IBM PPC 970 to hit 2.5ghz

[Psy]

In a IBM press release  for their PPC blade.  IBM states the 970 will range from 1.8 GHz to 2.5 Ghz

So anyway Amiga users can run Amiga OS with 2.5 Ghz 970s under the hood before Apple starts selling 4GHZ macs?

[KingTutt]

Damn you beat me :-D

I was going to post the following...

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Yeah guys. Great news to us Amigans readying ourselves to the move to native PPC platforms!

Finally we won't be stuck on 060.

So you guys think the next range of A1s will incorporate this new chip? Or will Apple get first dibs and leave us high and dry?

A2@2.5Ghz anybody by 2004/5?

[Mike_Amiga]

All depends on whether some real Technoid produces a custom built Ninja Amiga or not. If they did they'd probably be selling at quite a profit due to lack of demand.

I'm stealth trolling, I learned it from Mips_Proc.  :-D  ;-)

[Atheist]

We need a new Articia...uuugghhh!

It wasn't too clear an article, something about 64 bit, then it said something like 32 bit compatable. I'll read through it again, unless someone can untangle their jargon a bit better.

Amiga! 32 to 64....uuugghhh!

[Herewegoagain]

Amiga! 32 to 64....uuugghhh!

I read somewhere that it would work with 32bit OS's and only require some tweaks (and I think recompile) to go 64 bit.  But someone else is sure to jump in with the answers.  At least they are now calling the SIMD unit "Altivec" so it will be the same as the G4.  And I'm not sure, but maybe the Artica P could be used for that, but likely it would have to be redesigned.

[Atheist]

I'm imagining things. It didn't say anything about 32 bits.

Part of "IBM eServer BladeCenter", translation: =$1300+ US for 1 CPU!!!

I guess we're just spinning our wheels on this one. :-(

In IBM article:
Prototype from the IBM Development Lab in Böblingen, Germany

Any certain one in Gremany want to do a "Moonlight Mission"?  :-o

Amiga! Why doesn't IBM just go ahead and make a 5 GHz G4 64 bit CPU, tell everyone it costs $5,000 US, then proceed to close down their company in the confidence of knowing they beat Intel!!!  :-(  :-(

[Psy]

Atheist wrote:

Part of "IBM eServer BladeCenter", translation: =$1300+ US for 1 CPU!!!
 

Yes IBM is getting their CPU first for their stuff but once  IBM puts the 970s into mass producion and Apple launches new high end macs with the 970s the price of the CPU should not be any higher then current PPC processors.

[Hattig]

In fact, as the 970 is a 130nm CPU, the die size is pretty small. The development costs were quite low as IBM utilises a lot of generation tools, and this CPU is basically a cut-down POWER4 server processor. So the cost will be low to start off with, even with SOI wafers, as long as IBM have a reasonable yield.

[Atheist]

@ Hattig
Now you know why your rent is so low, you live under an Ozone hole.

I'm so despondent because, look at the 800 MHz boards, what, 500 UK pounds=$1100 Canadian (approx.), so triple that (800*3= 2,400 MHz CPU, price approx. triple as well) AND it's 64 bit. No OS ready for it, and a circuit board is needed as well.

Amiga! When will we get equipment that isn't in the dark ages? :-(

[Psy]

Hattig wrote:
In fact, as the 970 is a 130nm CPU, the die size is pretty small. The development costs were quite low as IBM utilises a lot of generation tools, and this CPU is basically a cut-down POWER4 server processor. So the cost will be low to start off with, even with SOI wafers, as long as IBM have a reasonable yield.

Wow, Apple's prayers have been answered.  Not only is IBM giving them the raw power Motorola couldn't (thus makes the current line up of high end Macs look not so high end) but if IBM can cut the cost then Apple can lower its prices according without eating into profit per sale and increasing overal profits with more sales.

[Billsey]

Well, the PDF thing they did about the 970 has a photograph of the die and I'm way, way, way far from being an expert, but it looked to me like there's still a lot of real estate open on that die. As well, isn't the XE using the same processor hookup as Apple? If so, we don't have to wait as long as in the past, we just need to wait until they start making those cards with 970's on board, sell the house, and there we go! :-D







Just kidding, of course. There are Articia concerns as well as OS compatibility to look out for.

[Desler]

I doesnt matter if the new amigas wont initially be able to use the new processor. One of the things to expect is that the current top-of-the-line cpu drops in price and becomes more abundant, and with those dual-cpu amigas around the corner it wouldnt be the worst case scenario.
On a side note: Is anyone else but me waiting for BBRV announcing that the pegasos II will be able to use this cpu along with G6 and G7 in a triple-cpu pegasos  ;-)

[strobe]

Psy wrote:

Hattig wrote:
In fact, as the 970 is a 130nm CPU, the die size is pretty small. The development costs were quite low as IBM utilises a lot of generation tools, and this CPU is basically a cut-down POWER4 server processor. So the cost will be low to start off with, even with SOI wafers, as long as IBM have a reasonable yield.

Wow, Apple's prayers have been answered.  Not only is IBM giving them the raw power Motorola couldn't (thus makes the current line up of high end Macs look not so high end) but if IBM can cut the cost then Apple can lower its prices according without eating into profit per sale and increasing overal profits with more sales.

CPU prices were never a major factor in cost.

[Bandaren]

No they probably wont, but if the fact that they are going to use the northbridge they say they are, it will utilize the G4 and dual G4 better than the Teron PX


Dan Andersson

[Mike_Amiga]

I read recently that for Macs or indeed the humble miggy would have to have software written or rewritten to take advantage of the extra speed those chips.

It was an article in a Mac magazine about what Apple are going to do next to keep up with the PC/Intel market with regard to processing power.