PowerMac G5 Update?

[the future]

I don't care how accurate ThinkSecret may have been in the past, but these specs are not only crap, they also do not make any sense. That line-up would be totally confusing, and the gap between high and middle end would be way too big. If they can get 2.5/2.6 procs outta IBM, they sure as hell can get 2.2/2.3/2.4 procs for the middle end as well. Keep the faith, folks.

Edit: And I hope they know where they can shove those GPU specs...! (Apple or ThinkSecret, whoever's right/wrong)

 

[Hattig]

This sounds stupid.

If IBM can make 2.5GHz G5's, then they are making 2.4, 2.2, etc G5's as well that can't clock as high as 2.5 / 2.6GHz. In fact, the 2.5GHz would be limited numbers as it is the top binning processor.

Maybe IBM are making a lot of 1.8 and 2.0 capable processors still. Maybe Apple will have an extended range for once. Something like:

Dual 1.8 (low end)
Dual 2.0
Dual 2.2 (replaced dual 2 GHz in price range)
Dual 2.5 (ultra PowerMac)

2.5 is a strange number too. 1250MHz FSB? If Apple can't make a working 1300MHz FSB, then why not do 900 x 3 for a 2.7GHz machine? That's enough bandwidth for PC3200 RAM. Then you could have Dual 2.7, Dual 2.4, Dual 2.2 and Dual 2.0.

 

[pjkelnhofer]

I hope Apple offers all the old models:
Single 1.6
Single 1.8
Dual 1.8
Dual 2

I can't imagine that they would add the 1.6 and single 1.8 back to the lineup after having dropped them. Seems like a step backwards. I think we have seen the last of single processor PowerMacs.

 

[oingoboingo]

Yeah, great idea...give consumers some more choice. I really wish apple still sold the whole powerbook line. I'd love a brand new Powerbook G3 233! They could sell it for $150, I'm sure they'd make a fortune. That would make Apple much more popular amongst consumers.
?????

I have a PowerBook 5300c here with a dodgy AC adapter cable. You could have it for...$150. Are you interested?

 

[brykken]

...here in Europe we have been looking at Apple store web site since 3 hours now on, and nothing special happened...I guess we will have to wait for the WWDC.

I think some of you guys are jumping the gun. It's only 10:25 here on the east coast making it 7:25 over in CA. If we see something today it'll most likely be in a few more hours.

 

[ifjake]

even a 1.6 G5 would do more than enough for me after being with a single 1.0 G4. i'm kinda dissapointed that Jobs encouraged the number game when he promised 3.0 Ghz. people seem to be hard to satisfy. who annoys me are the people who bought up the dual 2.0 the moment it was announced that are pouting now because they can't buy up a dual 3.0 merely a year later. give me your old G5, since you're so ready to get a new one.

 

[Gianrico]

VERY VERY VERY VERY BAD if the Appleinsider forecast will be confirmed by the fact. It is too small speed bump for the CPU ( Intel is going to release a 3.6 Ghz CPU) and a low level graphic card

 

[dongmin]

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!

Not exactly. The dual G5s didn't actually ship until mid-September if I remember correctly. So it's been less than 9 months. Yes, a long time, but not quite at the drama of 365 days.

Guys (and gals), take a deep breath. This is ONLY an interim update that was supposed to arrive three months ago but didn't due to bad chip yields. I'm still confident that Jobs will deliver on his promise. My optimism is based on the fact that if IBM is able to deliver in volume on the 970fx, then they should also deliver on the next generation 9xx, which I'm guessing to be the 90 nm 975.

 

[J-Squire]

I have a PowerBook 5300c here with a dodgy AC adapter cable. You could have it for...$150. Are you interested?

