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Quicksilver Server?

But if the PPC 7450 and 7455 doesn't support DDR-ram, could it be a logic board for a new chip? Like the G5..? :D No, serious. It doesn't look like a fake, so i would assume it's made for another chip than todays G4's. Maybe a 7500 if there exist such a thing..?
 
G4 DDR (part ii)

As a second note, where does Motorola say that the G4 cannot support DDR anyway? Given the right chipset, why shouldn't it be able to?

Looking at the little blurb on that PPC roadmap I don't see DDR mentioned for the G5 either. (They do mention RapidIO though, which I am under the impression is a whole new technology anyway)

-Eric
 
I see something

That are definatly DDR ports
Also the FW and SUB ports are there seems autentic
and there is a AGP pro slot

but where is the CPU sockel ?
 
Are those 3 fat, short, black things ATA ports? Do you think it has RAID support built in, without getting another PCI card? And what is that white port next to the 2 black ones? (not the port next to the ram, but the one next to the drive connectors.)

:confused:
 
I'm thinking there could also be a case redesign coming up. Look at where the ATA connectors are. On the Current model they are below the PCI connectors. Interesting...
 
I looked up the QuickSilver logic board, since Apple is using the SAME one for both desktop's and servers. The reason there is a price difference is the server software, not the motherboard. They do use a slightly different power supply on the server (redundant unit). Still, it looks like a fake-up to me. Notice that the ATA slots are in the wrong location on the one on ebay.

IF this is a prototype mobo, then he is seriously violating his NDA, as well as any agreements with Apple to get prototype/beta units. I really think that someone should report that to Apple. I know that someone here has to know who to email at Apple, since I don't.

I'm attaching an image of what the QS mobo looks like, so that people can see the locations of all the stuff.
 

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It would be stupid to sell a fake thing on eBay. You get totally screwed if you dont send what you had in your description. I bid on an iPod(never received, and eBay reembursed me for it, I dont know what they did to the seller though), so I just bought from Apple. But my point is that maybe one of us should bid on it to see if it is real.

IF ANY OF YOU DO, AND IT IS A FAKE, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST MONEY OR WHAT-NOT.:)

This post was pretty stupid.:D Oh well
 
Re: Quicksilver Server?

Originally posted by arn

* 800 MHz or 933 MHz PowerPC G4 processor; or dual 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processors
* Four (4) 64-bit PCI Slots
* Four (4) DDR RAM slots (yes, DDR!)
* Velocity Engine vector processing unit
* Full 128-bit internal memory data paths
* Powerful floating-point unit supporting single-cycle, double-precision calculations
* Data stream prefetching operations supporting four simultaneous 32-bit data streams
* 256K on-chip L2 cache running at processor speed
* 2 MB DDR SDRAM L3 cache per processor, with up to 4 GB per second throughput (933 MHz and dual 1 GHz systems)
* 133 MHz system bus supporting over 1 GBps data throughput
Click to expand...

Okay... this sure looks like a prototype board and sure looks like DDR memory slots...

...but....

[edit: nevermind... it seems like this guy was just cuttin and pasting some text from current g4 specs]

It sure looks like it has some kinda AGP slot but the person doesn't list it. Is it the same as we have now?

I'm also in agreement with the person who questioned the CPU location since it wouldn't allow for the heatsync.

Finally I have a brandy-new DP G4 Server in my office and the ports are not the same. The modem is on a riser and the 2 usb ports are 'one on top of the other' and not 'side by side'.

now I am assuming that the port between the ethernet and the (2) firewire ports is a modem jack but the more I look at it I'm not so sure...

No matter... it sure looks interesting. Maybe dorsal from the AI boards will comment on it.

Dave
 
Alpha,
It could be a disgruntled employee, or someone that stole the dang thing for all we know. We know that the case is getting up there in age, and is prime for a change. You're a tech, it looks like a legit proto.
 
update:

Xlr8yourmac's Webmaster:

http://bbs.xlr8yourmac.com/ubb/Forum22/HTML/001084.html


well I now know what it is (the DDR MB mentioned in the main www.xlr8yourmac.com news page today) - but I can't mention the specifics...

Prototype apple motherboards are red - so that should be one clue.

I suspect once it's seen by the mothership that the auction will be closed.

Let's just say the next G4s are going to be interesting ;-)
 
If it is a proto that Apple cares about it should dissappear any time.

I blew the whistle so download those images as fast as you can.:D

This way we'll know soon enough.......

I think though that this was never meant as a production proto but as a test of adapting DDR to the G4 with some proprietary whizbang.
 
If he did steal it, he is not being very smart about it. Maybe the guy wants to get caught and go to jail, I wouldn't.

