I don't keep up with gaming or console systems, but I heard that Nintendo plans on milking the GameCube for many years. Are they planning to keep it around as the flagship Nintendo systen for the next few years, waiting quite a long time to put out something new? I'm uninformed so maybe someone could sort out the time frame.
Mot making the 970? IBM is allowing other people to fab the CPU, and this would allow Mot to continue supplying Apple and also to supplement IBM's capacity (especially if they're selling 970s for GameCubes!).
IBM has stated that they are going to licence manufacturing of PowerPC-processors to other manufacturers. The 4xx-series is first to go, but 7xx and 9xx will come after. IBM says that one of the reasons for them to do this because some customers want multiple sources to buy from.
It's not unlikey for Motorola to manufacture 970 if they got their 130 nm process up and running and since they are sampling 7457 we can pretty much assume that they DO have it working.
The notion of having Motorola in any way connected to the manufacturing of the 970 make me get ice cold tingles of fear down the spine.
Motorola the company that could not make the G4 scale well
Motorola the company that could not make fast G3 but had to be helped out by IBM
Motorola the company that could not make fast 604E but had to be helped out by IBM
Motorola the company that could not make the 68040 compete with the 486 and the next generation 68050 and 68060 was even worse, thus the migration to PPC
Now they are helping IBM out with manufacuring
That would be a nightmare with Apple having a contract to only buy Motorola manufactured 970. Let me guess a 1.5 GHz barrier appear for Motorola while IBM get their way past 3 GHz or so
That would make the 500 Mhz barrier while the AMD went to 1 GHz a walk in the park in comparison
I can only confirm about the Blade server is coming soon. Beyond that, my lips = sealed Not much I know....but it's all i got.
Interesting note: found this post on MacNN
Quote:
Xaositect
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Posts: 269
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Registered: Jan 2001
Status: Offline
New Post Posted on : 04-07-2003 09:05 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Xaositect Click here to Send Xaositect a Private Message Click Here to Email XaositectEdit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
As of 4-7-03, 9:00 EDT, you may pre-order specific configurations of eServer computers with PPC970 processors (via salesman only). Following IBM history, you will have web pre-ordering in 4 months and shipping 2-3 months after that. Two of my regular customers have machines on order, with confirmation numbers.
From this information, I surmise that PPC970 production is running ahead of schedule.
If IBM can have a shipping box in 6-7 months, and they work with Apple in the sampling/ramp-up phases of production, there is no reason Apple could not have a produsction unit in the same time or shortly thereafter.
I still lean towards a January release from Apple, if they go with the PPC970 (which is not yet a confirmed rumor).
Reality check:
Confirmed - pre-orders are available today.
Unconfirmed: Time schedule is based on history, may change. Apple has not declred they will be using PPC970 chips. Apple/IBM co-ordination level is unknown.
Analysis: More unconfirmed than confirmed, though some unconfirmed are reasonable estimates. Probability: 62% using standard Epps weighting. Ad-hoc adjustment from market analysis: +5-8%, as other options do not appear to exist. End Probability: 67-70%.
YMMV seems the only appropriate ending to this post.
I posted this elsewhere and got ignored so I thought I'd try again. Any one here can confirm this??
I can't confirm or deny but I'm starting to get upset when someone comes out and still states a Januarary release. IBM said it would be shipping in the fall, they are ahead of shedule currently and unless I'm missing something from the big picture, can Moto clock the 1.42 much higher!? [read: we need something for the next bump and that's by this fall, not Jan]
I agree the IBM 970 should appear in an Apple product before Jan 2004, I really was more interested if IBM sales people are actually taing orders for an IBM 970 bases blade server. If true, this could really confirm manufacturing this chip is going extremely well.
Or did he mean Nintendo's next console or something?
It has to be the next version of the Gamecube. Who knows, maybe Nintendo is going to introduce the next revision of the GC at the Electronic Entertainment Expo!
(But this is not Mac-related, so I'm stopping there.)
If you could, please ask him simply how long final chips have been available. (I mean the final design of the chip...as a real chip!) Thanks!
I can't confirm or deny but I'm starting to get upset when someone comes out and still states a Januarary release. IBM said it would be shipping in the fall, they are ahead of shedule currently and unless I'm missing something from the big picture, can Moto clock the 1.42 much higher!? [read: we need something for the next bump and that's by this fall, not Jan]
Exactly. People seem be stuck in the belief that it won't happen in '03, but the 7457 is ready now in quantity. It drives me nuts!