As appealing as a 117MHz machine that still uses a floppy disk sounds....I may have to pass.....I'll keep my Rev A 12" PB. You never know, Apple may re-release them with the next PowerBook updates.....just to provide some more choice

 

[stingerman]

Well whatever they release, they need to release an update. it's been 10 Months since they started shipping the G5, so it's time. 2.5/2.6 GHz would be awesome and better than expected for the 2nd generation. That would mean that we would get to 3GHz by the third generation. With yields regularly improving that would mean we could get the 3rd generation G5 in December/January timeframe. Intel will heave their 3.6GHz Prescott out in full production, but a dual 2.6 is a better processor combination than a HT Prescott at 3.6. If Apple surprises us with a dual 3GHz before December/January than that would be incredible.

I say surprise because you guys got to be crazy to think that IBM's yield problems did not cause an across the board delay of about 6 months. IBM mentioned their problems a couple of months ago and Apple confirmed that IBM was resolving them. Have you guys been living in a cave. Do you really think that a dual 2.6 GHz Mac is a disappointment? That means a FSB of 1.3GHz! Who would have ever though a year ago (June 8,2003) that we would be here now. To go from a dual G4 1.4GHz/200MHz FSB to dual 2.6GHz/1.3GHz FSB is amazing. At this rate we will be at 4GHz by next summer.

 

[rareflares]

don't no one forget the possibility of singles going into the G5 iMacs.

they could def. put the 1.6 and 1.8's in the updated iMacs at WWDC.


that would leave a 2.0, 2.2, 2.6 dual lineup for the Powermacs.



I think that's best we can expect from Apple at this point.

 

[Gianrico]

I think some of you guys are jumping the gun. It's only 10:25 here on the east coast making it 7:25 over in CA. If we see something today it'll most likely be in a few more hours.

I think will not see any new powermac today, by the end it is possible

 

[thedogcow]

A Load

Rumor sites = load_of_crap

No one saw the AirTunes update.

 

[eric67]

I do not think so

I think some of you guys are jumping the gun. It's only 10:25 here on the east coast making it 7:25 over in CA. If we see something today it'll most likely be in a few more hours.

in almost all Apple products update, the Apple tore is updated worldwide between 13-14h00 (europe time) making it 7-8h00 East coast time...that's it...now that was the rule before...

 

[rareflares]

AirTunes was only revealed at 12:00 EST yesterday.


or was that because there was a conference? either way, a monday update is still unusual.

 

[broken_keyboard]

Remember when the original G5s came out, people weren't expecting PCI-X until the "premature specification" graphic. I think they will surprise us again with PCI Express...

 

[brykken]

in almost all Apple products update, the Apple tore is updated worldwide between 13-14h00 (europe time) making it 7-8h00 East coast time...that's it...now that was the rule before...

I'm just saying that yesterdays AirTunes update didn't post until around 12:00EST. That leads me to believe they are going PST... we'll see either way.

 

[eric67]

indeed

don't no one forget the possibility of singles going into the G5 iMacs.

they could def. put the 1.6 and 1.8's in the updated iMacs at WWDC

that would leave a 2.0, 2.2, 2.6 dual lineup for the Powermacs.

I think that's best we can expect from Apple at this point.

this is what going to happen...next PMG5 are going to be all Dual, or there will be a serious problem/overlap when the future iMacG5...

 

[xy14]

Idea!

I think it would be cool to see something like this:
(all duals)

1.8Ghz: $1799
2.2Ghz: $2199
2.6Ghz: $2499

 

[pjkelnhofer]

only a 500Mhz increase over 1 full year! SHEESH!!!!???!!!

no way i'm buyin yet... i didn't think they would hit the 3Ghz mark but, i was atleast hoping for a 2.8Ghz.

if this is true i'm very dissapointed.

don't even bother releasing a single 1.8Ghz. the bottom should be atlease 2.0Ghz.

c'mon!

Let's all catch our breath. It is only a rumor, we don't know that what ThinkSecret said is true. Maybe they missed a Dual 2.2 and the line is going to four PowerMacs.

