New G5 Power Macs "Fastest Desktop In The World"

In the hardware part of his keynote address at WWDC, Jobs officially introduced the G5-based computers previously leaked on the Apple store. The new G5 machines, with the IBM 970 processor, use the "world's first 64-bit desktop processor" (and the "fastest 64-bit processor ever") but run both 64-bit and 32-bit apps natively, and run up to 2GHz. The bus is 1GHz ("fastest ever") and it is designed for dual processing and full symmetric processing.

Beyond the many numbers, the bottom line is that the new machines have a new architecture, and that the memory speed is now the bottleneck, not the processor or bandwidth speeds. So they can have up to 8GB of 128-bit DDR RAM, as it is efficient to keep data in memory. The memory bandwidth is one of the most talked-about features of the new architecture.

USB 2.0 is now included, as are FireWire 400 and 800, Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme, and digital audio in and out. The 4x SuperDrive is now standard, and it can house up to 500GB of internal storage.

For video, the GeForce FX5200 is standard on low-end models, Radeon 9600 Pro on high-end models.

The case of the new machines is redesigned too, from the ground up, focusing on decreasing noise and heat. It is an aluminum enclosure, with ports for FireWire and USB on the front, and a door on the side to get into the box. It has four distinct "thermal zones" with computer-controlled cooling with its nine (yes, nine) independent fans. And it is much quieter than its predecessor.

The G5 is 10 percent slower than the P4 and Xeon in SPEC int scores in single-proc units, but 20 percent faster in FPU scores, and the dual-proc G5 beats the dual-proc Xeon in all SPEC scores.

The models are a single 1.6 GHz ($1999), single 1.8GHz ($2399), and dual 2GHz ($2999). They will ship in August. A 3GHz processor will be available from IBM in 12 months.

Apple notes that recompiling apps for the 64-bit architecture is easy, and in some cases can be done in minutes.

There was no word about the heavily anticipated redesign of the 15" PowerBooks.

Comments

USB 2.0

[Wyatt Earp]

Is this the *fast* USB 2.0 or the USB 2.0 that used to be USB 1.1 but got renamed USB 2.0 so as to not confuse consumers?

Re:USB 2.0

[commodoresloat]

It's the fast USB. Where they confuse you though is the model with the SuperDrive, which is actually the *old* superdrive, which allows you to use both 800K and 1.4M floppy disks.

Re:Thanks

[j_presper_eckert]

I wish I could get my greedy lil' paws on one of these toys. Quite a step up from the ol' 733MHz G4. Sigh.

Is it really powered by the souls of dead ancestors?

/I want an Oompa-Loompa NOW

G5 Will Not be Released until Q3

[drgroove]

Apparently, the G5's aren't entirely house-broken, yet.

G5-based computers previously leaked on the Apple store

Re:Announcing 3Ghz within a year?

[Uart]

Yes, and unless I suddenly win the lottery, or aquire a mass of wealth before then, I probably won't be getting one until it hits 4ghz. :-(

Time to start looking for my piggy bank

are they pretty?

[SockLegend]

All that technical jargon...they didn't even tell us what colors they come in!

And so it goes...

[Waffle Iron]

Mac arguments through the years:

1994: Your peecees suck so bad because they're soooo slow. Our CPU benchmarks kick your butts. We are the speed kings!

1999: So what if your peecee CPUs are faster than ours. It's not about speed, it's about quality. Speed is totally irrelevant. You're all just speed whores.

2004: Your peecees suck so bad because they're soooo slow. Our CPU benchmarks kick your butts. We are the speed kings!

Re:First? As if!

[quantaman]

"world's first 64-bit desktop processor"

I am quite sure there are some people out there who used Alpha-based workstations back when Digital made them.

I'm sorry there appears to to have been an error. Please check all power connections and restart your computer. If you are still experiencing trouble with your Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field please contact Apple and marketers will be on hand to help you with any problems you may be having.

Looking for a job?

[jspectre]

Apparently someone got sacked over last week's "leak".

Looking for a new job as a Web Publishing Manager? Apply at Apple Today!

Re:The Dream System.

[mgs1000]

What? No iPod!!!

"Cyclops", now "Cheese Grater"

[silentbozo]

Is it just me, or does the new G5 look like a massive cheese grater from the front?

Unfortunately, it looks like they've abandoned the easy-access pull-down door that let you add ram and add-on cards with ease. Oh well, at least its *supposed* to be quieter...

Re:"Cyclops", now "Cheese Grater"

[Jon Abbott]

Is it just me, or does the new G5 look like a massive cheese grater from the front?

The new Apple Powercheesegrater 9000 guarantees to grate cheese 9.7x faster than any Intel lookalike. Gastronomically impress your friends with freshly grated parmesan, romano or limburger cheese by simply moving a cheese block along the front (or back!) of the Powercheesegrater case. The groundbreaking 64-bit G5 CPU gently heats your cheese while you continue to grate. This computer simply gives the greatest grate imaginable -- all from the folks who brought you the original Macintosh computer. Call 1-800-MY-APPLE today for more information, or to place an order.

