90nm Growing Pains
IDG News details the challenges IBM has faced in ramping up 90nm processor production in their East Fishkill plant. The poor yields were cited by Apple as the reason for the shipping delays on the Xserve G5 last quarter.
The rest of the industry has also seen delays in 90nm Production. AMD is expected to reach commercial production of 90nm chips late this year ("September-October-November"), while Intel appears to be in production at this time.
Apple's new PowerMac G5 updates will likely use the 90nm part from IBM. Readers finally report shipments of their Xserve G5s, indicating that production is proceeding. PowerMac and "metallic" display updates are still expected shortly.
The rest of the industry has also seen delays in 90nm Production. AMD is expected to reach commercial production of 90nm chips late this year ("September-October-November"), while Intel appears to be in production at this time.
Apple's new PowerMac G5 updates will likely use the 90nm part from IBM. Readers finally report shipments of their Xserve G5s, indicating that production is proceeding. PowerMac and "metallic" display updates are still expected shortly.
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102 months ago
how can anyone, in all seriousness, blame apple for IBM's problem of taking too long to get their chips out in the proper yields...
I don't know, but it happens...
Reading the article again, I see that they left out a major point that could be causing IBM problems. IBM is trying to convert to 90nm and SSOI at the same time. I believe Intel and AMD are still using SOI.
It's also interesting that they say the the nVidia 6800 is produced on the same process. Is nVidia having supply problems too?
102 months ago
is the upcoming g5 pb expected to use the 90 nm chip, or will it hold out for the 65 nm chip? what are the expectations?
102 months ago
That Apple and IBM are also working on a Power5 based PPC. It is my oppinion that Apple and IBM thought that the 970fx would be in full tilt use by now and now they face a dilemma with the Power5 based PPC which should start ramping in May, and available by September for new systems. IBM will release their Power5 based products in June and they are already promoting them.
102 months ago
I got an offer from Apple for $500 off a G5 + Cinema HD display that expires June 26th. Sounds like the announcement of the new displays and systems will be at WWDC again.
http://www.apple.com/promo/brilliantsavings/
Sam
http://www.apple.com/promo/brilliantsavings/
Sam
102 months ago
I know people like to think it is a race, companies ALWAYS view things as a race to market for sure, but for me this explains alot about the new Powerbook G4's, and why we do not already have the 3Ghz Powermacs. In time we will get all of what we want, G5 everything in our Apples.
Food for thought, IBM is working as fast as they can, Apple is waiting and when it is possible the G5 everything will come, give them time and stop being pissed at "APPLE" for things like this, enjoy your Macs (especially those that are ordering current generation Powerbooks and iBooks) and if you need the fastest get yourself a Powermac Dual 2Ghz for now, or wait for WWDC to see if they announce the new Powermacs.
Take a deep breathe, take a look around you, go outside and look around, remember that the world is not all about a computer, and take in some fresh air. Calm yourself and enjoy life. Perhaps if things go well you will see the G5 in a Powerbook later this year :)
Food for thought, IBM is working as fast as they can, Apple is waiting and when it is possible the G5 everything will come, give them time and stop being pissed at "APPLE" for things like this, enjoy your Macs (especially those that are ordering current generation Powerbooks and iBooks) and if you need the fastest get yourself a Powermac Dual 2Ghz for now, or wait for WWDC to see if they announce the new Powermacs.
Take a deep breathe, take a look around you, go outside and look around, remember that the world is not all about a computer, and take in some fresh air. Calm yourself and enjoy life. Perhaps if things go well you will see the G5 in a Powerbook later this year :)
102 months ago
Well, I have to say that this is surprising. I can't imagine IBM failing like this but I guess it happens to the best of them. I have, however, heard that the 975 PowerPC did not have the same production problems. The reality is that the 970fx, which would be required for Laptops, may be longer in coming than the more advanced (and higher power/heat) 975.
I'm also not surprised that Intel is already producing 90nm chips-- they don't care about heat.
I'm also not surprised that Intel is already producing 90nm chips-- they don't care about heat.
102 months ago
I don't know, but it happens...
Reading the article again, I see that they left out a major point that could be causing IBM problems. IBM is trying to convert to 90nm and SSOI at the same time. I believe Intel and AMD are still using SOI.
It's also interesting that they say the the nVidia 6800 is produced on the same process. Is nVidia having supply problems too?
VERY good point. I've heard reports that the SSOI process, and not the 90nm process, is the problem. 975's didn't have the same problem with the Strained Silicon on Insulator process that the laptop capable 970fx did.
I guess it's all rumor now, but it makes sense...
102 months ago
I got an offer from Apple for $500 off a G5 + Cinema HD display that expires June 26th. Sounds like the announcement of the new displays and systems will be at WWDC again.
http://www.apple.com/promo/brilliantsavings/
Sam
http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/03/20040328064523.shtml
102 months ago
A quote from the article:
"The foundry business also produces chips based on different architectures with different requirements for customers such as Nvidia Corp. and Intersil Corp. Nvidia's new GeForce 6800 graphics chip is made alongside the PowerPC 970FX in East Fishkill on the new process technology, the spokesman said."
Very interesting. Some people mentioned delays in GPU's as a reason for G5 PowerMac delays. I wonder if nVidia 6800's are on a 90nm SSOI process that would also be suseptable to this problem?
"The foundry business also produces chips based on different architectures with different requirements for customers such as Nvidia Corp. and Intersil Corp. Nvidia's new GeForce 6800 graphics chip is made alongside the PowerPC 970FX in East Fishkill on the new process technology, the spokesman said."
Very interesting. Some people mentioned delays in GPU's as a reason for G5 PowerMac delays. I wonder if nVidia 6800's are on a 90nm SSOI process that would also be suseptable to this problem?
102 months ago
I got an offer from Apple for $500 off a G5 + Cinema HD display that expires June 26th. Sounds like the announcement of the new displays and systems will be at WWDC again.
http://www.apple.com/promo/brilliantsavings/
Sam
you're about three weeks late there....
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