Dual-core G5 970MP announced. Also low power G5.

[Eug]

Screengrab of PowerPoint slide | Article | Press release (Japanese)

970MP
dual core
1.4-2.5GHz
each core has 1MB L2 cache (2MB total)
one core can be swiched off for low power operation

Low Power 970FX
13W@1.4 GHz, 16W@1.6GHz

 

[imported_Kensai]

Ooo. Coolio.

 

[Eug]

I expect the quad Mac in the next few months (dual dual-core G5 970MP.).

 

[Eug]

Press release in English

IBM today announced the newest member of the Power Architecture family of microprocessors -- the PowerPC 970MP. The new processor is a dual-core version of IBM's award winning PowerPC 970FX, targeted for clients who desire a low-cost, high performance, 64-bit, symmetric multiprocessing (SMP)-capable system in a small package with ranges from 1.4 to 2.5 GHz. The microprocessor also provides power-saving features that system architects can use to dynamically control the system power.

The IBM PowerPC 970MP microprocessor builds on the proven 64-bit IBM Power Architecture family and is designed for entry level servers as well as to provide new levels of performance and power management for the embedded marketplace. The increased computing density of the PowerPC 970MP brings a new level of performance to a variety of applications, from HPC clusters to demanding embedded system applications such as high performance storage, single board computer and high performance networking applications.

Each of the two 64-bit PowerPC 970MP cores has its own dedicated 1MB L2 cache, resulting in performance more than double that of the PowerPC 970FX. This design provides clients with a wide range of performance and power operating points that can be selected dynamically to match system processing needs. The frequency and voltage of both cores can be scaled downward to reduce the power during periods of reduced workload. For further power savings, each core can be independently placed in a power-saving state called doze, while the other core continues operation. Finally, one of the cores can be completely de-powered during periods of less stringent performance requirements.

IBM also announced today new low-power extensions to its award-winning PowerPC 970FX offering. This newest offering is targeted for clients who desire a low-cost 64-bit processor featuring high performance, a sub-20 Watt power envelope and SMP. The new offering is targeted to provide an operating power of 13W at 1.4 GHz and 16W at 1.6GHz under typical workloads. The microprocessor also provides power-saving features that system architects can use to dynamically control the system power.

The 64-bitPowerPC 970FX microprocessor builds on the proven 64-bit IBM Power Architecture family and is suited to embedded applications including imaging and networking, and provides new levels of performance and power management for the embedded marketplace. Designed to run at frequencies up to 2.7 GHz, the PowerPC 970FX includes a 512KB L2 cache, provides native 64-bit and 32-bit application compatibility and uses a high bandwidth processor bus capable of delivering up to 7.1 GB/s to keep the processor core and the SIMD/Vector engine fed with data. The processor core can dispatch five instructions per cycle, and issue one instruction per cycle to each of its ten execution units, including two fixed point, two floating point, two load store, two vector and two system units. The L1 instruction cache holds 64 KB, the L1 data cache holds 32 KB, and each processor has its own dedicated 1MB L2 cache.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Cool

 

[Goi]

Wasn't the G5 based on the PPC970, which is a close derivative of the Power4 architecture, which supports CMP?

 

[n0cmonkey]

The G5 is a PPC970, I believe.

If only there were a company that used these things... :rip;

 

[Eug]

The G5 is essentially a pared down clockbumped single POWER4 core with Altivec bolted on and a lot less cache. Thus not surprisingly, integer is not bad but not great, Altivec is not bad but not great, but FP is very good.

The PowerPC 970 was at 130 nm and maxed out at 2.0 GHz.
The PowerPC 970FX is on 90 nm and maxes out at 2.7 GHz.
The PowerPC 970MP is on 90 nm and maxes out at 2.5 GHz.

The 970MP doubles the L2 cache per core however. I always felt the G5 2.7 970FX was short on L2 cache, with its paltry 512 KB. I think the 1 MB per core for the 970MP at 2.5 GHz is much more reasonable.

I am a little bit disappointed there is no single-core 970GX with 1 MB L2 cache however.

 

[sparkyclarky]

It'll be interesting to see what, if any use Apple makes of these chips in the next two years. My guess is that the mp will find it's way into desktops by the end of the year (assuming IBM is willing to supply them given their current relationship with Apple). The low power/mobile version may find its way into Powerbooks, but I doubt it. It would require a complete retooling of the Powerbook lineup, and that is simply not economically feasible when a complete shift in CPU architecture is expected starting mid-next year. Then there is the issue of clock-speed in the new low power G5s. While they certainly spank the G4 in FP intensive situations, the G4 is already up to 1.67 IIRC, which helps make up a small portion of its inferiority to the G5.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: sparkyclarky
It'll be interesting to see what, if any use Apple makes of these chips in the next two years. My guess is that the mp will find it's way into desktops by the end of the year (assuming IBM is willing to supply them given their current relationship with Apple). The low power/mobile version may find its way into Powerbooks, but I doubt it. It would require a complete retooling of the Powerbook lineup, and that is simply not economically feasible when a complete shift in CPU architecture is expected starting mid-next year. Then there is the issue of clock-speed in the new low power G5s. While they certainly spank the G4 in FP intensive situations, the G4 is already up to 1.67 IIRC, which helps make up a small portion of its inferiority to the G5.

I agree:

1) The 970MP WILL be used, since I expect the Power Macs to switch to Intel last, and the transition won't be finished until 2007. Interestingly, Apple's contract with IBM doesn't end until late 2007.

2) I also agree the G5 PowerBook is also now unlikely. They can just drop in a G4 7448 (90 nm G4 with 1 MB L2) at 1.8 GHz, and that will carry them until they can throw the dual-core Pentium M Yonah into a new PowerBook design.

ie. The PowerBooks need the switch to Intel sooner rather than later. The Power Macs do not. The current desktop G5 are already very fast.

 

[w00t]

so lost.

 

[Chadder007]

IBM's last effort to woo Apple back?

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Chadder007
IBM's last effort to woo Apple back?

That ship has already sailed.

Anyways, we can safely assume Apple has known about the 970MP for just about forever. Hell, even I've known about it for a year.

 

[JDCentral]

I wish apple wouldn't have switched to Intel

Now every damn personal-computer that ANYBODY buys will run the (aging, poor, *insert derogatory word here*) x86 ISA.

Oh well... at least supercomputers and high-end servers will be running PowerPC ;-)

EDIT: WHAT?!! SIXTEEN WATTS?!!! Athlon XP-Ms run at 35-45 W!! Pentium-Ms run at around 27W. Heck.. stick two of those things into a Powerbook.

Although, a quick google shows that G4s top out at 16.5W, so I guess it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: Chadder007
IBM's last effort to woo Apple back?

That ship has already sailed.

Anyways, we can safely assume Apple has known about the 970MP for just about forever. Hell, even I've known about it for a year.

Wait, is Apple still moving to Intel?

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: JDCentral
EDIT: WHAT?!! SIXTEEN WATTS?!!! Athlon XP-Ms run at 35-45 W!! Pentium-Ms run at around 27W. Heck.. stick two of those things into a Powerbook.

IBM's 16 Watt spec for the 1.6 GHz G5 is "typical" power. I'd guess the max is more than 25 Watts.

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: Chadder007
IBM's last effort to woo Apple back?

That ship has already sailed.

Anyways, we can safely assume Apple has known about the 970MP for just about forever. Hell, even I've known about it for a year.

Wait, is Apple still moving to Intel?

Yes. Have you been hiding under a rock?

In fact OS X 10.4.1 already runs on Intel, and Apple's Xcode tools can compile combination x86/PPC binaries that will work on both architectures.