IBM Power5 will be multicore and multithread

[GTaudiophile]

This from theInq:

THE WORLD OF BIG TIN will be much faster when IBM releases its new Power5 processor. The Power4 was dual core, effectively two processors on a chip. The Power5 64bit processor is still dual core but adds multithreading capabilities to both cores, according to Silicon Strategies.
Multithreading is the ability of a processor to run two or more parts of a program at once. This is the same as Intel's Hyperthreading technology in the Pentium 4 and Xeon processors. The Power5 will appear to the operating system as four processors, despite being a single chip.

This will come as interesting news to Apple fanatics too. IBM is producing a cut down version of the Power5 with just a single core. However, that single core should be capable of multithreading, another boost for Apple quite apart from the advantages of going to 64bit.

IBM has said that the Power5 prototypes are already meeting expectations. The processors are set to debut at speeds of 1.5GHz and higher. IBM has set the goal of achieving a four-fold increase in performance over the Power4 and all the signs are that it will hit that target. µ

 

[Eug]

Cool, but when and how much, and when is the Power5 junior gonna appear in Macs?

Also, I've been told that real-life performance of the Power5 will be less than 2X that of the Power4. The 4X speed will come in optimized benches. Still, that's pretty damn good.

Also Rapid I/O or HyperTransport? (Not that I understand what either of those terms really means. )

 

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by: Eug
Also Rapid I/O or HyperTransport? (Not that I understand what either of those terms really means. )

i think that it means like, stuff, like becomes rapid, or hyper, or something like that.

 

[Eug]

IBM to debut PPC970 blade servers at 1.8 to 2.5 GHz.

Sweetness!

 

[GTaudiophile]

I just want to know what's in it for Apple.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I just want to know what's in it for Apple.

PPC 970.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I just want to know what's in it for Apple.

PPC 970.

Yeah, originally, the PPC970 was said to debut at 1.4-1.8 GHz, with no mention of anything faster. Thus I figured 2.5 GHz wouldn't be something until much later. However, it seems the blade servers will debut at 1.8 GHz - 2.5 GHz, so IBM has more going on than originally announced.

People have said that MHz for MHz PPC970 is MUCH faster than a P4, with a 1.8 GHz PPC970 competitive with a 2.8 GHz P4. (That's not counting Altivec or other optimizations of course.) Thus, a dual 2.5 GHz PowerMac would be a mighty sweet machine. That would be equivalent to 7.5 GHz of P4 power. :Q It would be mighty expensive though.

In truth, I don't see dual 2.5 GHz Macs any time soon, but a dual 1.8 would still be quite a nice machine. Comparable to a dual Xeon 2.8 GHz, although it would not be out until 2004 methinks.

 

[Random Variable]

The PowerPC 970 is based on the Power4, not the Power5.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Vespasian
The PowerPC 970 is based on the Power4, not the Power5.

Ok, then reading

This will come as interesting news to Apple fanatics too. IBM is producing a cut down version of the Power5 with just a single core. However, that single core should be capable of multithreading, another boost for Apple quite apart from the advantages of going to 64bit.

and using your information means that there should be another PPC chip coming out for Apple in the near future after the PPC 970. PPC 971?

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Vespasian
The PowerPC 970 is based on the Power4, not the Power5.

Yes I know, but it will be the chip of choice for Macs for the short term at least. Power5 or its close siblings is not going to be any Macs for any time to come.

GTAudiophile was asking what was in it for Apple.

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Vespasian
The PowerPC 970 is based on the Power4, not the Power5.

Ok, then reading

This will come as interesting news to Apple fanatics too. IBM is producing a cut down version of the Power5 with just a single core. However, that single core should be capable of multithreading, another boost for Apple quite apart from the advantages of going to 64bit.

and using your information means that there should be another PPC chip coming out for Apple in the near future after the PPC 970. PPC 971?

"The new IBM PowerPC 970 is the heart of the PowerPC Blade. It is based on the 64-Bit Power 4 architecture which is also used in the processors of the IBM eServer pSeries."

http://www-5.ibm.com/de/pressroom/cebit2003/en/highlights/powerpcblade.html

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: Vespasian
The PowerPC 970 is based on the Power4, not the Power5.

Yes I know, but it will be the chip of choice for Macs for the short term at least. Power5 or its close siblings is not going to be any Macs for any time to come.

GTAudiophile was asking what was in it for Apple.

Though it has been widely rumored that future Power Macs will use the new PowerPC 970 chip, Apple has yet to confirm anything.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Vespasian

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Vespasian
The PowerPC 970 is based on the Power4, not the Power5.