This is not like faster G4s where Moto only sells them. Your average router doesn't need 1.4GHz over 1.2GHz so there is not much incentive for faster versions.
There is a good reason why the 970 will be here sooner, IBM needs it for a high profile product. If it slips, Blade slips, sales are lost. Getting it in high profile Macs is like advertising where the ad agency gives you money!
I think we'll see 970s this summer in lots of Apple stuff.
Exactly. People seem be stuck in the belief that it won't happen in '03, but the 7457 is ready now in quantity. It drives me nuts!
No, the 7457 [130nm G4 with 512k L2 cache] is *not* available at all. Moto's roadmap says that it will be available in the autumn of '03.
Personally, I think that it will be delayed, as they *still* don't have 130nm capabilities for something as complex as the G4. The 7457 [AFAIK] hasn't even been taped out yet. Samples don't even exist.
No, the 7457 [130nm G4 with 512k L2 cache] is *not* available at all. Moto's roadmap says that it will be available in the autumn of '03.
Personally, I think that it will be delayed, as they *still* don't have 130nm capabilities for something as complex as the G4. The 7457 [AFAIK] hasn't even been taped out yet. Samples don't even exist.
bah!
Indeed!
I don't trust Moto not to mess this up, and I think we'll be a lot better off when we are rid of them entirely.
Was in a phone conversation with an IBM bud the other day (he might even be on this board, so Hello if you're listening ...) and he pretty much vehemently confirms your hypothesis ... which seems to amount to a corporate version of:
"Say anything to get 'em into bed, and let them worry about the post-facto excuses ..."
"People"-people, geez, why is it that so many would rather be smiled at then told the truth?
Ahhh ... the working definition for the non-technical...
"Did I ever tell you how especially beautiful you looked when you signed our 5 year support contract? ..."
O.T., I wish it was only a hypothesis. Unfortunately, it's a cold, hard fact from my "Briar Patch". Guess that makes it a theorem, huh.
Comments
I heard they are going to move sooner rather then later. they want to match more closely xbox2 and playstation 3 Or 4 or whatverver is the next one...
IBM needs to be able to tell customers -- including Apple -- that if their fab gets blown up, they can just take their business to Motorola (haha).
So, I believe that IBM and Moto have signed some sort of agreement. That does not mean that Moto will necessarily be selling the CPUs.
Originally posted by Amorph
Mot making the 970? IBM is allowing other people to fab the CPU, and this would allow Mot to continue supplying Apple and also to supplement IBM's capacity (especially if they're selling 970s for GameCubes!).
IBM has stated that they are going to licence manufacturing of PowerPC-processors to other manufacturers. The 4xx-series is first to go, but 7xx and 9xx will come after. IBM says that one of the reasons for them to do this because some customers want multiple sources to buy from.
It's not unlikey for Motorola to manufacture 970 if they got their 130 nm process up and running and since they are sampling 7457 we can pretty much assume that they DO have it working.
Motorola the company that could not make the G4 scale well
Motorola the company that could not make fast G3 but had to be helped out by IBM
Motorola the company that could not make fast 604E but had to be helped out by IBM
Motorola the company that could not make the 68040 compete with the 486 and the next generation 68050 and 68060 was even worse,
Now they are helping IBM out with manufacuring
That would be a nightmare with Apple having a contract to only buy Motorola manufactured 970. Let me guess a 1.5 GHz barrier appear for Motorola while IBM get their way past 3 GHz or so
That would make the 500 Mhz barrier while the AMD went to 1 GHz a walk in the park in comparison
i don't care - i just want this thingy as early as possible
Originally posted by Vvmp
I can only confirm about the Blade server is coming soon. Beyond that, my lips = sealed
Interesting note: found this post on MacNN
Xaositect
Veteran Member
Posts: 269
Location: Pandemonium
Registered: Jan 2001
Status: Offline
New Post Posted on : 04-07-2003 09:05 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Xaositect Click here to Send Xaositect a Private Message Click Here to Email XaositectEdit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
As of 4-7-03, 9:00 EDT, you may pre-order specific configurations of eServer computers with PPC970 processors (via salesman only). Following IBM history, you will have web pre-ordering in 4 months and shipping 2-3 months after that. Two of my regular customers have machines on order, with confirmation numbers.
