATI 9800 should be in the low end, and hopefully the newer x300 or x600 (dare I request the x800?) in the higher end models.

Exactly. I can believe the processor speeds; that's out of Apple's hands, and IBM's delays mean that 3GHz will be a few months late. But it would be inexcusable to keep the same GPUs. The GeForce 5200FX was a poor choice last year, and is terrible today. And the 9600 is at least two revisions out of date. Your suggestion makes sense, and I could even accept the 9600 in the low end, 9800 in the high end, with x3/600 as a BTO option.

 

[crowdaddy]

What will be will be. Some of the posts are getting a bit nasty, maybe we should all tone it down a bit and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

These sites are called rumor sites because they consist of rumors. Sure, they have their hay-days and are right a few times. You honnestly think the marketing department of Apple will even try to market products that compete with eachother? If anything they will use the revision as a chance to distance the product lines: eMac will be only low, iMac will be only medium, and Powermac will be only high. They will have all bases covered and the product lines all attract their appropriate target audiences.

 

[windowsblowsass]

NO WAY - Apple would not be crazy enough to release two updgrades to the same model within a few weeks of each other. What in the world would be the logic behind this? And what a disaster for retail, etc.!

well if apple doent take pre orders ttill after wwdc on theeese then it wouldnt mean anything just throw us off

 

[akac]

I hope they fix the squeaky power supplies...

Its fixed. Just got mine replaced on my Dual G5. Works great now. Rev E.

 

[rareflares]

This rumor is most likely true, but at WWDC they will release another update with 3gh.

After WWDC:

2.6 gh
2.8 gh
3.0 gh

Just wait and see. If Apple does release an update now, do not buy it... wait till after WWDC.

First of all, a 1 Ghz jump is inconcievable to speculate at THIS point in time. And in addition, having it ALL DUAL? Sorry, i don't think so. Do i really have to remind you of the yield and fabrications problems IBM is going through?


right now it's:

1.6 single $1799
1.8 dual $2499
2.0 dual $2999

the best we're gonna get is

2.0 dual
2.2 dual
2.6 dual

at a higher price bracket

In other words, the update that should have happened in March/April is happening now, and the 3.0 Ghz that would have been announced now had all gone to plan will instead be announced in late Sept/early Oct. EARLIEST and ship months later.

Secondly, Apple most likely isn't going to differentiate their PM product line by just 200 Mhz as the processor speed increases (ESPECIALLY with an all-dual PM lineup).

If the unthinkable happens and the 3.0 GHz is announced at WWDC, then the PM line will be:

2.0 dual, 2.2 dual, 2.6 dual, and 3.0 dual but i HIGHLY doubt that will happen.

 

[job]

Is it possible that the upcoming updates were meant for the Macworld Expo in January when everyone expected them?

 

[rareflares]

Is it possible that the upcoming updates were meant for the Macworld Expo in January when everyone expected them?

well i didn't think there were gonna be PM upgrades at Macworld in January just because they sort of updated in November by adding the dual 1.8's rather than the singles.


I expected mid March to early April to be the real updates. But i do agree with you in the sense that these upcoming upgrades were meant to be for a few months ago had everything gone to plan.

 

[michaelal]

This rumor is most likely true, but at WWDC they will release another update with 3gh.

After WWDC:

2.6 gh
2.8 gh
3.0 gh

Just wait and see. If Apple does release an update now, do not buy it... wait till after WWDC.

-------------------------------------
I wish this were true, but Apple is not going to make two releases in a less than 1 month period and I really don't think they would have a line that ran from 1.8 to 3.0 ghz in such small increments.

But more importantly, if Apple does not release a 3.0 ghz machine as promised, then it makes me wonder how viable Apple can be in this market and whether they will ever come close to keeping up in performance. If Apple does not deliver a 3.0 ghz or better machine by WWDC then it might make sense to not buy at all until they and IBM can get there sh*t together.

 

[berkowit28]

Most of us want that Rev. B and have held our breaths for a whole year. 365 days of waiting and that's what we get? Say it isn't so!

It's not a whole year, not 365 days. The G5's didn't actually come out until the end of September - that's about 8 1/2 months. Perhaps more announcements will be made at WWDC for September 2004 or so.

 

[monkeyboyforeve]

Consolation Prize?

