[used to be jwoodget]

Hmmm.... so if Apple were to announce the 970 at WWDC, it could essentially have a free ride for at least a year in the consumer 64 bit processor space? Would turn MHz gaps into bit gaps. Maybe much of Panther will be girding OS X for 64 bit processing (64 bit processors don't run all data in 64 bit chunks but do require much optimization to make good use of the potential).

 

[used to be jwoodget]

Chealion, if Apple were to use the 970 as its next gen chip, wouldn't it force them to optimize OS X for a 64 bit processor? I mean, is there any point to running 970 in 32 bit mode? I haven't followed this but it seems that the IBM 970 is definitely on the cards for the "G5" Mac. I've no idea how much new coding would be needed, although there are variants of *nix that run on 64 bit cpus (albeit in high end iron).

Apple is seen as an innovator. Being the first to put 64 bits onto your desk might be a real coup for increasing marketshare (but we've heard that before...).

 

[used to be jwoodget]

Chealion, the 970 may not be so far away as we think. I reckon the Fall

In pro machines. Power64. Coming to a supercomputer near you.... Zoom, zoom, zoom.

 

[used to be jwoodget]

There are four main rationales for 64 bit cpus as far as I can see:

1. To break through the current RAM access limitation (which is about 4 Gb I think). This is actually a very good reason considering the explosion in RAM usage. I can remember when 16K was an expansion pack! My desktop has 1 gig of RAM and its maxed out. RAM is faster than magnetic disk so keeping more stuff in RAM makes things go faster.....

2. Improvements in processing efficiency. This is not so obvious to me due to the need to reprogram applications to make the best use of 64 bit OSs. When Apple moved from 24 bit to 32 bit about 8 years ago (?) there was a fair amount of nashing of teeth as software authors hadn't obeyed rules about memory addressing. That wasn't even a true architectural change. After a period of catch-up and learning of new coding tricks that optimize 64 bit processors, there should be significant speed advantages.

3. To get us back onto the upgrade cycle. These poor computer companies need to feed their jets. We seem to be reasonably content with only throwing out a perfectly good computer every 4 years now, rather than every 3. This unhealthy practice has to stop people! You shall buy new. What do you think your computer is? A car? A comsumer electronics device? It's meant to be disposible.

4. Marketing (same as 3).

So, when can I get one!!!!!!!