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New PowerMac G5s: Up to 2.5Ghz, Liquid Cooled

no_demons writes "Apple have just announced the new, completely dual-processor PowerMac G5 lineup. The models all sport an 8x SuperDrive, whilst new the dual-2.5GHz model also features an 'innovative liquid cooled heat sink,' available in July."

1,009 comments

  1. Wow! by 13Echo · · Score: 0

    All I can say is... Wow... UNIX-nerd's dream machine.

    1. Re:Wow! by generic-man · · Score: 2, Funny

      Many of the UNIX nerds I know would be much happier with this dream machine.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    2. Re:Wow! by grahamlee · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I'll agree with that - I've been with NeXT->Rhapsody->OS X for a while now, and the G5 is the first workstation since the black slab with me want goodness included. Well, I briefly wanted an Ultra 5 but they became old hat quite quickly. I don't think the same will be true of any of the G5 systems :-)

    3. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      if only he used a realdoll.

    4. Re:Wow! by grahamlee · · Score: 2, Informative

      I meant for the "me want" to be in quotes, and indeed used the HTML quot; symbol. It didn't show up.

    5. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      christ you're a picky cunt. Why don't you get a life dude?

    6. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you get a life you fucking loser?

  2. Nothing left for Modders by puregen1us · · Score: 5, Funny

    Already liquid cooled, and in a cool aluminium case, enough case fans for a hovercraft. What is left to do?

    1. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Geek_3.3 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Are you kidding??? No cold cathode lights? LED lit case fans?? Still in a conventional (albeit very chic) case design?? 'liquid cooling?' I spit at liquid cooling! LN2 all the way!

      Lemee see a round plexiglass SPHERE case w/ enough LED's and cold cathode lights to light up a small-to-medium sized city and enough cooling power to shatter the T1000, and THEN we can talk about 'nothing left for modders' to do... ;-)

    2. Re:Nothing left for Modders by falcon5768 · · Score: 1

      its actually not hard to put cathode tubes in the front, They had a MacAddict where they did it with i think blue ones.... looks very cool when seen from the outside becausee of the "cheese grater" look

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    3. Re:Nothing left for Modders by aixou · · Score: 1

      enough cooling power to shatter the T1000 toucheé Geek 3.3, toucheé. Impressive job integrating an old villian into new conversation. Still though, I think the original poster was pretty much saying that you can't really get any better by modding. Sure, you can get flashier, but you will just be detracting from the grand design of the new G5.

    4. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Gleng · · Score: 5, Funny

      Could always slap a Type-R sticker on the side of it.

      --
      "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
    5. Re:Nothing left for Modders by iphayd · · Score: 3, Funny

      Neon lights, and cutting out the Apple and putting a window in.

      Yeah, neon lights make your computer go 20% faster.

    6. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Gotung · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I disagree. This is what I did to mine: http://www.buckeyemonkey.com/images/dualblue2.jpg

    7. Re:Nothing left for Modders by lupin_sansei · · Score: 0

      That's nothing. How about a cassette deck, cigarette lighter, and an aquarium?

    8. Re:Nothing left for Modders by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Funny
      Well, you could do what this guy did*...

      (* Well, ok, I've linked to page two for a reason, flip to page one after you've finished your heart attack)

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    9. Re:Nothing left for Modders by dasmegabyte · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, it's apparently pretty quiet. There's something for modders to work on -- they prefer their machines to sound like a VTOL aircraft landing on a swedish death metal band.

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    10. Re:Nothing left for Modders by AKAImBatman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Already liquid cooled, and in a cool aluminium case, enough case fans for a hovercraft. What is left to do?

      May I ask a serious question? Why mod it in the first place? I can understand that it's fun to make cases fit a "theme" (i.e. If I've got a bunch of racing memorabilia, I might want my case to have flames and exhaust pipes), but outside of that, what's the point? It's just a box. You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running.

      Beyond that, a computer is a machine that you usually don't want to be visible. You see the screen, you see the mouse, and you see the keyboard. Put the mobo in a closet or a hole in the wall for all I care. The only thing I need it for is to insert a CDROM drive or plug in a USB device.

      (Insert comment about Real Unix Geeks keeping their machines in climate controlled rooms.) ;-)

    11. Re:Nothing left for Modders by troc · · Score: 4, Funny
      they prefer their machines to sound like a VTOL aircraft landing on a swedish death metal band.

      Please tell me you have videos! We need more swedish-death-metal-band-being-crushed-by-VTOL-air craft stories here on slashdot.