From this information, I surmise that PPC970 production is running ahead of schedule.
If IBM can have a shipping box in 6-7 months, and they work with Apple in the sampling/ramp-up phases of production, there is no reason Apple could not have a produsction unit in the same time or shortly thereafter.
I still lean towards a January release from Apple, if they go with the PPC970 (which is not yet a confirmed rumor).
Reality check:
Confirmed - pre-orders are available today.
Unconfirmed: Time schedule is based on history, may change. Apple has not declred they will be using PPC970 chips. Apple/IBM co-ordination level is unknown.
Analysis: More unconfirmed than confirmed, though some unconfirmed are reasonable estimates. Probability: 62% using standard Epps weighting. Ad-hoc adjustment from market analysis: +5-8%, as other options do not appear to exist. End Probability: 67-70%.
YMMV seems the only appropriate ending to this post.
I posted this elsewhere and got ignored so I thought I'd try again. Any one here can confirm this??
I agree the IBM 970 should appear in an Apple product before Jan 2004, I really was more interested if IBM sales people are actually taing orders for an IBM 970 bases blade server. If true, this could really confirm manufacturing this chip is going extremely well.
Originally posted by Ti Fighter
Or did he mean Nintendo's next console or something?
It has to be the next version of the Gamecube. Who knows, maybe Nintendo is going to introduce the next revision of the GC at the Electronic Entertainment Expo!
(But this is not Mac-related, so I'm stopping there.)
If you could, please ask him simply how long final chips have been available. (I mean the final design of the chip...as a real chip!) Thanks!
--Alexis
Originally posted by KidRed
I can't confirm or deny but I'm starting to get upset when someone comes out and still states a Januarary release. IBM said it would be shipping in the fall, they are ahead of shedule currently and unless I'm missing something from the big picture, can Moto clock the 1.42 much higher!? [read: we need something for the next bump and that's by this fall, not Jan]
Exactly. People seem be stuck in the belief that it won't happen in '03, but the 7457 is ready now in quantity. It drives me nuts!
This is not like faster G4s where Moto only sells them. Your average router doesn't need 1.4GHz over 1.2GHz so there is not much incentive for faster versions.
There is a good reason why the 970 will be here sooner, IBM needs it for a high profile product. If it slips, Blade slips, sales are lost. Getting it in high profile Macs is like advertising where the ad agency gives you money!
I think we'll see 970s this summer in lots of Apple stuff.
Originally posted by Blackcat
Exactly. People seem be stuck in the belief that it won't happen in '03, but the 7457 is ready now in quantity. It drives me nuts!
No, the 7457 [130nm G4 with 512k L2 cache] is *not* available at all. Moto's roadmap says that it will be available in the autumn of '03.
Personally, I think that it will be delayed, as they *still* don't have 130nm capabilities for something as complex as the G4. The 7457 [AFAIK] hasn't even been taped out yet. Samples don't even exist.
bah!
Originally posted by visigothe
No, the 7457 [130nm G4 with 512k L2 cache] is *not* available at all. Moto's roadmap says that it will be available in the autumn of '03.
Personally, I think that it will be delayed, as they *still* don't have 130nm capabilities for something as complex as the G4. The 7457 [AFAIK] hasn't even been taped out yet. Samples don't even exist.
bah!
Indeed!
I don't trust Moto not to mess this up, and I think we'll be a lot better off when we are rid of them entirely.
Originally posted by OverToasty
Was in a phone conversation with an IBM bud the other day (he might even be on this board, so Hello if you're listening ...) and he pretty much vehemently confirms your hypothesis ... which seems to amount to a corporate version of:
"Say anything to get 'em into bed, and let them worry about the post-facto excuses ..."
"People"-people, geez, why is it that so many would rather be smiled at then told the truth?
Ahhh ... the working definition for the non-technical...
"Did I ever tell you how especially beautiful you looked when you signed our 5 year support contract? ..."
O.T., I wish it was only a hypothesis. Unfortunately, it's a cold, hard fact from my "Briar Patch". Guess that makes it a theorem, huh.
Was just speaking from experience is all.