IBM's Power5 is Coming

News.com reports that IBM has successfully tested one of the upcoming Power5 processors, and the results appear promising:

On business computing tasks, the Power5 will be able to perform four times the work of the existing Power4 processor, Zeitler said. IBM introduced the first Power4 systems in late 2001.

The PowerPC 970 -- a Power4-derivative chip -- is expected later this year. Previous rumors suggest that a similar derivative Power5 chip is in the works.