CONFIRMED: G5 enters volume production!
Check it out, the G5 has entered volume production! This was back in November, so Apple must have stockpiled enough G5s for a MWNY intro, don't you all think?
This is going to ROCK! RAWK!!!!
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/23078.html" target="_blank">http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/23078.html</a>
PowerPC G5 enters 'volume production' - source
By Tony Smith
Posted: 28/11/2001 at 16:45 GMT
The PowerPC G5 has been passed for full-scale manufacture, a source close to Apple has claimed.
And the Mac maker is still on course to ship Power Mac G5 desktops at Macworld Expo San Francisco in just over a months' time - provided Motorola can increase the chip's yield.
According to our mole, the G5 is tentatively being produced in three versions: 1.2GHz, 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz. We say 'tentatively' because there still appears to be some concern that there will be insufficient 1.6GHz parts for a commercial release. Says our source: "The chips that are testing at 1GHz are being set aside in case there are not enough 1.6GHz chips to release that machine."
In short, if Apple can't do 1.2GHz, 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz Power Mac G5s, it will release 1.0GHz, 1.2GHz and 1.4GHz-clocked machines. Presumably depending on the yields demonstrated over the coming weeks, the low-end box will go into production on 14 December, followed by the mid-range machine in 20 December. The fastest Power Mac G5 will start rolling off the production line on 3 January 2002, our correspondent claims.
The machines will all ship with DDR SDRAM memory, a "much faster" frontside bus and Gigawire.
Now, we're not sure what Gigawire actually is, but we note that it is an Apple technology - at least, the Mac maker applied for the name as a registered trademark on 5 September. The trademark application doesn't describes Gigawire per se but it's clear it's some kind of cabling technology. A faster version of Firewire seems likely, indeed we've already been told that the new machines will ship with IEEE 1394b, which we've heard described separately as "Gigabit 1394". The official 1394b spec., finalised last May, provides for 800Mbps data throughput, rising to 1.6Gbps and even 3.2Gbps with optical cabling.
Our source chooses not to - or (s)he can't - provide more detailed specifications for the Power Mac G5s and their component technologies. Previous reports from the source have claimed the frontside bus is 400MHz and the chip contains 512KB of on-die L2 cache.
Apple may not be the only customer: our source claims Cisco has expressed an interest too. Certainly Cisco has already committed itself to basing future router products on the PowerPC 7450 - aka G4 - so there's no reason why it won't be keen on the G4's successor. But that's a long way from a commitment to buy the new chip. ®
[ 06-09-2002: Message edited by: Junkyard Dawg ]</p>
This is going to ROCK! RAWK!!!!
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/23078.html" target="_blank">http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/23078.html</a>
PowerPC G5 enters 'volume production' - source
By Tony Smith
Posted: 28/11/2001 at 16:45 GMT
The PowerPC G5 has been passed for full-scale manufacture, a source close to Apple has claimed.
And the Mac maker is still on course to ship Power Mac G5 desktops at Macworld Expo San Francisco in just over a months' time - provided Motorola can increase the chip's yield.
According to our mole, the G5 is tentatively being produced in three versions: 1.2GHz, 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz. We say 'tentatively' because there still appears to be some concern that there will be insufficient 1.6GHz parts for a commercial release. Says our source: "The chips that are testing at 1GHz are being set aside in case there are not enough 1.6GHz chips to release that machine."
In short, if Apple can't do 1.2GHz, 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz Power Mac G5s, it will release 1.0GHz, 1.2GHz and 1.4GHz-clocked machines. Presumably depending on the yields demonstrated over the coming weeks, the low-end box will go into production on 14 December, followed by the mid-range machine in 20 December. The fastest Power Mac G5 will start rolling off the production line on 3 January 2002, our correspondent claims.
The machines will all ship with DDR SDRAM memory, a "much faster" frontside bus and Gigawire.
Now, we're not sure what Gigawire actually is, but we note that it is an Apple technology - at least, the Mac maker applied for the name as a registered trademark on 5 September. The trademark application doesn't describes Gigawire per se but it's clear it's some kind of cabling technology. A faster version of Firewire seems likely, indeed we've already been told that the new machines will ship with IEEE 1394b, which we've heard described separately as "Gigabit 1394". The official 1394b spec., finalised last May, provides for 800Mbps data throughput, rising to 1.6Gbps and even 3.2Gbps with optical cabling.
