Presenting at the Power Everywhere Forum 2005 in Japan, IBM today formally introduced a dual-core version of its PowerPC 970 (G5) processor, which could find its way into Apple Power Macs in the coming months.

The 64-bit chips, code-named Antares, contain two processing units per chip, each with their own execution core and Level 1 cache. Additionally, each core includes a storage subsystem with 1MB Level 2 cache, making the chips twice as efficient as IBM's current 970FX PowerPC G5 processors.

Officially labeled the PowerPC 970MP, the chips pack several power conservation features that allow frequency and voltage demands to adjust on the fly. It's also possible to completely cut power to one of chip's cores when high performance computations are not needed.

News source: AppleInsider

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There are 26 additional comments
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(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by Hottoast on 07 Jul 2005 - 20:08
nice, but apple is still going to switch
Quote this comment #1.1 Posted by sphbecker on 08 Jul 2005 - 13:03
Yes, but this is good news. Now we know Apple will not be stuck at its current level or performance until the switch. At least on the desktops; the laptops have already been stuck for about a year...
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by mad_onion on 07 Jul 2005 - 20:12
yeah so this is just a temporary thing... hmm well i guess it is good that the power macs are getting an update
Quote this comment #2.1 Posted by VikingStorm on 07 Jul 2005 - 20:31
Well not necessarily... IBM will probably use these CPUs for their servers and blades as well.

Last edited by 12316 on 07 Jul 2005 - 21:03
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by Bling3k12 on 07 Jul 2005 - 21:46
Don't forget Apple's not just switching to Intel chips all at once, they could still use these in the next update of PowerMacs. I forsee the iLine getting updates first (iBook, iMac, Mac mini) before the Power line, except maybe the PowerBook.
Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by sphbecker on 08 Jul 2005 - 13:05
The first press releases said that the switch would take place between 2006 and 2007. My guess is they Apple will focus on moving the laptops to Intel first; then the iMac and lastly the PowerPC (if they still call it that).
(4 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by ev0| on 07 Jul 2005 - 21:47
now that these are coming i have no idea why apple is switching.
Quote this comment #4.1 Posted by Netrack on 07 Jul 2005 - 21:53
they still dont run in laptops
Quote this comment #4.2 Posted by VikingStorm on 08 Jul 2005 - 00:03
Hmm?

"Initially, the new 970FX chips will be available in three flavors: 1.2GHz, 1.4GHz and 1.6GHz. IBM says the 1.6GHz version will typically operate at 16 watts while the the two former versions require a cool 13 watts, possibly allowing Apple to release a G5-based PowerBook."
Quote this comment #4.3 Posted by aristotle-dude on 08 Jul 2005 - 00:17
IBM's numbers are fudged a bit. Double that number to get the wattage at full load.
Quote this comment #4.4 Posted by D1g1talMan on 08 Jul 2005 - 13:02
Nettrack is right. With no mobile chip, Apple is still stuck with the G4 for the Powerbook.That was their real beef with IBM; they couldn't get the wattage low enough to make a mobile part.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by kyro on 07 Jul 2005 - 21:56
i dont hear mobile chips.... common u blue thing.. get some awesome jawdropping mobile chips... get my g5 powerbook dream come true.... u can still turn this around.....


mayb... my pipedream
Quote this comment #5.1 Posted by sphbecker on 08 Jul 2005 - 13:08
The Apple laptop frustration was most likely the driving factor for the switch to Intel. IBM has a number of customers for its for its PowerPC processor, but as far as I know Apple is the only one asking for a laptop version. That is probably why IBM seemingly has not put much stress on get a mobile G5.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by xxpor on 07 Jul 2005 - 22:22
I thought the 970 chips are all dual core, and what apple used is a speical exeption. So shouldnt this already exist?
Quote this comment #6.1 Posted by hanxu on 07 Jul 2005 - 23:28
that's dual processors if you refer to power mac g5, which means two processors in one rig, this is dual core processor, which means two cores in one processor.
Quote this comment #6.2 Posted by Help on 08 Jul 2005 - 00:34
POWER 4 (which is what the 970 is based off of) processors are multi-core by standard, not sure about the 970 though.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by RobertH on 07 Jul 2005 - 22:23
I dont know id say the move to Intel is pretty firm, with all the dev kits and such. I doubt Apple to turn around now and say "Oh wait nevermind we wont" even if IBM came along with some killer mobile technology...

Shame really.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by XxiNickxX on 07 Jul 2005 - 23:19
Still no higher clock rates, still no mobile. That's what Apple wanted.

Too little, too late IBM.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #9 Posted by hanxu on 07 Jul 2005 - 23:30
I think what IBM is doing now is having a "I told you so" effect to slap Apple's face, but what they announced today is not really what apple wanted.
Quote this comment #9.1 Posted by adonai on 07 Jul 2005 - 23:46
You honestly think they just created this out of thin air in a couple of weeks since the announcement? They've most likely been testing them for months.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #10 Posted by bsharp on 08 Jul 2005 - 00:05
IBM would have to make a Pentium M killer for that to happen and at this point there is not one company out there that can make a mobile chip as powerfull and as scalable as the M. Few can out perform it with a workstation processor.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #11 Posted by waz on 08 Jul 2005 - 11:22
Does this mean quad core PowerMacs?
Quote this comment #11.1 Posted by TheSarge on 08 Jul 2005 - 14:11
No. No it does not.
Thanks for playing.
Quote this comment #11.2 Posted by Hottoast on 08 Jul 2005 - 15:01
LOL!
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #12 Posted by eilegz on 08 Jul 2005 - 18:34
well this its sorta worthless no one its gonna buy macs now until they migrate anyways hope that when apple migrate to intel the cost go down because apple mac machines are so over priced
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #13 Posted by ArtOf_War on 09 Jul 2005 - 00:14
nice processor... too bad it doesn't run windows
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