Ok, then reading

This will come as interesting news to Apple fanatics too. IBM is producing a cut down version of the Power5 with just a single core. However, that single core should be capable of multithreading, another boost for Apple quite apart from the advantages of going to 64bit.

and using your information means that there should be another PPC chip coming out for Apple in the near future after the PPC 970. PPC 971?

"The new IBM PowerPC 970 is the heart of the PowerPC Blade. It is based on the 64-Bit Power 4 architecture which is also used in the processors of the IBM eServer pSeries."

http://www-5.ibm.com/de/pressroom/cebit2003/en/highlights/powerpcblade.html

I stand corrected.

According to the article, I should get a power5 Apple chip too... Desktop power 4 server power 5?

 

[Eug]

Though it has been widely rumored that future Power Macs will use the new IBM PowerPC chip, Apple has yet to confirm anything.

Very true.

Although I can't see any other choice. 7457 is only undergoing testing now, and that's for the non DDR-capable version. These chips will be in this year's PowerMacs most likely, but even if the DDR-capable 7457-RM chips were to make it into PowerMacs in early 2004 the speeds leave something to be desired. Remember that the 7455 is really only supposed to hit 1 GHz-ish, and the 7457-RM, a 2004 part, really is only supposed to hit 1.8 GHz. And there isn't much of an upgrade path beyond that from Motorola it seems.

IMO it's gotta be PPC970 by sometime next year or else Apple is in even bigger doodoo than it is now.

Desktop power 4 server power 5?

Probably neither. Desktop PPC 970, and server the same. iMacs and iBooks, and maybe even PowerBooks 7457 series.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Eug

Though it has been widely rumored that future Power Macs will use the new IBM PowerPC chip, Apple has yet to confirm anything.

Very true.

Although I can't see any other choice. 7457 is only undergoing testing now, and that's for the not DDR-capable version. These chips will be in this years PowerMacs most likely, but even if the DDR-capable 7457-RM chips were to make it into PowerMacs in early 2004 the speeds leave something to be desired, and there isn't much of an upgrade path beyond them from Motorola it seems.

IMO it's gotta be PPC970 by sometime next year or bust.

7457 or 7475? I stopped paying attention a while back and I can never remember the revision number properly

Desktop power 4 server power 5?

Probably neither. Desktop PPC 970, and server the same. iMacs and iBooks, and maybe even PowerBooks 7457 series.

Thats fine. I dont mind the G4 processor. I actually prefer the g3 though

 

[Eug]

7457 or 7475? I stopped paying attention a while back and I can never remember the revision number properly

Today: 7455 on 0.18 u. Max speed is supposedly 1.0 GHz (but we already have 1.42 GHz chips).

2003 H2: 7457 on 0.13 u - No support for DDR.
Also, PPC970 will be out. Debuts at 1.4-1.8 GHz.

2004 H1: 7457-RM on 0.13 u - Supports DDR. Max speed 1.8 GHz

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Eug

7457 or 7475? I stopped paying attention a while back and I can never remember the revision number properly

Today: 7455 on 0.18 u. Max speed is supposedly 1.0 GHz (but we already have 1.42 GHz chips).

I knew that one.

2003 H2: 7457 on 0.13 u - No support for DDR.
Also, PPC970 will be out. Debuts at 1.4-1.8 GHz.

2004 H1: 7457-RM on 0.13 u - Supports DDR. Max speed 1.8 GHz

Ok, not sure why I was thinking 7475...

 

[Random Variable]

Although I can't see any other choice. 7457 is only undergoing testing now, and that's for the non DDR-capable version. These chips will be in this year's PowerMacs most likely, but even if the DDR-capable 7457-RM chips were to make it into PowerMacs in early 2004 the speeds leave something to be desired. Remember that the 7455 is really only supposed to hit 1 GHz-ish, and the 7457-RM, a 2004 part, really is only supposed to hit 1.8 GHz. And there isn't much of an upgrade path beyond that from Motorola it seems.

Motorola's primary focus is on embedded processors, not desktop processors.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Vespasian

Although I can't see any other choice. 7457 is only undergoing testing now, and that's for the non DDR-capable version. These chips will be in this year's PowerMacs most likely, but even if the DDR-capable 7457-RM chips were to make it into PowerMacs in early 2004 the speeds leave something to be desired. Remember that the 7455 is really only supposed to hit 1 GHz-ish, and the 7457-RM, a 2004 part, really is only supposed to hit 1.8 GHz. And there isn't much of an upgrade path beyond that from Motorola it seems.

Motorola's primary focus is on embedded processors, not desktop processors.

Exactly, and hence the need for another source of CPUs... IBM to the rescue!