Quad G5 and Intel Processors?

MacGYVER

Hi everyone,

Something occurred to me the other night, now that Apple has Quad processors and running 64 bit capable Mac computers, what exactly does the competition like Intel have for us Mac users?

Does Intel have 64 bit chips for us, or are we going to be going back to 32bit? Does Intel have Quad processors for us? Can Intel match the speed and technology of the PPC that we have now like the Quad G5 in performance?

When we switch over to Intel, are we going to be taking a step backwards at first and the forwards hopefully? Or is Intel ready to come out with a BANG for us Desktop users and show us their Quad Pentium version of the PPC running at 64bit?

NBiBooker

We do know that the plan is for 64 bit Intel Chips, we do know they can do dual processors and dual cores, just like PPC.

I think it's likely you'll see a PowerBook with a dual core Intel 64 bit chip first, followed by an iMac dual core, followed by an updated Mini, then iBook, then PowerMac.

Just my two cents

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ncoffey

I think that by the time Apple get around to releasing Intel PowerMacs we'll see quad core processors. Maybe two of them in the top end model. (I hope compilers by then are much better at automatically making multithreaded code)

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Commodus

Intel should have proper x86-64 processors next year, and I believe they should be dual-core too. It's more a question of the pro apps being ready for Mac users than the processors.

MacGYVER

Well I hope you're all right, it doesn't seem like anyone is really worried here on ehMac, but what if Intel doesn't deliver on the first round? What if the PPC is more powerful then what Intel can deliver for us next summer?

As long as Intel delivers a X86 64 bit processor, I guess we should be ok, is dual core the same as PPC Quad?

I'm not really worried about the applications not being ready, I have more faith in them then I do the actual hardware and Intel. I mean, if you look at the PC market, they are not really screaming 64 bit, Quad processors or Dual Core systems at most consumers. That's why I have a concern, but maybe I am thinking too far ahead and Intel will surprise us .

andrewenterprise

You looking to buy a MacTel right when they are released? If not, no need to worry, if Intel isn't delivering, im sure the problem will be fixed. I personally think that Intel will get te job done. No need to worry.

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ghiebert

I took a course on 64-bit computing on Microsoft's campus, and the machines we were using were 64-bit, dual-core, dual-CPU x64 boxes from HP, similar in composition to the new PowerMacs, running XP Pro 64. (This was about two weeks before XP64 became a real product.) I think the processors were all 2.6 GHz.

64-bit, multi-core Intel processors are a reality. It's just that nobody buys them because there's not a lot of software out there to take advantage of them. :^)

MacGYVER

Actually I am looking at getting the Quad G5 with some extra power added on. However, if Intel is not going to be up to speed in a year with a Quad PPC, my worries are that the software might lag behind the technology unless Apple has enough resources to work on both?

MacGYVER

I thought those PC's were hard core workstations and not classified as a consumer PC for the consumer market? That was my understanding after hearing that back in the summer.

PosterBoy

There is a dual core P4 (P4 D) shipping right now in a number of HP and Sony (and others, I am sure) models right now. 64 bit is in their roadmap, IIRC, to be shipping right before Apple is set to release the first Intel based Mac. Fancy that.

Whether or not the change is significant to the PowerMacs, it'll be huge for iBooks, PowerBooks, etc.

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