Next Pro desktop tech specs

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
I htink just about everyone has come to the conclusion that the 970 is gonna be in the next pro machine. Cool. Nice. But what else will be in that machine? Here is my (basic) list of predictions:



8X AGP, with the nVidia gforce FX

4 GB max of high-speed RAM

Integrated ATA 133?

Fibre-channel?

66 mhz, 64-bit PCI slots (4)

RAID, out of the box



There's probably tons of things that I left out. What do you think will be in it? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">



[ 02-16-2003: Message edited by: os10geek ]</p>
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 78
    What I'd Like to see (but probably won't):



    Dual 1.8 GHZ 970s

    4 GB DDR RAM

    Serial ATA

    Hardware RAID Controller

    8MB Cache HDs

    8x AGP

    Quadro4 or FireGL Graphics (no more gamer cards in pro machines!!!!!)

    10Gigabit Ethernet

    Dolby 5.1 Audio Out

    Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse

    Faster Superdrives
  • Reply 2 of 78
    RAID++
  • Reply 3 of 78
    What about PCI-X?
  • Reply 4 of 78
    outsideroutsider Posts: 6,008member
    I think Apple 970 core chipset will be conservative at first.



    8x AGP seems about right.



    PCI-X is the next logical progression and some higher end PCs already include this expansion.



    DDR-I PC2700 and/or DDR-II 400MHz RAM slots.



    Serial-ATA is a must IMO.



    This is something I would like to see at least on the Towers. Build into the peripheral controller a small embedded processor like the 405 core running at 200-266MHz or so strictly for handling very low level operations like USB-2, ATA buses, and the ATA RAID controller. Get all this stuff off the main CPU(s).
  • Reply 5 of 78
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,419member
    The "Perfect POWERmac"



    Dual 1.8Ghz PPC 970

    Serial ATA HD(forget RAID we're talking ATA here)

    PCI Express(320MBps throughput)

    Dual Channel DDR

    Audio Acceleration chip- 5.1,DTS, DVDA and SACD.

    FW 3200(Fiber Connector)

    SPDIF out

    Built In Card slot for CF,Memory Stick etc.
  • Reply 6 of 78
    There will be no Geforce FX

    Hell there will barely be a Geforce FX on the PC side
  • Reply 7 of 78
    [quote] Dual 1.8 GHZ 970s

    4 GB DDR RAM

    Serial ATA

    Hardware RAID Controller

    8MB Cache HDs

    8x AGP

    Quadro4 or FireGL Graphics (no more gamer cards in pro machines!!!!!)

    10Gigabit Ethernet

    Dolby 5.1 Audio Out

    Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse

    Faster Superdrives



    <hr></blockquote>



    Something like that.



    With 23 inch LCD and my glass table with chrome legs.



    Pass on the Raddish sauce.



    Lemon Bon Bon <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />
  • Reply 8 of 78
    gargar Posts: 1,201member
    Next Pro desktop tech specs...



    keep on your pants kids: next pro desktop won't have a ppc 970 in it. It will still have another rev G4 processor.

    You and I have to wait a revision longer to buy us a nice new pm (powermac not private message)





    [quote]Originally posted by hmurchison:

    <strong>The "Perfect POWERmac"

    Built In Card slot for CF,Memory Stick etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> right



    [ 02-22-2003: Message edited by: gar ]</p>
  • Reply 9 of 78
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    It's gotta be 970's, G4 shows no indication of getting a faster bus any time soon, so even if the speed increases, you can't get the most out of DP configs. Fast SP .13u G4's 1.4-1.8Ghz will still be nice for the laptops for a while, if mot ever manages to supply them.



    The only real question is SP or DP and at what cost. PM prices still have to come down to more reasonable levels. I think Apple is leaning towards SP with DP only on the high end. It's Stupid but hey, it's Apple. They took away the DP867 which was the only passable PM deal in favor of a much slower entry level machine for only slightly less money.



    If the 970 is ready that's the time to lower the boom on desktop performance. Make it ALL DP configs at the same price points as current and if you want to go high-end slap 4 of those little beasts into the PM enclosure, put a big price on it and go make hay!



    Yes, that's right, I said put a big price on it, but before you think my PN has gone to my head, think about the model I propose to price for profit. A Quad CPU system. Ain't no consumer, or print shop, or even small independent graphics pro gonna look at that unless they know they're going to drop serious change. No problems when you have a serious machine. The big money players will pay.



    Just remember, they won't grow your business the way a groundswell of semi-pro and budget pro buyers will. Gotta have BOTH the affordable fast machines AND the sky's the limit supercomputer (for that precious "halo effect," not the game)
  • Reply 10 of 78
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    Whether we see PCI-X or SATA depends on the real-world availability of the technology. If serial ATA drives are still fairly exotic, and fairly expensive, don't expect to see them built in. Similarly, the PowerMacs have 32 bit PCI slots for the sake of compatibility with current and past PCI cards.



    It's worth remembering that the New Apple doesn't usually adopt a connection spec until it's mainstream. There are notable exceptions (802.11g and FW800, in the latest go-round), but for the most part it's true, and it makes sense: Why buy a machine with expansion capabilities that you can't use?
  • Reply 11 of 78
    fran441fran441 Posts: 3,715member
    I don't know about you guys, but my next Mac is going to have a 970 in it, hopefully 2 or 4.



    That should be enough to push me back into getting a desktop and using my laptop on the road.