      I'll settle for Roxette being crushed by a moderately loud cat if that's the best you can find.

      Troc

      PS I think I may have wandered offtopic.

      --
      Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net
    12. Re:Nothing left for Modders by IAmAMacOSXAddict · · Score: 1

      I did the same thing with the Blue Cathodes (but I included a 4" in the top above the Superdrive, to fill the entire front with the "glow"), but how did you make the side pannel? I Was going to try to make one out of Lexan at one point, but havn't had the chance. and I don't want to chop up the side that came with it incase I have to send it out on warenty repair.. Bob

      --
      MacOSX, because making *NIX better is a lot better than waiting for Micro$loth to fix Windows
    13. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

      Wow, thats a gorgeous mod. You should post that on pimp rig, might make the guys there take back some of what they said about macs. One thougt, it may look beter if you put EL wire looped around behind the mesh in front, it would probably light up the whole thing a bit more evenly, and as bright as CCFLs are, you never want to see them directly. But again, that is sexy.

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    14. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

      Still, thats just wrong.

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    15. Re:Nothing left for Modders by tbone1 · · Score: 5, Funny
      Already liquid cooled, and in a cool aluminium case, enough case fans for a hovercraft. What is left to do?

      Uh, use the thing?

      --

      The Independent: Reverend Spooner Arrested in Friar Tuck Incident - ISIHAC, Historical Headlines
    16. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      'liquid cooling?' I spit at liquid cooling! LN2 all the way!

      hah, keep your lame liquid nitrogen, anything less than liquid He3 is sooo uncool!

    17. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Insightful

      A good deal of modders seem to be the computer equivalent of ricers. They generally make a decent looking car uglier while not making the overall system any better.

      I think we're better off if the ricers, er.. modders stay away from these systems.

    18. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Ian+Wolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running.

      *runs and grabs dremel*

      --
      "The words of the prophets are written on the Slashdot walls."
    19. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And don't forget the racing stripes!!

    20. Re:Nothing left for Modders by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was going to suggest a spoiler, but after looking at the case I notice it already has 2. That keeps it from floating away and gives the G5 better traction for those hard core photoshop sessions.

    21. Re:Nothing left for Modders by azav · · Score: 1

      Feh!

      Bose-Einstein Condensate cooling.

      --
      - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    22. Re:Nothing left for Modders by fitten · · Score: 3, Funny

      That'll even make it faster! The other thing they could do is put purposefully loud and angry bee sounding fans in the case, to get the full ricer effect. And a big ass wing on the top of the case.

    23. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Gotung · · Score: 1

      I cut out a big hole in the door panel that came with it. I called Apple first to verify that I could order a new one if needed :) I wasn't all the skittish about it since I have another g5 at work I can swipe the panel from if I need to send it in for repair. I used the rectangular frame on the inside of the panel as a guide and didn't need to add any kind of "window" to the door panel because there is already the clear plastic airflow insert behind the door. The black dot at the top of the door is a switch that turns the cathodes on/off.

    24. Re:Nothing left for Modders by BasilBrush · · Score: 2, Funny

      You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running. Fuck me. A dishwasher with strobe lighting and perspex so you can catch the water droplets in freeze frame doing the washing. You've inspired me for my next project dude!

    25. Re:Nothing left for Modders by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      Go faster stripes.

    26. Re:Nothing left for Modders by hraefn · · Score: 1

      And stupid. Luckily, it was only a prank.

      "I got a free G5 shell from a buddy of mine and pulled a prank on a Mac loving friend."

    27. Re:Nothing left for Modders by mrgreenfur · · Score: 1

      could always add racing stripes.

      or add BIOHAZARD or PUNISHER fan grills.

      those thigns make the b0x3n sw33t>0r!!!

      (it has dual g5's ... which are nice too, if you actually want to *use* it... bah.)

    28. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Nephilium · · Score: 1

      No... you need to paint it black... black computers go faster... just like red cars go faster...

      Nephilium
      I woke up in bed with a man and a cat. The man was a stranger; the cat was not. -- Maureen Johnson in To Sail Beyond The Sunset

    29. Re:Nothing left for Modders by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 1
      beautiful image! i did notice it was 200k though. if you're not familiar with the "convert" program it comes as part of the ImageMagick library and generates very small (byte-wise) image files while still maintaining quality. you might want to consider running it over any images you put up on the web, as it can save you considerable bandwidth.

      convert existingfile.ext newfile.ext

      is all you need. i mirrored your pic at my site and it looks the same and is less than 1/3 the size. just thought i'd mention it. keep up the kick-ass modding!

