New G4 Memory Bandwidth Tests
xlr8yourmac.com posted the results of some in-depth memory bandwidth tests of the new G4 7450 rev 2.1 versus the older rev 2.0 units. Does this new chip revision offer notable bandwidth improvements over the rev 2.0?
Andrew's 2.1 rev 7450 showed more than 100MB/sec higher GaugePro memory test rates than a 2.0 rev CPU, but still not that impressive when compared to results from 7400/7410 G4s - even my G4/400 Powerbook (100mhz bus) had rates near the 867mhz (133mhz bus) rev 2.1 system.
Wow. Certainly the perceived advantage of the new G4's is not what one might first imagine, given other architectural bottlenecks (memory, hard drives, system buses, etc.) that come to bear on overall system throughput--but it definitely makes one want a rev 2.1 in their Mac! It would seem that this increased bandwidth might approach the performance increase that the inclusion of DDR memory would have offered--a feature whose absence has been much lamented on the message boards since MWNY.
It appears that some QuickSilver units are shipping with the 2.0 G4's and some with 2.1. Pretty much a crap shoot. So, if you've got one on order, keep your fingers crossed--nothing wrong with a little more bandwidth...
UPDATE: xlr8's added additional STREAM benchmarks, some of which show an almost 200MB/sec performance advantage on the side of the v2.1 G4's on some operations. Effect on video throughput is also covered (basically no effect).
Popular Stories
In the fourth iOS 26.1 beta, Apple added a "Tinted" option that reduces the translucency of Liquid Glass for those who prefer a more opaque look. I saw some comments wondering whether the setting might preserve battery life, so I thought I'd do some testing.
Test Settings
I did four separate tests using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I kept the parameters as similar as possible. Here are the...
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more.
iOS 26.1 is currently in beta testing. The update will likely be released in the first half of November, and it is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, but some...
Apple Maps could feature integrated ads as soon as next year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple's plan to bring more ads to iOS is moving "gaining traction," with the Maps app being next in line. The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in...
Apple is one of several tech companies that will contribute to the construction of U.S. President Donald Trump's 90,000-square-foot ballroom, reports CNN.
Construction began on the ballroom this week, and the White House's east wing was torn down. Trump claims that the ballroom will cost $350 million, and that it will be privately funded through donations. The cost has already increased $150 ...
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 could feature 50% more memory than its predecessor, according to Korea's The Bell.
With its latest iPhone lineup, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max feature 12GB of memory. This is a significant increase of 4GB more their predecessors, largely driven by the demands of on-device artificial intelligence processing.
The iPhone 17 is the only new...
In July, Apple sued well-known YouTuber Jon Prosser and his acquaintance Michael Ramacciotti over alleged theft of the company's trade secrets, after Prosser leaked some iOS 26 details in videos uploaded to his YouTube channel Front Page Tech. If you are not caught up on the lawsuit, read our initial coverage to learn more.
Earlier this week, Prosser told The Verge he has "been in active...
Apple's new iPhone lineup launched in the fall of 2027 will be called the "iPhone 20" models, rather than the "iPhone 19," according to research firm Omdia.
Speaking at a conference in Seoul (via ETNews), Omdia Chief Researcher Heo Moo-yeol corroborated rumors that Apple plans to move the launch of its standard iPhone to the first half of the year and provided some additional clarity about...
At least some new iPhone models launching next year may support full 5G satellite internet, according to a report this week from The Information.
"Apple plans to add support in upcoming iPhones as early as next year for 5G networks that aren't tethered to Earth's surface, which includes satellites," the report said. "That would give the iPhone full internet access over satellite," it added.
...
The Windows 10 end-of-support deadline is driving the largest coordinated PC replacement cycle in years across the industry, and Apple is emerging as one of the main beneficiaries as Mac shipments accelerate.
Counterpoint Research this week reported that nearly 40% of the global installed PC base was still running Windows 10 ahead of the October 2025 cutoff, triggering early fleet renewals...