    I still think we might see one more Power Mac G4 'bump' this summer but after that, all bets are off.
  • Reply 12 of 78
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    yeah, but SATA is a forgone conclusion and the spec accepts regular ATA drives (iThink from 66 on)



    The PCI thing is harrier, becuase it could go a few differnet ways. We'll see PCI-Express because Intel wants it, it's fast, it can scale, and there are provisions to make backward compatibility easy for board makers.



    probably you'll see a board with a mix of PCI 64/66, and PCI Express and no AGP. I don't understand it all, but it's what a little bird told me.
  • Reply 13 of 78
    My Guesses:



    Up to Dual 1.8 GHZ 970s

    4 GB DDR RAM

    ATA-133

    Hardware RAID Controller

    8MB Cache HDs

    8x AGP Pro

    Quadro/FireGL/3Dlabs Graphics

    Gigabit Ethernet

    Dolby 5.1 Audio Out (Creative Labs Cards)

    Bluetooth support with Keyboard and Mouse

    Superdrive

    Airport Extreme
  • Reply 14 of 78
    nevynnevyn Posts: 360member
    Styled similar to current setup.

    Mirrored part extends down a little bit more.



    Dual 1.8 ppc 970

    4 GB RAM in two interleaved banks

    Dual optical bays, using the half-height drives

    8x AGP

    Quadro4 or FireGL Graphics

    Dual front accessible, hot swappable "Xserve" module drives. Four drive bays, software RAIDable.

    Gigabit enet

    AirportX, Bluetooth

    Dolby 5.1

    BT Keyboard/Mouse/Tablet.

    At least FW800, 2 external, one internal.

    USB2.



    The GPUisms will step past the "Quartz Extreme" parts to offloading other things -&gt; some provision for extended GPU power. Either cards with multi-GPUs (through Raycer acquisition) or something with the other major cardmakers.

    $500 discount on purchase of an XRaid
  • Reply 15 of 78
    outsideroutsider Posts: 6,008member
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>Whether we see PCI-X or SATA depends on the real-world availability of the technology. If serial ATA drives are still fairly exotic, and fairly expensive, don't expect to see them built in. Similarly, the PowerMacs have 32 bit PCI slots for the sake of compatibility with current and past PCI cards.



    It's worth remembering that the New Apple doesn't usually adopt a connection spec until it's mainstream. There are notable exceptions (802.11g and FW800, in the latest go-round), but for the most part it's true, and it makes sense: Why buy a machine with expansion capabilities that you can't use?</strong><hr></blockquote>

    But consider that manufacturers are already releasing SATA drives and I have seen one review of a released drive from Seagate. By the time Apple does release a system based on the 970, it would not be difficult to imagine them including a few SATA ports plus some ATA connectors for CD/DVD and "legacy" ATA drives.



    Also I am certain I read an IBM PDF stating that PCI-X is backwards compatible with PCI.
  • Reply 16 of 78
    [quote] Audio Acceleration chip- 5.1,DTS, DVDA and SACD. <hr></blockquote>



    not gonna happen. the music industry would throw a shit fit. the current scad/dvda players dont even have a digital out, the music industry does not want these disks to be duped due to their high quality.
  • Reply 17 of 78
    I have an uneasy feeling Apple will do as Fran suggests. 'One more...' G4 upgrade at 1.67 mhz or something daft this Summer with the 970 next Jan'.



    I don't like the sound of it. But I won't put it past Apple.



    I'm still hoping for a fall 970 intro'. From samples to key oems to production in the fall? Seems kinda tight to me. Just a gut feeling. I hope I'm wrong.



    Lemon Bon Bon
  • Reply 18 of 78
    cowerdcowerd Posts: 579member
    [quote]I have an uneasy feeling Apple will do as Fran suggests. 'One more...' G4 upgrade at 1.67 mhz or something daft this Summer with the 970 next Jan'.<hr></blockquote>The 7457, which is supposed to clock up past the present 1.4GHZ is not shipping until Q4 2003, and Moto has it starting at 1.33GHZ. The 7455 is maxed out at 1.4GHZ (in fact its surprising thats its clocked this high). What is Apple going to upgrade the PowerMac with?



    Its the 970 (or whatever Moto has up its sleeve--LOL) or nothing.
  • Reply 19 of 78
    kidredkidred Posts: 2,402member
    [quote]Originally posted by Nevyn:

    <strong>Styled similar to current setup.

    Mirrored part extends down a little bit more.



    Dual 1.8 ppc 970

    4 GB RAM in two interleaved banks

    Dual optical bays, using the half-height drives

    8x AGP

    Quadro4 or FireGL Graphics

    Dual front accessible, hot swappable "Xserve" module drives. Four drive bays, software RAIDable.

    Gigabit enet

    AirportX, Bluetooth

    Dolby 5.1

    BT Keyboard/Mouse/Tablet.

    At least FW800, 2 external, one internal.

    USB2.



    The GPUisms will step past the "Quartz Extreme" parts to offloading other things -&gt; some provision for extended GPU power. Either cards with multi-GPUs (through Raycer acquisition) or something with the other major cardmakers.

    $500 discount on purchase of an XRaid </strong><hr></blockquote>



    No, the towers will get a brand new case design. Also, especially with rumors of a new iMac design.
  • Reply 19 of 78
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>It's worth remembering that the New Apple doesn't usually adopt a connection spec until it's mainstream. There are notable exceptions (802.11g and FW800, in the latest go-round), but for the most part it's true, and it makes sense: Why buy a machine with expansion capabilities that you can't use?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I don't think you're fully aware of how close Serial ATA is to the mainstream. Intel's Springdale chipset will include S-ATA on the southbridge, and many retail motherboards already have S-ATA onboard. Once Seagate and Western Digital release their S-ATA HDDs in volume, then the floodgates will be wide open. This will happen well in advance of the next Power Mac update.
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