Quad PowerMacs and the 970MP?

[MacRumors]

Earlier this week, a MacRumors Page 2 article reported that the most recent Apple CHUD Developer tools had made minor UI changes allowing for the possibility of upcoming Quad processor Macs.

The changes were somewhat speculative as the changes as seen here (old on top, new on bottom).

More evidence pointing specifically to Quad processor support, however, can be seen in the MONster.app seen posted here showing checkboxes for 4 CPUs.

Of even more interest, however, is internal references to a processor called the PPC 970MP.

The 970MP is an unannounced processor which was first referenced in a rumor report from July 2004. The 970MP was described as a dual-core processor with two interconnected microprocessors each with its own 1MB L2 Cache. A few additional details can be found in this 2004 eWeek report.

 

[Chaywa]

Cool

And here I just wanted an ibook.

 

[Timboid]

And here I just wanted an ibook.

An iBook G5? Whan ARE they coming out???

 

[syoung6164]

Well that PM purchase is definately on hold.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Well, the next PowerMac upgrade has to be something spectacular (to make up for the 3 GHz promise...). And this would be awsome...

But I'm with Chaywa, I just want a nice, upgraded iBook...

 

[Timboid]

Well that PM purchase is definately on hold.

Still saving for one, so i will be waiting whatever happens. This could be something...although probably only on the top-of-the-line G5 when it is finally released, i guess.

 

[edesignuk]

Well, certainly if they can get a dual-core 3Ghz (hell, even dual-core 2.5 ) dual processor system out the door, it will go some way to making up for the whole 3GHz promise thing

I suppose we wait an see, quite exciting though, that would be one system to be reckoned with!

 

[Porchland]

Well, the next PowerMac upgrade has to be something spectacular (to make up for the 3 GHz promise...). And this would be awsome...

But I'm with Chaywa, I just want a nice, upgraded iBook...

Did Moore's law finally crap out? I mean, I guess it doesn't matter whether a single processor maxes out a x as long as 4x gets you four time the processing capacity, so maybe the emphasis shouldn't be on the single processor at all.

 

[kornyboy]

Imagine the Heat

Just Imagine the heat that a quad processor unit is going to create. It will be insanely fast though.

Kornyboy

 

[iGary]

Maybe they're hoping to pull out that "The world's fastest, most powerful personal computer" bit again.

I'd love to see Apple have a monster machine like that. Couldn't afford it, but I'd love them to sell a PC smashing desktop.

 

[wilmor42]

right, if they come out with a quad G5 then im definately gettin one, been waiting since september for a speedbump in the top end G5 to no avail.. almost went for the imac 20 but then thought nope! wait just a little bit longer

and longer....
and longer...
oh ang on it looks like they might have gotten off their asses for once
never!

still i got my 20"display neatly connected to the powerbook while i wait..

 

[~Shard~]

Wow, this would be impressive and powerful! Maybe this is how Jobs will redeem himself for missing his 3 GHz promise at last year's WWDC - "I know we missed the mark last year, but to make up for it, how about this..."

One of my initial concerns would be, how much would one of the top-end PowerMacs cost as a result? This technology and power can't be cheap...

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Did Moore's law finally crap out? I mean, I guess it doesn't matter whether a single processor maxes out a x as long as 4x gets you four time the processing capacity, so maybe the emphasis shouldn't be on the single processor at all.

I think Moore's law is safe for the time being, but of course not all individual chip makers are keeping up at all time (right Motorola/Freescale and, lately, IBM?) because of trouble with the 130 -> 90 -> 65 nm transition...

 

[vouder17]

But in that eWeek report thing, it only says that they will test it in late Summer. So i dont reckon it will come into the Powermacs just yet...

DjVoTeZ

 

[~Shard~]

But in that eWeek report thing, it only says that they will test it in late Summer. So i dont reckon it will come into the Powermacs just yet...

DjVoTeZ

xServes then?

 

[keysersoze]

xServes then?

Sweet Haysoos!

Thanks MacRumors, for giving me something that Is For REALLLLL.....

 

[silvergunuk]

Time to upgrade from my 400 mhz G4 with a Dual Core Dual 3Ghz Processor and 4 Gigs of RAM. I'll get slightly faster lightwave renders

 

[hcuar]

Right... I seem to remember drooling over dual core dual processors last year for the PMs... I'll believe it when I see it. I think you'd see a drop in clock speed to make up the heat generated. Is that worth it?

 

[devman]

w00t! the CHUD stuff makes this real. Nice one! WWDC is going to be even more fun

 

[manu chao]

But in that eWeek report thing, it only says that they will test it in late Summer. So i dont reckon it will come into the Powermacs just yet...

DjVoTeZ

Ahem, that report was written in early July 2004, the 'late summer' they are referring to was late summer 2004 (otherwise they would have said late summer 2005 or late summer next year).

With these processors having been available for testing for over half a year now, they could indeed come out pretty soon.

 

[isgoed]

But in that eWeek report thing, it only says that they will test it in late Summer. So i dont reckon it will come into the Powermacs just yet...

DjVoTeZ

Uhh.. yeah.. Late summer 2004 that is.

edit: damnit manu chao, you beat me to it by seconds.

 

[virividox]

quad dual core g5....in powerbooks this tuesday!!!

kidding aside, i just hope they revamp the powermacs soon, im in the market!!!

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Well that PM purchase is definately on hold.

I've had to wait a while to get my new PowerMac, and I've finally managed to start putting the order together. This for me would be perfect and I just hope it comes out in the next couple months - I'd even wait a long as WWDC - but I hope we see it sooner.

I can just imagine how much faster the rendering times for Lightwave3D would be for a quad machine with dual cores.....

D

 

[Yvan256]

But I'm with Chaywa, I just want a nice, upgraded iBook...

Me too, but if you compared the current iBooks with the less-than-two-month-old PowerBooks, you'll see that you can barely upgrade anything in the iBooks without going over/equal the PowerBook specs.

Maybe they could keep the Radeon 9200 but give it 64MB? The PowerBooks would still have a better GPU. And push the 12" iBook to 1.25GHz (50MHz upgrade), if only to make it equal to the Mac mini. Make them 512MB by default, and maybe bigger HDs (since PBs are still better with 5400 RPMs instead of 4200 RPM HDs).

As you can see, you can't upgrade the iBooks much, and with the PowerBooks last upgrade less than two months ago, it doesn't look good for iBooks updates any time soon.

Unless Apple comes out with Quad-CPU (Dual-Cores/Dual CPUs) PowerMacs and at the same time introduce a sub-notebook, the iBook mini.

If they can keep the specs of the 12" iBook mini and make it 25% smaller that'd be amazing. Or even make it smaller while removing the CD drive.

 

[Platform]

This sounds AWSOME

But that would proberly only be on the top of the line machine
But if Quad at the top then there would be Dual at the entry level