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More than 2 Processor Support in Mac OS X?

Wednesday March 9, 2005 1:50 pm PST by Arnold Kim
One user submits the following:

"Apple released version 4.1.0 of their CHUD tools. CHUD is used by developer for optimizing applications. One of the components is a system preference panel called "Processor". It enables you to turn off the "Nap" function of the processors, but more importantly it allows you to turn off the second processor of a dual-processor machine.

With version 4.1.0, the interface of the "Processor" panel changed significantly. You can compare the last version (4.0.2) with the current version here.

The significance is pretty obvious. Instead of a static single/dual processor option, there is now room to view 4 processors at once, and to select how many are to be active. Maybe Apple will never actually release a quad-processor G5, but it certainly looks like there is one in development."
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wrldwzrd89
91 months ago
I take this as preparation for the inevitable arrival of dual-core Macs. I don't think it says anything significant about when those will arrive.
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slooksterPSV
91 months ago
I think the PowerMacs are going to have a new family line. PowerMac G5 Quad or something like that. From reading that, is it safe to say that the L1 Cache total is 96KB? - Per Processor
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daveL
91 months ago

I take this as preparation for the inevitable arrival of dual-core Macs. I don't think it says anything significant about when those will arrive.

Well, except it implies Apple needs this capability now, in house.

I've been unable to use the CHUD updater to get the latest version. Ever time I run it I end up force quitting it; it just sits there with a status message indicating it's attempt to contact the server, but it never succeeds. Has anyone else had this problem lately?
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Chaszmyr
91 months ago
When I heard about this, I simply had to download the new version of CHUD to see for myself. It is totally set up for more than 2 processors(or cores). I can't even express how exciting the notion of a dual core dual processor powermac is :D
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jim.
91 months ago
Did the mach core always have the ability to scale across more than two processors? It could just be a gui addition to what is already there at a low level. Whether or not it is indicative of something, we shall see....

Jim
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shyataroo
91 months ago
Quad Processor G5? I doubt it.... Dual Core Dual processor G5 seems more likely... I mean first off a Quad Processor G5 would need a much larger tower enclosure to cool it, secondly the amount of processing speed increase would become more negliable with each new processor thats added on... so a Quad G5 would have like 60 or 70 or maybe 90% improvement over a Single G5 when releasing a 5Ghz G5 single processor with an assload of cooling would be better than 4 2.5Ghz processors. not only that but the power requirments would be exhorbent. Personally, I think that they need to work on getting the bus speed at 100% of processor speed and same with ram... that way there would be no bottlenecks and the G5 Processor will be able to show off its full power.
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isgoed
91 months ago

I take this as preparation for the inevitable arrival of dual-core Macs. I don't think it says anything significant about when those will arrive.

I do think it says anything significant about when those will arrive: Soon.
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RacerX
91 months ago
I seem to recall that Mac OS X was designed to work with up to four processors, there just weren't any four processor systems out there.

Also (off the topic a little) Mac OS 8/9 had support for four processors using it's asymmetric multiprocessing software Apple got from Daystar. Of course part of the reason for that software supporting up to four processors was the fact that Daystar made a four processor system (based on the PowerPC 604 processor at 150 MHz).
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jsw
91 months ago
Hmmmph. Having a dual-proc BeBox in 1996, and seeing a quad-proc one in 1997, with CPU shutdown controls for n procs (true), I'm unimpressed (kidding).

Actually, no, I'm pretty excited about what this indicates: clearly, we'll be seeing dual-proc dual-core PBs at WWDC. I see no other way to interpret this. ;)

Seriously, this is pretty exciting stuff, and I can't wait until we non-Apple folks can use it. Most people won't get much use out of it, but the possibilities really open up for some S/W segments.
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mvc
91 months ago
4 Cores! - That would just the ticket for rendering video I imagine.

So will they call it the "Dual Dual"?
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