How about a better mouse, another cd drive(or space for one), a total of three firewire 400 ports, a smaller size G5, ormake them a lot cheaper. Is this to much to ask? I've been waiting too long for improvements. The rumored improvements don't do justice for what is supposed to be a cutting edge machine.

 

[nuckinfutz]

If Apple does not deliver a 3.0 ghz or better machine by WWDC then it might make sense to not buy at all until they and IBM can get there sh*t together.

Apple just may deliver that 3Ghz computer but those who are waiting should not expect the PMG5 3Ghz to be under $3500. That's just not going to happen. If your budet is $3000 or less a Dual 2.6Ghz is a high as you can hope to get. IBM very much has their shiza together and we're right where we need to be.

 

[nuckinfutz]

How about a better mouse, another cd drive(or space for one), a total of three firewire 400 ports, a smaller size G5, ormake them a lot cheaper. Is this to much to ask? I've been waiting too long for improvements. The rumored improvements don't do justice for what is supposed to be a cutting edge machine.

And what a two button mouse and multiple ports is cutting edge? Surely you jest.

 

[Palador]

It's not a whole year, not 365 days. The G5's didn't actually come out until the end of September - that's about 8 1/2 months. Perhaps more announcements will be made at WWDC for September 2004 or so.

LOL, I simply LOVE this revisionist history. Would you people stop apologizing for Apple? Lemme guess, your next post is going to be about how the Dual 2.0 G5 is 'good enough' and we don't really 'need' the speed increase.

Give it a rest people!

The dual 2.0GHz shipped in Aug of 2003. Large educational and business orders saw them before most consumers. Your average joe who didn't preorder couldnt get theirs until mid (not late) September. But plenty of schools, businesses, and people who were johnny on the spot with the pre-orders saw theirs in August. I know this for a fact, and there is an article on cnet.com about it too.

Not to mention that the first single processor G5s were shipping in late July. So everyone please stuff it with the 'it hasnt been 12 months yet crap. It's been 11, and we're getting damn close to 12 without an update in speed.

 

[MacsRgr8]

What if Apple (IBM) doesn't reach the "promised" 3.0 GHz mark by WWDC?
I'm pretty sure many questions will be asked.
Over here on these rumor boards we get plenty of time to discuss the matter, and be at peace with the (hopefully not) disappointment.

But other WWDC attendees will be shocked:
"eh... Steve.... 3 GHz...?"

Its bad marketing not being able to keep such a promise. He could've said something like "Hope to be at 3 GHz next year".

I wonder if the media will get at Steve for his remark.
You can also wait for the Apple-haters to start having fun...

Time will tell.

 

[iGary]

Long time Apple fan - and believe me, I defend these guys to the death when it comes up in discussion.

However...

This has been a very dissapointing and "boring" year at Apple.

What can one say when MS Office is on Apple's homepage for two freaking weeks?

1. The Powerbook and iBook updates were lame. Minor speedbumps, minor video tweaks etc...G4 chips!! Fine in an iBook, but in a 3-4 grand laptop? Um, no thanks.

2. The G5 chip program is so "ala Motorola" it isn't even amusing anymore. Delayed X-Serves, delayed PowerMacs...delay, delay, delay.

As Apple takes longer and longer with these updates, AMD keeps chipping away piece by piece at their pro marketshare.

I cannot begin to tell you how many pro photographers I deal with are jumping ship and putting up with Winblows just so they can have the raw power they need.

Apple needs to hop on it and quick. I honestly don't care about the 3 GHz promise...nor do most consumers - but this really is a pro machine.

 

[tunanut]

Long time Apple fan - and believe me, I defend these guys to the death when it comes up in discussion.

However...

This has been a very dissapointing and "boring" year at Apple.

What can one say when MS Office is on Apple's homepage for two freaking weeks?...

I couldn't agree more. It's only exceeded by that stoopit Pepsi itubes splash screen which bored people to insanity for what seemed like months! And Poopsi Cola of all ironies! What ever happened to the rolling changes on site's graphics?

But, P.S. gary, this pro photog would rather lick a bear's ass than switch to winblowz.

