thoughts on the g5 powerbook


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Well if you look here they say the powerbook has been updated on average every 171 days. Since it doesnt seem that there will be another g4 processor do you think that no matter when the next update is it will be a g5 or could they have something else between now and the g5 pbooks. if not then maybe we are looking at early 2005 or so for g5's. just thinking out loud here

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Actually, I just read that they are coming out with G4's that will scale to 3ghz, so I don't know if, or when the G5's will be coming out, not when there is so much headroom left on the G4's.

I also read that G5's are better in pairs, where as G4's are better alone, so a single G5 in a laptop wouldn't be much faster than a G4 laptop, all it would be is a marketing move.

I'm not sure how accurate that was, but thats what I have gotten out of it so far.

Someone correct me?

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i've not read this information on the g4 reaching 3ghz... freescale might take over the g4 line and improve it considerably, or apple may already be working with ibm to get a 97x in a powerbook. once again, if you look around, someone just asked this question... it could be anywhere from wwdc to next year before we know. although, imagine the "stun" factor if jobs walked out for his keynote with a powerbook g5 :drool:

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The problem is not just the cpu, it's also the high frequency bus it brings. Intel maybe blamed for those useless unreasonable and inefficient MHz it pumps out, but even Pentium-M has only 400 MHz fsb! with G5's fst = 1/2 cpu frequency, fst would have to be high if you want usefull/better performance. This would result in raised heat of the components not just he cpu, a far broader and more ingenious solution is needed, and that takes time, and the time grows because the design teams don't really know how hot mobile G5 might be.

I personally find it much more probable and practical to raise speed of the G4 CPU without increasing bus speed or anything else. That way only 1 component need serious cooling, effort is more directed, and we can get result fast. In other words in equation fsb*mult=CPU Speed, I think they should raise the multiplier putting all the stress on the CPU core, and heat-pipe those extra watts out of the system (Apple is good with heat pipe desinging, remember original iMacs? friggin hot top, practically cold everywher else).

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Freescale only got lower end, embedded PPC designs.

If the G5 PowerBook is going to take a while, you may even see IBM AltiVec enabled G3's making a comeback.

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When the G5's come out, should I get them as soon as it comes out or wait a while until the second generation of them come out.

Wait for a second revision.. If I ever got a job I was considering getting a G5, becuase I don't have any bills(still live at home) but if I do get one, I am waiting for the second revision..

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If the G5 PowerBook is going to take a while, you may even see IBM AltiVec enabled G3's making a comeback.

That would be a dream come true for some of us, since you can bet that if IBM releases those, then Powerlogix will figure out a way to put one in the Pismo, just as they have done with the 1Ghz G3 chips (that I am hopefully getting in a few weeks!!!!!!).

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This would result in raised heat of the components not just he cpu, a far broader and more ingenious solution is needed, and that takes time, and the time grows because the design teams don't really know how hot mobile G5 might be.

Do you realize that the G5 runs cooler than a G4?

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Do you realize that the G5 runs cooler than a G4?

It doesn't. You can't just factor in the cpu itself. You have to factor in the memory controllers, the ram, and so on. The 970fx has a smaller die, so even though it draws relatively equal power at similar speeds it still put out more heat because there is less space to dissipate it. Also, inorder to get chipset heat down you would have to lower the fsb which would greatly reduce the performance gains of the G5. 64-bit will do almost nothing for a laptop (very limited memory expansion) and the gains of a castrated G5 are less than the gains of a chip like the new G4 (freescale).

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Do you realize that the G5 runs cooler than a G4?

I have only seen system reviews they do not mention core temp itself. If the core is however cooler, as you say, then it's another argument for my theory, since you can raise core temps without compromising overall temps, but the problem is cooling the rest (which is pretty hot compared to older tech) So if they do figure out a way to cool the rest of the components, CPU die can be heat up (due to speed bumps) without a penalty.

See what I'm saying?

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