“Microsoft’s choice of 3.2GHz PowerPC processors in its new Xbox 360 could suggest significantly faster Macs when the console ships at Christmas,” Macworld UK writes. “Microsoft’s newly-unveiled console is powered by a custom-made IBM PowerPC-based three-core chip running at 3.2GHz, and supported by 512MB of GDDR3 RAM. The Register last year claimed these customised processors to be based on IBM’s PowerPC 976 chip, itself based on IBM’s Power 5 architectire and fabricated at 65 nanometres.”
Macworld UK writes, “Apple’s G5 processors are also variants of IBM’s Power architecture, and Microsoft’s stated intention to ship consoles equipped with 3.2GHz processors by Christmas suggests faster Macs by then too.”
Full article here.
I’ll believe it when I see it…
I doubt that we’ll see 3.0Ghz, or better, before January 2006.
I would REALLY like to be wrong, but if he past few years are any indication, we probably won’t see Powermacs bumped up to 3G’s anytime soon.
3-Core running at 3.2Ghz? A single core PPC-G5 can run at 2.7 right now, so I don’t think that this is an indication of any more speed boosts to the actual core processor. It may be a sign that we’ll be getting some multi-core processors though.
One problem with this article – the PPC derivatives used in the Xbox are IN-ORDER processors. They are much simpler (read: not as friggin’ HOT) than the processors used in G5’s. While in-order processors will work extremely well in a dedicated unit like the Xbox, they would peform miserably on a desktop machine.
A better comparison for the PPC in the Xbox would be the PPC that controls the “Cell” processor by Sony, IBM and Toshiba.
PowerPC is a specification, not a specific product. 3.2Ghz is fast clock rate. I’d be interested to know how much current it draws. People will be bummed if there’s 9 fans Hoovering air through there blowing cat hair all over the place and making everyone’s eye balls dry out. Gamers need eyeball relief.
I pretty much agree with Bryan. This is like the primary Cell core. Don’t expect one of those in a Mac either.
Sorry to be such a heart breaker. Y’all know I’m a cold blanket, but my hands, my hands are very warm.
A boost from 2.7 to 3.2GHz is an 19% improvement. That’s not that bad. And single-core to tri-core is a 200% improvement. Combined, that’s 256% improvement. That wouldn’t suck.
There are things few if any of you know…
Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !
Funny it takes Micro$haft to get the Mac up to speed…Why wouldn’t IBM do it for Apple?
Relax people!!! How do you know IBM is going to give the 3.2Ghz chips to Micros*%t on time ??????
These are not G5s. They are infact slower than the 970s.
There is one thing I know.
The Megahertz Myth is real.
The G5 and the tri-core PPC Xbox chip are 2 very different chips.
Using megahertz to compare the 2 chips is a gross display of ignorance.
How many times does the MEGAHERTZ MYTH have to be explained before it sinks in? Even Intel understands it now.
dontlaughi’msittinghereonadellpieceofshitinthelibraryandthespacekeyisbroken.
ijustrememberedwhyapplecontrolsthewhole
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CW,
Because when Micro$haft says jump, suppliers ask high high…even IBM.
Just to be clear, Apple’s keyboards aren’t really any more duarble or reliable than any other. Broken keys are broken keys, dude.
Now the argument COULD be made that Windows users break their keyboards more often ‘cuz they pound them in frustration. But I doubt it. They seem like a pretty relaxed bunch.
A review of the Xbox 360 by href=”http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/05/13/xbox360/index.php
“>MacWorld</a>
But there are a lot of fundamental differences between the Xbox 360 and the Mac — the core operating system, the basic architecture and more — that create a very wide divide between the two systems.
MW: Macs are still using single core G5s.
<a href=”http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/05/13/xbox360/index.php”>
i’ll get it eventually:
http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/05/13/xbox360/index.php
Apple seems to be clearing inventory before the Developer’s Conference in June. Perhaps they have finally installed an fix for Apple’s Keep-It-Secret-Before-We-Announce-It division.
I expect and really “want” to see an update to iWork. But I think there may be some surprise hardware announcements, too.
MW: want
Yup, MS helped drive the mhertz myth with their buddy Intel, and they are doing it again. Always a spec company.
Articles and speculation like this is irresponsible and will hurt Apple, because you know very soon idiots are going to be saying, “I’m not buying the iMac since they are coming out with a 3.g Ghz chip.”
They are different chips people. Same family. Different chips
retro..
look at longhorn
look at tiger…
longhorn runs on 3 GHz Intel
Tigere runs on 1 Ghz G4 and lower..
nuff said
The 970 G5, as utilized by Apple, includes two integer math units, two floating-point math units, and an additional AltiVec SIMD unit.
Or, to quote Apple, it is:
“A 64-bit processor with two double-precision floating-point units, two integer units and support for symmetric multiprocessing, the G5 combines an optimized Velocity Engine with a superscalar, super-pipelined execution core that can execute more than 200 simultaneous in-flight instructions. This high-bandwidth core has over 12 discrete functional units that process massive amounts of instructions in parallel.”
Sounds good enough to sleep with.
I have searched for the EXACT tech specs for the G5 varient employed by Microsoft and have come up blank. My GUESS is that each core will be one integer and one double-precision floating point unit. In any case, the XBox360’s CPU is “based on the 970.” That’s not much to go on, but it generally implies that it is a simplified, application-specific design. A simplified design would also explain why it can be clocked so fast.
No one has forgetten that Apple announced 3GHz “within a year” and it didn’t happen. Microsoft announces 3.2GHz within 6 months. They may get stuck with 2.8GHz to ship in volume.
But I hope not. The Letter of Intent and upfront payments Microsoft must be making to IBM infuse massive cash into the Fishkill plant (or whereever). The production improvements required for IBM to meet M$’s demands will indirectly benefit Apple’s future processors.