 

[blakespot]

Exactly. I can believe the processor speeds; that's out of Apple's hands, and IBM's delays mean that 3GHz will be a few months late. But it would be inexcusable to keep the same GPUs. The GeForce 5200FX was a poor choice last year, and is terrible today. And the 9600 is at least two revisions out of date. Your suggestion makes sense, and I could even accept the 9600 in the low end, 9800 in the high end, with x3/600 as a BTO option.

Ahh, but note: Currently thet high end G5 has a "Radeon 9600 Pro" as it's standard card. But you can BTO up to a "Radeon 9800 Pro" currently. So the indication that Apple will supply the new G5's on the high end with a "Radeon 9600 XT" (which is somewhat faster than the 9600 Pro) would seem to leave open the likely situation that there is a faster BTO board available.

My hope is that it's an ATI X800 but that might be too good to be true. I am not sure if there is a faster ATI Radeon 9800 than the 9800 Pro that is the current top BTO card - maybe at least we'll get that.

I certainly am ready to lay down the $300 or so for BTOing up to the fastest card offered, whatever it may be.



blakespot

 

[crowdaddy]

Apple needs to keep on updating to keep pace with the rest. No one will ever be satisified with a processor until it provides something like instantaneous rendering or a fraction of the rendering times seen today. The novelty of owning an Apple will soon run out if they can't bring something new to the table. The inter-staff differentiation (Music execs., etc.) was a smart move and shows a promise to devote more time to personal computing by segregating the departments. AND, if YOU PEOPLE are worried about the updates, imagine the Apple folk, the credibility and future of the company is at stake if they can't deliever and they are the ones who will lose.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

igary is right, AMD is chipping away and some of their stuff is pretty hot, put one of those bad boys in a Aurora and you got Muscle. I have had Macs for years but it seems like its allways the same, year after year. Apple crawls forward( Hardware side) and the Software division has to carry their weight. Software is the best, Hardware is allways 2nd fidel- way behind, will this ever change? Im starting to think not.

 

[alexf]

What will be will be. Some of the posts are getting a bit nasty, maybe we should all tone it down a bit and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Good point.

Let's remind ourselves that this is all in good humor; let us all enjoy the ride... What fun it is to speculate and debate about a product that we are all passionate about!

While it's fun to debate - even heatedly - it is important to remember to not take anything personally or too seriously. We're not talking about life and death here, and for the most part this is all entertainment.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Ahh, but note: Currently thet high end G5 has a "Radeon 9600 Pro" as it's standard card. But you can BTO up to a "Radeon 9800 Pro" currently. So the indication that Apple will supply the new G5's on the high end with a "Radeon 9600 XT" (which is somewhat faster than the 9600 Pro) would seem to leave open the likely situation that there is a faster BTO board available.

My hope is that it's an ATI X800 but that might be too good to be true. I am not sure if there is a faster ATI Radeon 9800 than the 9800 Pro that is the current top BTO card - maybe at least we'll get that.

I certainly am ready to lay down the $300 or so for BTOing up to the fastest card offered, whatever it may be.



blakespot

Just have to point out Alienware has 9600xt in base machine for under $1600, how much is the top Powermac now?

 

[joeboy_45101]

I personally believe that something unbelievable is about to happen

Let's be realistic, it doesn't make much sense to update the PowerMac line now! Unless something huge is about to go down at WWDC. It's been a boring 6 months for the Mac community, something has got to happen. I guarantee all of you that if PowerMac updates come before the WWDC, then on the morning of June 29th we're going to be talking about something else than the PowerMac line.

 

[iGary]

"But, P.S. gary, this pro photog would rather lick a bear's ass than switch to winblowz."

This one won't be switching either.

I'm having more and more problems keeping my colleagues from the dark side with 8-10 months between updates, though.

 

[job]

I'm having more and more problems keeping my colleagues from the dark side with 8-10 months between updates, though.

They need a new machine every 8-10 months?

 

[nuckinfutz]

"But, P.S. gary, this pro photog would rather lick a bear's ass than switch to winblowz."

This one won't be switching either.

I'm having more and more problems keeping my colleagues from the dark side with 8-10 months between updates, though.

What program are they using that requires so much power? Generally I see more fault in todays software than I do in todays hardware. The industry has stagnated because companies like Adobe, Digidesign and others have grown fat and slovenly and so has their products.

Apples problem right now isn't hardware...it's getting software that actually runs well from 3rd parties.