PowerMacs NOT (Shipping) at WWDC?

[iSegway]

The problem, however, is that the Intel chips are now *way* faster than the PPCs, So while the MHz myth still holds true, the best Intel x86 proc out there will smoke the best PPC chip used by Apple, even when its in a dual-proc configuration.

So why can't they just use intel chips and design a computer around that?

Or even an AMD chip now? Whatever the best component is?

Or even better yet... why not have intel make some processors with their technology in the architecture that Apple wants? Then you have the best of both worlds.

 

[gate]

At this point, we heard so much about the PPC 970 that Apple doesn't have the choice. The new computer that the company will release will be with that new processor. I already waited 6 more months before buying a new computer because the rumor about a major speed bump was in the air and I guess that I'm not alone. In fact, I would even say that it's been close to 2 years that we all wait for the G5 (or something really new). So if Apple postpones the release of the PPC 970, me and probably many others are gonna wait some more weeks (or even months) to buy that new computer. It's that simple. Usually, I buy a new one every 3 years, now it's been 5 since my G3 233 mhz. And I delayed that decision for just one reason, I wanted the next generation of computers. I'm sure that I'm not the only one in that case. I'm glad that Apple turned to IBM because Motorola was simply unable to deliver something powerful enough to put Apple back in the game. The benchmarks that I saw of the PPC 970 are astonishing (even without an OS capable of 64 bits) and finally Apple will come up with a machine that will easily compete with what we can find in the PC world.

 

[Chimaera]

Originally posted by iSegway
So why can't they just use intel chips and design a computer around that?

Or even an AMD chip now? Whatever the best component is?

Or even better yet... why not have intel make some processors with their technology in the architecture that Apple wants? Then you have the best of both worlds.

Aside from the fact that most of the folks here would freak? 🙂

Basically becuase a LOT of the software would need to be recompiled (and in places rewritten) to work on a completely different architecture.

As for getting Intel to make a PPC chip - who can say for sure it will scale any better than IBM's or Motorola's efforts? (By scale I mean ramp up the clockspeed).

 

[ktlx]

Originally posted by Chimaera
The short answer is: It's not an inferior chip - the PPC design is better, more efficient design than the Intel x86 design (as is the AMD version of the x86, but not nearly the same degree).

This is really a pointless argument. What is an Intel x86 design anyway? There are currently three Intel x86-compatible processors on the market all with a different design. Is it the Pentium III design? Is it the Pentium 4 design? Is it the Pentium M design?

The key factor in processor design is how well it accomplishes the task for which is was designed for. The Pentium 4 was designed to allow Intel to reach customer amazing Ghz speeds and raw 32-bit output on desktop systems. Intel did not worry about heat that much and took advantage of emerging memory technologies to support the processor.

Using that criteria, the Pentium 4 is an excellent design because no other processor design out there can touch it for doing 32-bit integer math. AMD tried to keep up and did a good job until Intel passed 2.8Ghz. But it is just as bad for power consumption and heat dissipation.

Of course if you try to shoehorn it into a laptop or try to compare it Ghz to Ghz to other designs, of course it will look poorer. You are trying to force it outside of its design space. The Pentium 4 was never intended to be stuck at under 1.5Ghz and saddled with a circa-1999 memory bus.

 

[Sun Baked]

Hopefully the people that look at the demo units will pass on some useful information about the guts of the machine.

Plastic case is purty... and the type of ports used are the type of reporting you'd expect in a fashion magazine.

I'm interested in the mobo architecture details.