The low-end Power Mac will not be multicore

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Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
I dont think the latest, low-end power mac will have the multicore. For the following reasons:



1) This will most likely be the last major Power Mac PPC update. Apple needs to string it along as long as possible, as the Power Mac will be last to transitioned to the intel architecture. They will save multicore low-end multicore Power Mac for release next year.



2) Apple loves fat margins. They want people to buy the mid or high end Power Mac with higher margins. A multi-core $1999 would cannibalize the $2999 Power Mac.



3) Precedent. In 2000, Apple released dual G4s except for the low-end $1599 model. Again, this shows how Apple didnt want the low-end to cannibalize the high end models.



4) I am making up reasons to feel better about purchasing this G5 in May.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 18
    thttht Posts: 5,941member
    Well, how about no Power Mac update until February of 2006?
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  • Reply 2 of 18
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by THT

    Well, how about no Power Mac update until February of 2006?



    Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner!
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  • Reply 3 of 18
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Placebo

    Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner!



    Where are you hearing this?
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  • Reply 4 of 18
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,449member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by pazzo83

    Where are you hearing this?





    It's a guess. I'll pay THT and Placebo $100 each if a new powermac revision isn't out by Feb 2006.



    I know....I'm a high roller :P
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  • Reply 5 of 18
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    Fine, but it doesn't work opposite, alright?



    The presence of PCI-e in iMacs would point to the imminence of Powermac updates, however, I think they're going to try to get the best yields and clocks by waiting.
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  • Reply 6 of 18
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,449member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Placebo

    Fine, but it doesn't work opposite, alright?



    The presence of PCI-e in iMacs would point to the imminence of Powermac updates, however, I think they're going to try to get the best yields and clocks by waiting.




    Holy crap Placebo you have damn near 4000 posts! I must tell you that you're posting has really improved over the last year, not that it was poor or anything but the maturity level has definitely taken a jump. Good job man.



    Well I'm just guessing myself but Oct 19 seems to be ideal for a new PM revision. I can't imagine Apple upgrading much more other than the PM and PB. I'm hoping that the PBs go to Expresscard slots



    My guess is



    PB



    small update in processor speed

    larger hard drives 80,100 and 160GB drives

    EV-DO, 802.11G, Bluetooth EDR

    13.3, 15.4 and 17" screens

    new pci-express graphic options

    DDR2

    DL Superdrive in all models



    PM



    DC 2Ghz, DC 2.2Ghz x2, DC 2.4Ghz x2

    Nvidia 6600, ATI X600 PCI-Express cards

    Legacy PCI-X support

    120,250 and 400GB drive support

    DDR2

    DL Superdrive in all models.
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  • Reply 7 of 18
    thttht Posts: 5,941member
    My post was just a facetious answer MajorMatt's wish for no update or a meager update because he bought a Power Mac G5 6 months ago.



    My prediction a Power Mac update is:



    1x2.2 GHz 970mp, ATI x600, DDR2

    1x2.5 GHz 970mp, ATI x600, DDR2

    2x2.5 GHz 970mp, ATI x800, DDR2



    When it will be released? Who knows. But a 6 month Power Mac cycle is pretty quick! I can easily see Apple waiting until Q1 06 for an 8 to 10 month cycle.



    The Powerbook is currently in its 9 month. I can also see Apple just waiting another 3 or 4 months for a Powerbook/Intel machine given that the software will be ready.
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  • Reply 8 of 18
    programmerprogrammer Posts: 3,500member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by MajorMatt

    I dont think the latest, low-end power mac will have the multicore. For the following reasons:



    I disagree -- the low end (and possibly mid-range) machine will have a single dual core chip. This will out perform the current dual chip machines and will cost Apple less. Plus it leaves room to add a second chip to string things out longer.
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  • Reply 9 of 18
    cubistcubist Posts: 954member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Programmer

    I disagree -- the low end (and possibly mid-range) machine will have a single dual core chip. This will out perform the current dual chip machines and will cost Apple less. Plus it leaves room to add a second chip to string things out longer.



