Detailed Notes about IBM 970

If volume production will not be untill the end of next year, I expect Apple will use next year to sell overpriced but cheap to make powermacs to counteract the higher cost of the new IBM powermacs. But in the end, they will still raise prices on the powermacs. Or better yet, make it very clear that if you do not spend over $2,000 on a Powermac, you will end up with a crippled system. It's kind of like what they have been doing with the powermacs for a years now where they give the cheapest one a slower motherboard than the more expensive ones but it will be more obvious to the casual viewer.

For a company that prides itself on total control of their product, it is really pathetic that they are always held back by thier component partners. I still plan to buy a Powermac next year. I will not come with high expectations so hopefully Apple will still be able to surprise me (and take my $2,000).

volume production in 2nd half of 03? woohoo! :D :D :D :D

reyesmac:

I can see reason for a certain amount of pessimism, but perhaps you have taken it too far...

Although the PowerPC 970 is a part that would cost considerably less to manufacture and sell, its performance actually exceeds the POWER4 processor in many areas.

I told all you whiny punks to shut up.

This PuPPy is gonna rock.
Power4 core x Altivec?!
sick.
sick with power.

This PuPPy is gonna rock.
Power4 core x Altivec?!
sick.
sick with power.

you forgot the evil "mhaaa ha ha ha" at the end :D

Having read the specs this cpu looks like a total monster, I wonder if apple will opt for RDRAM to cope with the bandwidth needs ?

It sounds like the only option right now but I have read about dual channel DDR memory, it would need to be 2 x 333Mhz which is still less than the cpu needs.

With the same 1066Mhz RDRAM as the pentium 4 can use, this chip will have all the bandwidth it needs but I can imagine this will push up the cost of the powermac line, unless apple start being more fair with their prices because they know this chip is going to tempt a lot of high end switchers if they can make a dual configuration.

Originally posted by 3G4N

Although the PowerPC 970 is a part that would cost considerably less to manufacture and sell, [b]its performance actually exceeds the POWER4 processor in many areas.

I told all you whiny punks to shut up.

This PuPPy is gonna rock.
Power4 core x Altivec?!
sick.
sick with power. [/B]

Abso-bloody-lutely - bring it on! I REALLY have started saving up for a summer 2003 PowerMac!

Oh, and here's a thought, there'll be enough chips for PowerMacs only, but of course it won't go into the iMacs for a while (like the G4), instead it will go in the NEW CUBE! Remember, the product that never died!:D

3G4N:

Although the PowerPC 970 is a part that would cost considerably less to manufacture and sell, its performance actually exceeds the POWER4 processor in many areas.

Note that he did not say "all areas," and this in reference to a Power4 that runs at only 1.3ghz. In fact this statment is so unsurprising as to be boring: since the Power4 lacks AltiVec well then there are obviously going to be certain things that will go faster on the PPC-970, and seeing as how the clock speed is higher yet the core is the same, certain things that are not very memory intensive will also go faster. This should be readily apparent to you.

I told all you whiny punks to shut up.

Some of the "whiny punks" out here knew all of this, and more, long before we read the article. Your joy is misplaced.

At the end of the article in the summary of specs he lists the 1.2 ghz 970 with 19w of power used... how does this compare to current G4s being used in Powerbooks? While I didn't look too hard for this spec just now it isn't specifically listed at Apples tech spec page for Powerbooks or G4.... any experts out there?

Originally posted by barkmonster
you forgot the evil "mhaaa ha ha ha" at the end :D

I erased it, thinking I'd sound like a dork. But to each his own.:)
The real reason I didn't put it, was I didnt feel like sounding
it out finetic'ly. I knew you'd hear it in your own sick head!!!

But really, like barkmonster notes, the thing I wonder about is the
price. What's the pricetag of the good RAM and other (new) architectural
components (RapidIO,Hypertransport,AGP8x???) needed to
feed this new voracious mouth? And how much is the mouth itself?

I sure hope this doesn't give the whining masses a new topic.
I'm willing to pay more for more.

And yes, ddtlm, the 970 will go faster and slower at this and that
than the Power4. It can nitpick better than you, too. bla-bla-bla.

Bottom line. The 970 is going to rock.

Originally posted by foniks2020
1.2 ghz 970 with 19w of power used... how does this compare to current G4s being used in Powerbooks?

once upon a time, i think i read the pbook chip uses 24w, and the sahara g3 in the ibook 6w.

please be kind if i'm mis-remembering.