Power5 Multithreading - Coming to Apple? - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Power5 Multithreading - Coming to Apple?

Previous Power5 articles hinted at a four-fold increase in performance over the current Power4. It appears that IBM will be accomplishing this with Multithreading according to this Silicon Strategies article.



    IBM launched the Power4, the first dual-core server CPU, in 2001. With the Power5, it now hopes to be the first to blend both multi-core and multithreading technologies.

According to the article, the chip will debut at 1.5GHz at a 130-nm process and "it appears to the operating system that there are four CPUs on each chip."

The Power4 and Power5 chips are IBM's server CPUs. A derivative Power4 chip, called the PowerPC 970 is rumored to be used in PowerMacs as early as this year. There has only been minor hints at subsequent Power5 derivative chips.

But The Inquirer claims that it will come to pass, giving the derivative chip the advantage of multithreading:



    This will come as interesting news to Apple fanatics too. IBM is producing a cut down version of the Power5 with just a single core. However, that single core should be capable of multithreading, another boost for Apple quite apart from the advantages of going to 64bit.

Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Mac Pro

Popular Stories

iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:29 am PDT by
If you pay for extra iCloud storage on your iPhone, beyond the 5GB included for free, you might receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. First, Apple said there will be daily usage limits for some of the new and enhanced Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27, including image generation. However, the company noted that "increased access" is available with "most" iCloud+ storage ...
CarPlay Siri AI

Apple Announces New CarPlay Features on iOS 27, Including Video Apps

Monday June 8, 2026 4:17 pm PDT by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, but we did not hear many specific details about this functionality until now. In a WWDC 2026 video aimed at developers, Apple said the CarPlay video feature is available in new vehicles that support it. When playing a video in an iPhone app...
Apple Says iOS 27 Adds These 12 New Features to Your iPhone Feature

Apple Says iOS 27 Adds These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:47 am PDT by
iOS 27's key new feature is a more intelligent and personal version of Siri, but the changes go well beyond that. In a press release today, Apple outlined additional enhancements coming across Apple Maps, Find My, Apple Wallet, Apple Music, and more. Apple Maps has gained an enhanced Flyover experience powered by AI, enabling you to view aerial imagery in "stunning detail" for select cities. ...