    Well, actually, you can't add the second chip yourself, but it is simpler if the low-end machine is simply a depopulated version of the high-end machine, which I assume is what you meant.
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  • Reply 10 of 18
    Quote:

    My prediction a Power Mac update is:



    1x2.2 GHz 970mp, ATI x600, DDR2

    1x2.5 GHz 970mp, ATI x600, DDR2

    2x2.5 GHz 970mp, ATI x800, DDR2







    Lemon Bon Bon
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  • Reply 11 of 18
    Quote:

    Originally posted by THT

    My prediction a Power Mac update is:



    1x2.2 GHz 970mp, ATI x600, DDR2

    1x2.5 GHz 970mp, ATI x600, DDR2

    2x2.5 GHz 970mp, ATI x800, DDR2







    Looks good, but I doubt that there will not be a 2.7GHz model. 2x2.5 GHz 970mp may actually be a decrease in performance for some. Maybe there will be 4 models with a single dual core or a dual single core ( ) 2.7GHz model also.
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  • Reply 12 of 18
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,449member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by jwdawso

    Looks good, but I doubt that there will not be a 2.7GHz model. 2x2.5 GHz 970mp may actually be a decrease in performance for some. Maybe there will be 4 models with a single dual core or a dual single core ( ) 2.7GHz model also.



    Asking for a dual core 2.7Ghz is a bit much. Me personally, i'd take a dual 2.5Ghz 970mp over a 2.7Ghz MP system anyday. Cycles are cycles and I'd prefer to have more at my disposal than less but at a slightly higher speed.
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  • Reply 13 of 18
    Quote:

    Originally posted by cubist

    Well, actually, you can't add the second chip yourself, but it is simpler if the low-end machine is simply a depopulated version of the high-end machine, which I assume is what you meant.



    Err... yes, what I meant was that it leaves room for Apple to bump its machines again with a minimum of fuss.
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  • Reply 14 of 18
    powerdocpowerdoc Posts: 8,123member
    The delay is a bit strange between the Imac last revision and the Powermac.



    For me there is only one correct explanation : Apple is waiting for the MP chips.

    If the delay was due to Apple waiting faster single core PPC 970 chips, it will make no sense.The speed bump for the powermac will be minimal : 100 mhz, 300 mhz ? . Frankly who is interested by a 3-10 % speed bump in the powermac line ?



    I take the new graphic cards on PCI e, rather than the small and insignifiant speed bump (3 % ?)



    As Hmurchinson said, the MP will certainly top at 2,5 ghz instead 2,7 (BTW this chips where overclocked) . But the MP systems will rocks in multi applications, and you can guess in the future, more and more software will take advantage of MP, because that's where the market goes.
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  • Reply 15 of 18
    auroraaurora Posts: 1,142member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Programmer

    I disagree -- the low end (and possibly mid-range) machine will have a single dual core chip. This will out perform the current dual chip machines and will cost Apple less. Plus it leaves room to add a second chip to string things out longer.



    That is the Apple we know and love isnt. I was thinking the same. It would be a Great surprise if Apple announced a new Intel Powerbook and Intel based Mac desktop. Its what i would like to see.
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  • Reply 16 of 18
    majormattmajormatt Posts: 1,077member
    I'm wondering how the performance will pan out. I remember back in March seeing performance reviews and was surprised, I was thinking there would be a great increase, but the PC magazines showed only a modest 15-20% increase in the X86 dual cores.



    Is there code in OSX that will allow these multicores to scream at their potential or will we see a simliar, marginal increase?





    As for the ram, my G5 has PC3200 and the iMac has PC4200. Will the Power Mac even have something better?
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  • Reply 17 of 18
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    Holy crap Placebo you have damn near 4000 posts! I must tell you that you're posting has really improved over the last year, not that it was poor or anything but the maturity level has definitely taken a jump. Good job man.



    You round up like a motherfucker.
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  • Reply 18 of 18
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Aurora

    That is the Apple we know and love isnt. I was thinking the same. It would be a Great surprise if Apple announced a new Intel Powerbook and Intel based Mac desktop. Its what i would like to see.



    Too soon. The cool Intel stuff isn't here yet. The 970MP is going to be pretty damn impressive, IMO.
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