IBM gives vision for future Macs

[~~NeYo~~]

i Don't know if this had been posted, but i thought i'd 'DROPPIT' for all you guys who hadn't seen it! ...


A look into the future of the chipset that Macs use is expected when IBM announce their new 64-bit Power4 processor, which is expected to support the Altivec multimedia extensions which have been set out by Motorola and Apple.

The announcement is expected at the Microprocessor Forum 2002, which will be held in California in a few days. Unlike the original Power4 this will only have one processor core and is expected to be fully compatible with PowerPC technology through extensions implemented by IBM.

A spokesman from The Microprocessor Report has said "Because it supports a full 32-bit environment, this chip should be able to boot the Mac OS just fine," and he has also commented on the likely impact the announcement at the show stating "I expect there will be a fair amount of discussion about this part".

The likelihood of Mac developing their system to the 64-bit architecture any time soon is unlikely as this is a major job but their recently release Xserver could run with it, although only in 32-bit mode. Apple aren’t expected to make any major announcements about this architecture until late next year but with "a vector processing unit implementing over 160 specialized vector instructions" to boost multimedia applications users can be quite optimistic about the future of the Mac.

NeYo : Don't Grill my ass if this got posted already!

Source: http://www.siliconstrategies.com/story/OEG20021009S0020

[sheepguy42]

Well, I for one have not seen it. What I have seen are a number of people swearing the Power4 is not the future of the Mac, because it does not have real AltiVev. I would guess they might have to change their tune now...
On a personal note, this processor sounds very promissing to me, but I am not sure how I will handle all the Windows people I know saying "Ha! You Mac people keep telling us how great the PowerPC is, and now Apple has realized it's not, and so you will just follow them to the next thing and believe it's great because they say so!" The problem is, explaining to them the similarities and how the Power4 has all that PowerPC had and more will be useless, so then they will listen even less. And of course, they never believe you when you tell them how the Pentium line is just as x86 as a 286.

[plastic]

Well, one thing for sure, I do hope that either IBM or MOTO will (1) come out with new chips (or anyone for that matter) to make the Mac faster. (2) stop making empty promises (3) give us loyal Mac users something to look forward to and get a high from it.

/me prays...

[LordOphidian]

This has been said before, but it bears repeating, the proc in question would not be a vanilla Power4 proc. It will be the GPuL (Giga Processor Ultra Light), which is a lower power, lower heat Power4 processor with a vector unit that, while it contains aproximately the same number of instuctions, is aparently not AltiVec compatable.

The chip sound quite impressive, and I personally hope that Apple makes the jump over to this proc soon, probably starting with Xserve and then moving it down the line.

[MacFreak]

Well, As I know that My friends who work at IBM and told me that GPUL do included AltiVec compatable and support 32bits environment. They already tested GPUL and Power4 on prototype PowerMac. They planned to released GPUL with new PowerMac not Power4. Because of the cost issues. Anyway, within few months new xServe will release with GPUL or Power4. Mmmmm

One problem that Apple is not sure about this because of costs about GPUL. I'ts not cheap. My thinking that Apple will offer two options to use processors of Motorola and IBM. That allow customers to decide which to pick PowerMac for their budget need.

In the past that when the first PowerPC released. Many people complained to Apple. Because all products is way expensive compared to PC. That why they need to be more careful how do Apple offer the right price and comfortable for customer to purchase right machine.

Don't forget many people really didn't understand what PowerPC Brand. means and MHZ too. They thought that PowerPC is a brand name of processor. Also they look at big numbers such as MHZ. For example at CompUSA. A guy looking at Gateway that have offered 2.x ghz. I told him come and look up at Apple and showed him new Dual 1.25 GHZ. He said "Nah it's slow and it have 1.25ghz!" I said "no it's Dual" He said oh but I prefer Gateway since it have one processor of 2.x ghz which is faster than one processor and cheaper. However many people don't understand what Apple have. I kept telling people that Apple is alike Porsche. While PC is alike VW Bettle. Because of costs. Anyway, I think Apple should change the number tell them it's 2.50ghz and forget say Dual 1.25 ghz. it confused people and they are not

We do know it while others dont. That one problem.

[Rhino_G3]

Everybody but me must have a "friend" in the industry that works at the top level of every computer related field.

I seriously doubt that apple would go nuts and completely change the architecture of the Xserve only a few months after it's release. unless the chip's vectoring unit is 100% compatable with the altivec, the OS and apps will have to be rewritten to be able to use this functionality. Even if the Chip was altivec compatable it would be running in a 32 bit compatability environment (ala the PPC conversion running 68k compatablity) Again, I don't think they would do this in their enterprise level server.

[nichrome]

The GPUL, by the way, is not an official codename for the processor part.

Some Mac/PPC enthusiasts were probably bored and tried to come up with a cool sounding name (failing miserably in the process).

The part currently has no official name.

[nichrome]

Originally posted by Rhino_G3
unless the chip's vectoring unit is 100% compatable with the altivec

Reportedly, it is. It's not going by the name AltiVec since the trademark belongs to Motorola. If this chip was ever used in a Mac, its vector unit would be branded "Velocity Engine". This is why Apple has its own name for AltiVec -- they can switch between compatible technologies and have the same marketable name. Too bad everyone refers to Velocity Engine with the Motorola VU part name "AltiVec".

the OS and apps will have to be rewritten to be able to use this functionality.

Incorrect, assuming the PowerPC compatibility extensions are not just smoke and mirrors.

Even if the Chip was altivec compatable it would be running in a 32 bit compatability environment (ala the PPC conversion running 68k compatablity)

Flat out wrong. A full (ie. full-speed) 32-bit environment in the chip has nothing to do with 68K emulation.

Again, I don't think they would do this in their enterprise level server.

That's actually where they're most likely to do it first, since biotech companies could benefit greatly from 64-bit.