For everyone that things there will be a huge lineup (single and dual, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.5's). It will not happen. Apple has no interested in having to stock between six and ten different models (especially since they are still selling the PM G4). I think the lineup will increase by one at the most. Hasn't Apple tried to have a huge number of options and it didn't work out in the past.

 

[TWinbrook46636]

So according to ThinkSecret's revised article:

1.6 x1 Ghz -> 1.8 x1 Ghz [speed goes from 1.6 Ghz to 1.8 Ghz]
1.8 x2 Ghz -> 1.8 x2 Ghz [speed remains the same]
2.0 x2 Ghz -> 2.0 x2 Ghz [speed remains the same]
2.0 x2 Ghz -> 2.5 x2 Ghz [speed goes from 2.0 Ghz to 2.5 Ghz]

Does this make any sense? They also say Apple will sell the current 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 models at a discount along side the new PowerMacs. Uh-huh. That's not the least bit confusing.

 

[stingerman]

in almost all Apple products update, the Apple tore is updated worldwide between 13-14h00 (europe time) making it 7-8h00 East coast time...that's it...now that was the rule before...

Not yesterday. Apple has been changing their release schedule. And it is clear now that they are not going to wait on conferences to make major releases. Thank goodness. Release them when they are ready. Apple is learning a lot from their iPod experience.

 

[pjkelnhofer]

I'm just saying that yesterdays AirTunes update didn't post until around 12:00EST. That leads me to believe they are going PST... we'll see either way.

More importantly the ThinkSecret rumor that this thread is about says the updates are not going to happen today.

 

[displaced]

Would I be dissappointed with the 3 GHZ not being unveiled, you bet! The reason is not based on purely speed, however on the stage of WWDC one year ago Steve said in 12 months you'll have 3GZ G5's, now for Steve to say something as bold as that, he had to have a very good reason, he didn't say within 18 months, it was 12.

Since IBM produce the CPU, I'd imagine that IBM had told Apple and SJ that they were on course for 3GHz within a year.

Unfortunately, a lot can happen to get in the way. You can plan and design all you want -- but you don't have any guarantees until you implement and test.

Getting a MHz boost on a CPU isn't simply a case of tacking on some go-faster stripes and adding a rear spoiler. IBM developed an entire new process for manufacturing CPU cores capable of higher speeds. They shrunk the feature size by 40nm. Totally and utterly understandably, they ran into trouble making this bleeding-edge technology scale to production levels. Please please don't underestimate the amount of science and technical expertise it takes to make these advances.

In good faith, IBM told Apple they planned to have a 3GHz G5 by a year after the original G5. They're executing this plan at the moment. From the looks of things it's behind schedule by.... weeks? a few months, tops? Seriously, is this such a disaster? Are we really going to throw our toys out of the pram over this? Do we think IBM and Apple have been kicking back twiddling their thumbs - "Hey, Jim -- You got that crate-load of 3GHz 97x's done? ... Nah, I'm heading out for a beer instead. Screw Mac users, I'm thirsty"

Relaaax. They're trying to build computers here, not tonka toys.

 

[Laslo Panaflex]

who annoys me are the people who bought up the dual 2.0 the moment it was announced that are pouting now because they can't buy up a dual 3.0 merely a year later. give me your old G5, since you're so ready to get a new one.

I have a dual 2gig, ordered it the day it was announced, and I am definately not going to upgrade anytime soon. It is way fast, and I think that the people that are waiting for dual 3 and complaining are being snobs. Nobody is forcing you to wait for a dual 3gig, and just becuase Steve said doesn't mean it is so. He did infact say we will be at 3ghz by this time next year, but he didn't say anything about them being in a powermac and for sale.

But to be fair, it has been a long wait for an update, and it seems like they could do better, but I am waiting untill the updates are announced to make my final decision.

In conclusion, any machine dual 1.8 and up is very nice and should be not be taken lightly, heck we could still be waiting for Motorola to bring up the G4 chip to 2ghz, if it weren't for IBM.