    30. Re:Nothing left for Modders by IAmAMacOSXAddict · · Score: 1

      I'll have to look into the replacement panel and then I'll mod the one I have. How much did they say it was?

      --
      MacOSX, because making *NIX better is a lot better than waiting for Micro$loth to fix Windows
    31. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Seehund · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Modding is (usually, I'm sad to say) not about getting "better", but about getting "flashier" (at least in some 1337 g4m3r teenagers' eyes).

      Make the RF-shielding case useless, it looks so much flashier with a frigging HOLE in the side. Fans with LEDs inside aren't more quiet nor do they push more air, they're flashier. UV-lighting inside your case doesn't push more data across the buses, it's there to be flashy. A fan grille in the shape of a biohazard sign doesn't obstruct airflow any less than a normal grille, but it's flashier. The graphics card with a stupid dragon / monster / anime babe printed on its fan casing is more expensive than a more normal looking computer component, but it's flashy (if you lie on the floor looking up, so you can see it when it's installed and turned upside down).

      Though personally I think it all looks more ridiculous and stereotypical than "flashy".

      --
      Help savingAmigaOS and a free PowerPC market
    32. Re:Nothing left for Modders by isecore_JMK · · Score: 3, Funny

      I had a heart-attack when I first saw this back in January or whenever...

      it turned out to be fake though. The guy _didn't_ kill a Mac, he just bought an empty G5 housing and faked the article to scare the crap out of people. He later confessed to his alleged sins, and it turned out everything was a hoax.

      Apparently he got a lot of hatemail :)

      --
      This is my sig, this is my gun. This one's for flaming, this one's for fun.
    33. Re:Nothing left for Modders by milkman_matt · · Score: 1

      You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running.

      Hmmm! Now THAT sounds interesting! Thanks for the idea!

    34. Re:Nothing left for Modders by warrior · · Score: 1

      There's something for modders to work on -- they prefer their machines to sound like a VTOL aircraft landing on a swedish death metal band

      That's one of the funniest things I've ever heard, mind if I make it my .sig? It's especially funny in the context of my swedish death metal kick of the past couple years (the result of a search for new metal bands after metallica not only put out shi**y music but got the RIAA on all our backs). Actually, that'd be pretty awesome to have a JSF F-35B on stage at an In Flames concert.

      Mike

      --
      Intel transfer the difficult from Hadware to software, for get more power, programmer need more technology. -- chinaitn
    35. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Geek_3.3 · · Score: 1

      Oh, don't get me wrong--I agree wholeheartedly. I might not have put enough sarcasm in my post to get my point across. Not that I have anything against case mods, I just would much rather spend an extra $200 on a nice vid card than making my case look m4d l33t. Or pocket the difference.

      And for the record, I do like the G5 'cheese grater' case design... though I'd give my left 80 mm fan for a friggin' extra 5.25" bay.

    36. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Are you certain you have a quad FX-51 box? I'm pretty darn certain that you can only get a quad Opteron box. The FX-51 is not pin compatible with the Opteron and there are no quad FX-51 motherboards, only quad Opteron motherboards. You're such a liar.

    37. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Ancient+Devices+King · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'd rather not have my CPU's superconduct, thanks.

      --
      -"It seems like you're trying to exploit a security hole. Would you like help?"
    38. Re:Nothing left for Modders by MasonMcD · · Score: 1

      And yet you host on Red Hat.

      All that power... for throbbing drop shadows.

      Don't you want to see how it handles teh POwAR of teh SlahsDOT!

    39. Re:Nothing left for Modders by rk2z · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not to sound like a troll, but modding my dishwasher sounds like a pretty cool idea. Too bad my landlord would kill me :-( That would be sweet to see what's going on when I clean my dishes. Modding is all about being different and having fun when you do it. Since it doesn't hurt anyone, what's the problem? I say if it's fun to do go for it.

      --
      This is a sig, there are many like it, but this is mine.
    40. Re:Nothing left for Modders by SilentChris · · Score: 2, Funny

      "albeit very chic"

      Cheese graters are chic? ;)

    41. Re:Nothing left for Modders by NecrosisLabs · · Score: 1

      They didn't say what kind of liquid, did they?

    42. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You disgust me.

    43. Re:Nothing left for Modders by isecore_JMK · · Score: 2

      FX's aren't SMP, you dork.

      Maybe next time you should try to lie about a computer that actually exists?

