Is 'Cell' or 'Power5' the G5? (or neither)

jet powersjet powers
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
I didn't want to start this thread, but considering how much IBM buzz is going on here......



Anyway, there are TWO techologies that IBM is developing right now that seem to have the macfaithful in a tizzy.



1) The Cell. It is the processor project under development by Sony/IBM/Toshiba that seems destined for, among other things, the Play Station 3. This article is a quick summary: <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948493.html"; target="_blank">http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948493.html</a>. Here's some Ars goodness on it as well: <a href="http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/playstation3.html"; target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/playstation3.html</a>;



2) The Power5 or Son of Power4. The next generation family of IBM's Power chip is also being worked on as well. This article has some juicy bits: <a href="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,449725,00.asp"; target="_blank">http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,449725,00.asp</a>. Here's the Arsian link: <a href="http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/power4-apple.html"; target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/power4-apple.html</a>;



So, which is the one true faith?



Jet



[ 08-20-2002: Message edited by: Jet Powers ]</p>

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13
    programmerprogrammer Posts: 3,458member
    Son of POWER4. The Cell project might have implications in '04 or later, but the processor IBM is going to talk about in October will likely arrived before then.
  • Reply 2 of 13
    tomb of the unknowntomb of the unknown Posts: 364member
    Neither.



    The Power 5 is not, repeat not, the chip about to be announced at MPF. That is a chip derived from the design of the Power 4. A new design.



    The Power 5 is the successor to the Power 4.



    The Cell is none of these, and to my understanding may not even turn out to be a CPU as much as an architectural approach. It may be more of a DPU (Decentralized Processing Unit) than a CPU.
  • Reply 3 of 13
    analogue bubblebathanalogue bubblebath Posts: 129member
    And apparently the POWER5 will be a real beast, dual core CPU with Symetrical Multi Threading, giving it 4 effective CPUs per die, as well as hardware accelerated TCP/IP. It will probably come with tons of L3 cache and insane bandwidth and it won't be cheap.
  • Reply 4 of 13
    snoopysnoopy Posts: 1,901member
    Just to add to the already excellent replies about the Power5 and Power4, the October 15 chip is designed specifically for desktop computers and entry level servers, according to IBM. Their brief description of it reads like Steve Jobs' wish list of G5 features.
  • Reply 5 of 13
    jet powersjet powers Posts: 288member
    :eek: :eek: :eek: So there's a 3rd chip? :eek: :eek: :eek:



    Jet
  • Reply 6 of 13
    bodhibodhi Posts: 1,424member
    The cell is definitely not it.



    If we get a desktop chip with 25% of the bells and whistles of the Power4 with an AltiVec type unit on it...it will carve up a G4 and feed it to the wolves.
  • Reply 7 of 13
    analogue bubblebathanalogue bubblebath Posts: 129member
    [quote]Originally posted by Jet Powers:

    <strong> :eek: :eek: :eek: So there's a 3rd chip? :eek: :eek: :eek:



    Jet</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You look surprised. Both the Cell and the POWER5 have been talked about before we've heard of this IBM "G5".
  • Reply 8 of 13
    blackcatblackcat Posts: 697member
    POWER5 is the next generation POWER processor and is a Workstation class CPU. It is supposed to be affordable, but that's a relative term.



    I think POWER5 is the next Apple processor, but I think we need to stop saying G5 as we will be making a huge leap ahead with IBM. The G series for Apple went from 3 to 4 but I think TING5



    As for Cell... late 2004 even before we can start speculating!
  • Reply 9 of 13
    analogue bubblebathanalogue bubblebath Posts: 129member
    [quote]Originally posted by Blackcat:

    <strong>I think POWER5 is the next Apple processor, but I think we need to stop saying G5 as we will be making a huge leap ahead with IBM. The G series for Apple went from 3 to 4 but I think TING5 </strong><hr></blockquote>



    That's why I put the G5 in quotes. Anyways, the CPU that is going to be presented at the Microprocessor Forum IS NOT the POWER5. The POWER5 is going to replace the POWER4 in about 2004, I believe, and it will be used in IBM servers as well as workstations, but it will certainly be way to expensive for Apple to use (it will,apparently be cheaper than the POWER4, tough)



    [ 08-21-2002: Message edited by: Analogue bubblebath ]</p>
  • Reply 10 of 13
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    What always scares me when I hear IBM talk about the POWER line's roadmap is the way they stuff like, "In the POWER5 we'll be aiming to reduce costs and size while the POWER6 will be more focused on performance improvements." When I hear things like that I am not sure whether to wonder if they are just going to let the POWER line's performance fall behind or if they are going to get even more out of it, which is a somewhat scary prospect.



    [ 08-21-2002: Message edited by: Telomar ]</p>
  • Reply 11 of 13
    the all knowing 1the all knowing 1 Posts: 130member
    May not happen immediately (don't hold your breath) but I'm betting the farm on the "new" IBM chip due to be announced in October.



    Based on IBM's chip history, it most likely has everything on the chip done, and it could ramp into high volume production next summer....





    [quote]Originally posted by Jet Powers:

    <strong>I didn't want to start this thread, but considering how much IBM buzz is going on here......



    Anyway, there are TWO techologies that IBM is developing right now that seem to have the macfaithful in a tizzy.



    1) The Cell. It is the processor project under development by Sony/IBM/Toshiba that seems destined for, among other things, the Play Station 3. This article is a quick summary: <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948493.html"; target="_blank">http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948493.html</a>. Here's some Ars goodness on it as well: <a href="http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/playstation3.html"; target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/playstation3.html</a>;



    2) The Power5 or Son of Power4. The next generation family of IBM's Power chip is also being worked on as well. This article has some juicy bits: <a href="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,449725,00.asp"; target="_blank">http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,449725,00.asp</a>. Here's the Arsian link: <a href="http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/power4-apple.html"; target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/3q02/power4-apple.html</a>;



    So, which is the one true faith?



    Jet



    [ 08-20-2002: Message edited by: Jet Powers ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
  • Reply 12 of 13
    aphelionaphelion Posts: 736member
    Then again it could be ramping up to full production as we speak. IBM didn't cut the ribbon on this fab to go looking for customers. They have commitments from Apple, and have had them for some time. This might explain Motorola's reluctance to get a "G-5" ready in a timely manner. The die is cast, the agreements are in place. IBM wants to show the World that their new venture can get results fast.
  • Reply 13 of 13
    tomb of the unknowntomb of the unknown Posts: 364member
    [quote]Originally posted by Blackcat:

    <strong>POWER5 is the next generation POWER processor and is a Workstation class CPU. It is supposed to be affordable, but that's a relative term.



    I think POWER5 is the next Apple processor, but I think we need to stop saying G5 as we will be making a huge leap ahead with IBM. The G series for Apple went from 3 to 4 but I think TING5

    </strong><hr></blockquote>

    The Power 5 is a server-class CPU according to IBM's roadmap. it is NOT a workstation CPU and WILL NOT appear in any Apple workstation. You are conflating the CPU to be announced at MPF with the Power 5, they are not the same chip at all.
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