Our source chooses not to - or (s)he can't - provide more detailed specifications for the Power Mac G5s and their component technologies. Previous reports from the source have claimed the frontside bus is 400MHz and the chip contains 512KB of on-die L2 cache.
Apple may not be the only customer: our source claims Cisco has expressed an interest too. Certainly Cisco has already committed itself to basing future router products on the PowerPC 7450 - aka G4 - so there's no reason why it won't be keen on the G4's successor. But that's a long way from a commitment to buy the new chip. ®
[ 06-09-2002: Message edited by: Junkyard Dawg ]</p>
Comments
Anyhoo, JYD has spotted something important. These 'G5' processors are most likely G4 7500s not 64bit G5s.
If production was ramped in November '01 then test Powermacs would be around during the suddenly silenced Dorsal M post period.
Add to that the fact that since Dorsal 'vanished' no new rumours are escaping suggesting there is no G5, but Apple is buying software which will be utter crap on current hardware.
So, I reckon we have a very good chance of closing the speed gap very soon.
Don't expect to see G5's until MWSF at the earliest, and most likely not until MWNY '03.
First of all the (hopefully) new G4//G5 CPUs must be made in large quantities as this is the only component that cannot be purchased "off the shelf". Moto is it for production of the G4 and they are very very scaled back right now (the co. I work for was fighting for two weeks to get paid because no one was around in the temporary building the division was moved into).
Then the motherboards need to be made, but wait what about exisitng G4s? They have to be run up and stockpiled to clear the lines for retooling (different shape, components and layouts according to leaked and Apple-blocked photos). Reason why this must be so? Apple fought to get the item/image removed.
The case design will probably be redone if this will be a "G5" design for the overall computer even if the CPU is not a real "G5" as everyone wants it to be.
That takes time to ramp up after tooling is done also. I work in the plastics mfg. industry and its not a few week process to design and build tooling for plastic parts, especially large complex ones like a CPU case. Six to 8 weeks is the norm for tooling before production ever starts.
Then Apple will need to stockpile tens of thousands to ship somewhat readily. Takes x amount of time to ship components, assemble and store.
So the build up, if its coming for a totally new model, should have started at least on the CPUs some time early this year. Right now I would guess the last of the G4s are being assembled and stockpiled while the lines are refreshed for the "G5" or new "G4". Alot of this can happen concurrently so its not as long as it may seem to be. The mobo shape/size was set long ago so the case design can move forward with production of the actual boards.
This could explains why the Xserve is using an existing G4 - it had been in production ahead of the DDR G4 or G5 CPU or whatever it will be. After the new G4 arrives Xserve can be transitioned over as its System Controller is already DDR-compatible.
If there is some sudden change in availlability of the G4 then the a major change is definately coming in some form at MWNY. Every other product has been refreshed. There is nothing left except OS X 10.2 and the languishing G4 Quicksilver.
We also have numerous promotions on the G4/displays so something is coming. Perhaps a new style display will arrive as well? What a let down that would be, updated displays and more OS X 10.2 eye candy. Woo. :eek:
Re: Xserve... a 1U machine probably couldn't contain a monster processor like the G5 is supposed to be. The heat and power consumption would be too great. This fall's U3 server may include a beefier processor.
Moki, you know something that we don't.
Please TELL!!!
Maybe just to this. Are we gonna have G4 in N-Y ?
I dredged up this rumor because it's interesting to note that G5 rumors were at full burn at about that time. Now here we are nearing MWNY and still no G5s. Maybe Apple really is stockpiling G5s!
<strong>
Moki, you know something that we don't.
Please TELL!!!
Maybe just to this. Are we gonna have G4 in N-Y ?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I bet all you'll get is a <<cryptic grin>>. Oh wait, that was Frandall's line?
<strong>
I dredged up this rumor because it's interesting to note that G5 rumors were at full burn at about that time. Now here we are nearing MWNY and still no G5s. Maybe Apple really is stockpiling G5s!</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, to me, the rumor mill seems awfully quiet for a month before a macworld. Is it me or does anybody else think there should be more rumors floating around?
There's nothing that would indicate such a thing, so he probably just knows as much as we do: nothing.
G-News
<strong>These aren't the G5's you're looking for... move along.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I just wanted to say that this is the funniest AI quote of the year!
<strong>I know but I must to try </strong><hr></blockquote>
NO!
DO! or Do not! there is no try
<strong>These aren't the G5's you're looking for... move along.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Perhaps not, maybe a different G5 is coming along?