Re:If it's that fast...

[commodoresloat]

The same fools who need more than 640K of memory.

The joke around the office:

[Matey-O]

Was that Steve Would address the attendees like a mad Principal addressing a class called in for detention:

Steve: "We WERE going to sell 10.3 for $129, but since one of you had to go and ruin it for the rest of you, it'll be $200."

Attendees: Awwww!

One guy punches another guy in the arm in the back row.

Re:Dual 2GHz 970s for $2999

[warpSpeed]

yeah, I'd never though I would say this but "Apples products are pretty cheap comparativly..."

Trolls?

[Jon Abbott]

Either I'm surfing /. at too high of a threshold, or the anti-Apple trolls seem to have run away in fear today... :^)

Hey, SockLegend!

[protein folder]

1998 called. I think it wants its joke back.

Re:Hey, SockLegend!

[SockLegend]

Wait a second. The year 1998 manifested itself into a tangible form, picked up a phone, and placed a call? To hell with the joke, we've got more important things to worry about now.

Re:Knock yourself out!

[Javagator]

Actually, I think Slashdot has been Appled.

SUN's vs Apple's Markets

[kwerle]

They may not have been in the same market before now.

They are in totally different markets!

SUN is in the "We sell really expensive hardware with pain in the ass UNIX software to anyone buying." market.

Apple is in the "We sell hardware for anyone up to any reasonable size, and it comes with friendly UNIX software. Some of it is a little expensive, but it all kicks ass." market.

More impressive benchmark numbers

[DeadBugs]

Steve Jobs also noted in his speech that the new G5 outperforms a comparable Xeon system on the all imporant "Duke Nukem Forever" time demo. Attaining the impressive score of 233fps compared to just 147fps on the Intel system. As verified by the idependent test lab Pixar Studios.

However SCO has sued to challenge these results.

Re:The Dream System.

[switcha]

What? No iPod!!!

With a box like that sitting on your desk, where the hell are you gonna be going? I sure as hell wouldn't be 'mobile' for the next 2 months...

Re:Announcing 3Ghz within a year?

[White Roses]

Frankly, I think it's more the fact that they even *can* make such an annoucement while keeping a straight face. Try it:

Motorola will deliver a 3GHz G4 in 12 months.

See? You're laughing already.

Re:Announcing 3Ghz within a year?

[babbage]

Waitaminute, the new CPU is going to get faster?!?! But, but, but they can't do that, can they?

Okay, you convinced me then -- when the 3.0ghz model comes out, and it's the most super-duper top speed ever -- and not to be surpassed -- then I'll put down my shiny nickels.

You just lost yourself a sale, Jobs!

Re:New Apple PC Sun Workstation

[Natalie's Hot Grits]

The new AMD Opteron PC is far more than just a PC. It is a workstation in its own right and outperforms the workstations built by Sun. The new AMD Opteron PC is both (much) faster and (much) cheaper than a Sun workstation.

Just look at the specs of the new AMD Opteron PC. 1.4,1.6,and 1.8 GHz and only $649 for a complete system [pricewatch.com]. It also does UNIX and Linux. AMD lucked out -- again. There will a surge of demand for this machine from engineers, moving beyond the traditional x86 core users (i. e. educational institutions, graphic artists, etc.). AMD will supplant both Sun and HP as the new workstation CPU company of Silicon Valley.

By the way, the bell tolls. It tolls ominously for Sun.

Re:That's great....

[Bearpaw]

"Why ... only ... 8-gig ... of ... RAM"!?

Okay, that's it. It's now official. I'm old .

Re:Thanks

[jonadab]

The 400MHz G3 you can pass to me, so I can have something to play
with the Mac OS on, as currently all I've got is a PC (albeit a
pretty decent one) and a MicroVax. In exchange, I'm willing to
consider letting you have my ITT XTRA, despite my irrational
sentimental attachment to it. It's only 4.77 MHz, and the 20MB
hard drive is dead, but it has a full 640K of RAM, and the 360K
floppy drive still works! (Note: This is not the "pretty decent"
PC I was talking about, but my previous one.)

Re:Thanks

[r2q2]

Can you pass me that ITT XTRA. I only have an stupid abacus. I tried to find a opensource unix for it but to no avail. At least with the ITT i could emulate a PDP11

Re:Thanks

[aminorex]

If you're not using it any more, I'll take that abacus, as knotting these cords is starting to give me blisters.

Re:Thanks

[Christopher_G_Lewis]

oog oog gr oog oo oo gr ggr rg rock. urg gr gr oo oo stick. uur ggr oog. oog rock og stick urg oog og.
og og urug oo gr oo! :-)