Register: Secret Power4 variant?

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
"IBM could have another derivative of the Power4 chip in the works, too, that we have not yet heard of."



<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/27827.html"; target="_blank">http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/27827.html</a>;
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 46
    mokimoki Posts: 551member
    neat; hadn't heard of that one, but I suppose it makes logical sense for IBM to attempt...
  • Reply 2 of 46
    haraldharald Posts: 2,152member
    I thought you might say something about how this was a logical step for them to take.
  • Reply 3 of 46
    [quote]Originally posted by moki:

    <strong>neat; hadn't heard of that one, but I suppose it makes logical sense for IBM to attempt...</strong><hr></blockquote>

    What? Attempt what?



    One line in the entire article that basically says "we're talking through our hats here folks, don't count on any of this" and your response (depite the fact you have not heard of any such "secret" processor) is that it's "logical" for IBM to attempt... what exactly?



    If you are hinting at a multi-core version of the 970, just say so for cripes sake...
  • Reply 4 of 46
    I was going to mention this a couple of weeks ago but I couldn't log in here



    Well now I can't find the link...but IBM and Nvidia presented this week for the Highend 3d crowd some upcoming products for them.... I haven't gotten any info from the event but at the time I was curious if this could be a 970 + NV30 preview (yes I know NV30 has not known to be previewed yet) running on linux.... If this chip is built with this crowd, I could see IBM trying to get into this area as well especially considering Linux has been making major inroads in the 3d world in the last couple of years..
  • Reply 5 of 46
    Meaningless. The author is merely speculating that IBM may have another derivative of the Power4 in the works. Sure, it's logical that they do, but that's not enough to base a rumor on. It's also logical for Apple to ship Towers based on dual PPC 970s early next year, but in reality, they won't ship so soon.
  • Reply 6 of 46
    "IBM could have another derivative of the Power4 chip in the works, too, that we have not yet heard of.



    Well, that's all the evidence I need: CONFIRMED!
  • Reply 7 of 46
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    [quote]Originally posted by Analogue bubblebath:

    <strong>Well, that's all the evidence I need: CONFIRMED!</strong><hr></blockquote>



    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 8 of 46
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    The variants The Register discusses are just POWER4-II's that have been downclocked to 1GHz to reduce heat so they can run in that form factor and the PPC970.



    It could be a dual-core PPC970, which wouldn't really surprise me, but there is nothing really secret or amazing in the speculation there.
  • Reply 9 of 46
    There could also be yet another variant of the Power4, one targeted at PDAs and 3G cell phones. I haven't heard anything from IBM though.
  • Reply 10 of 46
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    A POWER4 targeted at PDAs?!



    "Look, sir, we've got the operating temperature down to 200 degrees Celsius! And the battery life is now more than one second! We're making astonishing progress!"



    "Sir?"



  • Reply 11 of 46
    And you think such insignificant issues would deter would-be early adopters? No way, there are people out there who would gladly buy such a device just for bragging rights.
  • Reply 12 of 46
    tjmtjm Posts: 367member
    I had thought this back before the 970 was presented at the MPF, but was too timid to say anything.



    What if IBM and Apple are giving us a hip-fake? i.e. The 970 is the one they're publicly revealing, but they have another one they will drop on us much sooner than the 970. I know this sounds like desperation/grasping at straws, but there's been "something in the air" that has smelled fishy from the start on this. Use the 970 as a hunk of meat to throw to the rabid dogs, then while they're obsessed with that, you can slip the whole meat truck right past them.



    It could just be my latent paranoia flaring up again, though...



    [ 10-29-2002: Message edited by: TJM ]</p>
  • Reply 13 of 46
    [quote]Originally posted by TJM:

    <strong>I had thought this back before the 970 was presented at the MPF, but was too timid to say anything.



    What if IBM and Apple are giving us a hip-fake? i.e. The 970 is the one they're publicly revealing, but they have another one they will drop on us much sooner than the 970. I know this sounds like desperation/grasping at straws, but there's been "something in the air" that has smelled fishy from the start on this. Use the 970 as a hunk of meat to throw to the rabid dogs, then while they're obsessed with that, you can slip the whole meat truck right past them.



    It could just be my latent paranoia flaring up again, though...



    [ 10-29-2002: Message edited by: TJM ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You fool! Now they know you're on to them! You know too much! Run away as far as you can, before it's too late!
  • Reply 14 of 46
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>A POWER4 targeted at PDAs?!



    "Look, sir, we've got the operating temperature down to 200 degrees Celsius! And the battery life is now more than one second! We're making astonishing progress!"



    "Sir?"



    </strong><hr></blockquote>

    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 15 of 46
    imudimud Posts: 140member
    [quote]Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg:

    <strong>but that's not enough to base a rumor on.</strong><hr></blockquote>





    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 16 of 46
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>A POWER4 targeted at PDAs?!



    "Look, sir, we've got the operating temperature down to 200 degrees Celsius! And the battery life is now more than one second! We're making astonishing progress!"



    "Sir?"



    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Who cares for the battery? It works with solar collectors! I want my portable thermonuclear reactor NOW!!!



    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 17 of 46
    A new record is set for the speed of the thread breaking down into meaningless rubbish.....

    IBL!!
  • Reply 18 of 46
    tjmtjm Posts: 367member
    [quote]Originally posted by Analogue bubblebath:

    <strong>



    You fool! Now they know you're on to them! You know too much! Run away as far as you can, before it's too late!</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I know it seems silly with all the "killer processor next week" rumors we've been seeing for the last year and a half. That's why I didn't post it earlier.



    It's just that I read what seem to be credible reports of a new chip that has been sampling since April (never actually identified as the 970), and then the line in IBM's financial report about how the new Fishkill plant is already or nearly up and running, with production scheduled all the way out to next Summer. And the 970 is supposed to debut next Fall? Something just doesn't add up. Maybe I'm missing something.
  • Reply 19 of 46
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    [quote]Originally posted by TJM:

    <strong>



    I know it seems silly with all the "killer processor next week" rumors we've been seeing for the last year and a half. That's why I didn't post it earlier.



    It's just that I read what seem to be credible reports of a new chip that has been sampling since April (never actually identified as the 970), and then the line in IBM's financial report about how the new Fishkill plant is already or nearly up and running, with production scheduled all the way out to next Summer. And the 970 is supposed to debut next Fall? Something just doesn't add up. Maybe I'm missing something.</strong><hr></blockquote>





    Well, you don't generally debut a brand new chip design on a brand new process, unless you want to go through Mot 7400 Hell. I don't think even IBM is arrogant enough to think they could pull that off. So what we'll probably see is a migration of an existing design first, with the 970 moving over once IBM has all the kinks worked out of the process.



    So we might see some really small G3s...
  • Reply 20 of 46
    tjmtjm Posts: 367member
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>





    Well, you don't generally debut a brand new chip design on a brand new process, unless you want to go through Mot 7400 Hell. I don't think even IBM is arrogant enough to think they could pull that off. So what we'll probably see is a migration of an existing design first, with the 970 moving over once IBM has all the kinks worked out of the process.



    So we might see some really small G3s...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    That at makes a lot of sense. Thanks. But if we DO get a surprise before the 970, I want credit for calling it!



    Now if only I can get those black helicopters to quit buzzing my house and chase that CIA guy out from under my bed I should be just fine... <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[Surprised]" />
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