As for things to come.... maybe the G5 will be released similar to that, but I have to believe that Apple wouldn't change the locations of the IDE and ATA slots on the motherboard. At least, not to where they are being shown. For as long as I can remember, since the G3 blue, there has been at least one ATA port/slot at the base of the motherboard, right after the PCI slots. That facilitates mounting drives on the base plate of the computer. Putting them where they are shown in that photo wouldn't make sense. It would also restrict air flow around the motherboard.

I still vote that this is a fake.
 
Originally posted by AlphaTech

As for things to come.... maybe the G5 will be released similar to that, but I have to believe that Apple wouldn't change the locations of the IDE and ATA slots on the motherboard.
Click to expand...

maybe it's a special design for the server motherboard.... doesn't necessarily have to be the same as the consumer unit.

arn
 
Re: Re: Quicksilver Server?

Originally posted by DaveGee
now I am assuming that the port between the ethernet and the (2) firewire ports is a modem jack but the more I look at it I'm not so sure...
Click to expand...

You don't think that might be usb2.0 or firewire 2 do you? Has anyone seen what the usb2 port looks like or has anyone heard what the firewire 2 is supposed to look like?
 
Re: Re: Re: Quicksilver Server?

Originally posted by mcrain


You don't think that might be usb2.0 or firewire 2 do you? Has anyone seen what the usb2 port looks like or has anyone heard what the firewire 2 is supposed to look like?
Click to expand...

USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports/cables are the same I believe. I wouldn't imagine that they would change ports to go from Firewire 1 to 2, so that it can be backwards compatible.
 
This would make sense for rackmounts. The different configuration of ports, the use of DDR memory, and more memory slots. I wouldn't expect this "update" for the towers. Apple wouldn't update a mobo without updating processors. Why would it still use the current processors? Even for testing? That pic on ebay is the heart of Apple's new rackmount.

-Jim
 
I guess we won't know if Apple is releasing a rack mount option until they announce it. Maybe this is an example of such, but I don't recall reading that it fits into a xU rack.

We will see what happens when Apple makes their next announcement, either at WWDC or MWNY.
 
It definetly looks like it's in for a case re-design. The thing that bothers me, though, is that if the motherboard looks like it woudl fit into the case with all the ports on the bottom, and the PCI slots on the top so that the power supply / drive cables don't have to travel through the whole case. The only reasons that I can see for this design are:
1. A true, desktop form factor case. (but those are kinda stupid and impractical, and would hamper Apple's easy-upgrade efforts)

2. Rack mount form factor.

I don't know much about the different form factors for rack mount computers, and I have no real idea why anyone would want Air Port in a rack mount, but this is the only other way that I can see this motherboard fit practically into a computer. I do know, that this would justify the use of built in RAID (even though it would be nice on the regular desktops)

I do think that the processor card connects just to the right of the RAM slots, on that white thing. The port between the ethernet and firewire looks like a modem, but it may be a little small. RJ11 is a little smaller than RJ45, but not a whole lot... I guess it must be a modem...

The only other thing that I can think of, is that this guy is really good with red paint, motherboard parts, exacto knives, and super-glue... In which case, he has some explaining to do to e-bay. Either way, though, he has explaining to do to someone, either e-bay, Apple, or us...
 
Rack mounting could account for the odd mobo shape and layout...

This is pretty damn intriguing! The best rumor-fodder we've had for quite some time, too.

If it's fake, then I hope Apple has something equally cool on the way.
If it's real, then I hope we see it soon!
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Quicksilver Server?

Originally posted by AlphaTech


USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports/cables are the same I believe. I wouldn't imagine that they would change ports to go from Firewire 1 to 2, so that it can be backwards compatible.
Click to expand...

Firewire 2 uses a different connector... with an adapter avail to use older devices I believe...

http://www.1394ta.org/Technology/About/ppt1.PDF [ It's a PDF ]


Improved connector

New connector needed for higher data rates

- So let's make everything better
Much better shielding and signal isolation

- Designed for both CE and PC worlds
Only slightly larger than existing 4-ckt connector
Carries power to support PC peripherals


there's a picture of the new connectors.... very well could be.

update: I posted pictures of the connectors here:

https://www.macrumors.com/pages/2002/05/20020502174828.shtml

arn
 
Re: If it is a proto that Apple cares about it should dissappear any time.

Originally posted by mischief
I blew the whistle so download those images as fast as you can.:D

This way we'll know soon enough.......

I think though that this was never meant as a production proto but as a test of adapting DDR to the G4 with some proprietary whizbang.
Click to expand...

Heh, way ahead of you :D Picture's already up on my web server for the world to see. http://www.scotiasoft.net/G4Quicksilver2002MLB.JPG just in case big brother comes around and some of you guys are left in the dust :p
 
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