apple doesnt release ddr g4 macs, but the xserver has it...

[hans007]

i dunno i found that odd. they are already at such a performance disadvantage, and their latest systems still only had regular pc133 sdram. but if you go to their site, their 1U rack servers have ddr. you'd think theyd be not stupid and release it. oh well.

 

[nortexoid]

i personally don't feel that DDR has a huge advantage over SDR, especially in mac-relevant applications...meaning, a lot of non-gaming apps.

they're most likely awaiting a new chipset core logic release - i'm not sure who actually makes apple's mainboards + chipsets, so...

besides, if u're that desperate for DDR in a Mac, buy the xserver...after all, they're not THAT expensive...

 

[BD231]

Originally posted by: nortexoid
i personally don't feel that DDR has a huge advantage over SDR, especially in mac-relevant applications...meaning, a lot of non-gaming apps.

they're most likely awaiting a new chipset core logic release - i'm not sure who actually makes apple's mainboards + chipsets, so...

besides, if u're that desperate for DDR in a Mac, buy the xserver...after all, they're not THAT expensive...

Yeah, I would not imagine many would buy Mac's for gaming, which is really where DDR comes in handy. Setti and other forms of applications like that would benefit as well, but for the most part SDRAM dose the trick. I see Mac?s used in labs and multimedia rooms quite often. I don?t think even Video Editing/3D Image Rendering would benefit from DDR that much, as those applications tend to need fast HD's and processor power.

 

[Eug]

The G4 (as somebody pointed out to me) does not actually use a double-pumped FSB. Thus the extra bandwith for DDR is wasted on the CPU, because the G4 is currently incapable of utilizing DDR. ie. the DDR essentially functions as SDR. This may change with newer versions of the G4, like the 7470 if I remember correctly.

The extra bandwidth can by used by drives, etc, with direct memory access however. So whereas DDR would be almost totally useless on a PowerMac, it might have some minor significance on a Xserve, which would be constantly be making use of DMA.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Wait for Mac World NY. Something big may be around the corner. At minimum Im expected a new G4 (to utilize the DDR), at best, a G5

 

[kgraeme]

July should resolve this issue.

 

[Eug]

Hmmm.... The Register seems to "confirm" my earlier suspicions about the possibility of adoption of the 7470. However, I doubt we'll see a 1.5 GHz machine. I also doubt we'll see mention of the G5.