      --
      This is my sig, this is my gun. This one's for flaming, this one's for fun.
    44. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Josh_Borke · · Score: 1

      put a pc in it

    45. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Sloppy · · Score: 1
      You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running.
      I always thought computer case windows were a stupid idea, because there's nothing happening inside the case for one to see. But this dishwasher idea, really isn't all that bad.
      --
      As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
    46. Re:Nothing left for Modders by RevAaron · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd rather not have my CPU's superconduct, thanks.

      Pussy. Go back to using your Amiga or something.

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    47. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Surt · · Score: 2, Funny

      You mean you haven't heard?

      Cheese is the new small!

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    48. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A tesseract.

      "And he built a crooked mod"

    49. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Warhaven · · Score: 1

      It's Geek equivalent of tweaking your hotrod. You don't need neon lights or spinning rims, but they look cool and it's fun to do. Besides, who said having fun needs to be productive or have a purpose?

    50. Re:Nothing left for Modders by sparkywonderchicken · · Score: 0

      Well for one thing they could put in an icemaker.

    51. Re:Nothing left for Modders by sparkywonderchicken · · Score: 0

      The Mac guy's is who. That's why most are not serious gamers or fun guys to be around. In fact they are duller than Cobol programmers and accountants because all they care about is Mac sh*t.

    52. Re:Nothing left for Modders by ktheory · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why mod it in the first place? ... It's just a box.

      Physically, it's just a box, but psychologically, it's an extension of yourself. And as part of youself, you want it to reflect your unique tastes and values.

      The Model T car suffered (and Oldsmobile boomed) because Ford refused to sell cars in any color but black. The color of car doesn't affect its function. But for the consumer, whether they like the color of the car has a big impact on whether they like the car in general. Choosing the appearance makes it your car rather than a car.

      The same thing goes with cell phone faceplates and desktop wallpapers. Since the device is personalized, it pyschologically becomes and extension of yourself, rather than merely a beige hunk of plastic in your pocket or on your desk.

      On another note, the fact that you may need to plug in USB devices or change CDs means that the computer should be near your desk, in arms' reach, rather than in a closet. So it most likely will be visible.

    53. Re:Nothing left for Modders by DustyShadow · · Score: 1

      Have you ever seen those see thru dishwashers in Best Buy or Sears that are used for demos? i always wanted one of those...maybe doing the dishes could actually be fun.

    54. Re:Nothing left for Modders by xRelisH · · Score: 1

      I have a Kingwin case, a higher end Lian-Li esque type of case. Just like there is a tasteful way to mod a car ( maybe some new rims and paint, and no ugly looking plastic skirts ), most Lian-Li modded cases are tasteful.

    55. Re:Nothing left for Modders by ocelotbob · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Modding the case to make it useful, duh. Where is the flash media reader that even $300 PCs have? Where are the dual optical drives? Where's the slot for a floppy drive? It may look nice, but it's still got the utter lack of expandibility that macs have pretty much always had. I'm sorry, but I like to have some expansion capabilities, so I don't need an extra outlet bar just for all the things that belong inside of the computer case.

      --

      Marxism is the opiate of dumbasses

    56. Re:Nothing left for Modders by kitzilla · · Score: 1

      It gets loud enough when you render some huge lunking graphic file, I promise. ;-)

      --
      This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
    57. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
      but even the new box is slow compared to my quad FX-51 box
      And your box is a tortoise compared to my eight-way 68040 box, each running at a spritely 25MHz (that's about 10x the speed of a 2.5GHz G5, 10x2.5=25.) I'm running OpenBSD which is well known for its SMP support, thanks to it not being bound by all the rules of the GPL.

      So I suggest you throw that piece of crap out the window and use a real computer.

    58. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Hes+Nikke · · Score: 1

      You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running.

      i wouldn't be surprised if someone has already don that :P

      --
      Don't call me back. Give me a call back. Bye. So yeah. But bye our, well, but alright we are on a shirt this chill.
    59. Re:Nothing left for Modders by falcon5768 · · Score: 2, Informative

      why cut out the apple, you can buy a whole clear side to the G5 at macskins

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    60. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Slime-dogg · · Score: 1

      You might as well mod your dishwasher with a plexiglass window in front, and neon lights that catch the water sprays while it's running.

      I'll give that a try, thank you.

      --
      You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the Restart button.
    61. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Moofie · · Score: 1

      It's called USB and FireWire. Both can power devices. Look into it.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    62. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 1

      Having actually built neon light logic circuits (to make a binary calculator, I never made the Phase two with Nixies and BCD logic), I can say that the G5 definitively runs faster. ... Oh you meant adding neon light to the G5. ... Nevermind ...

      --
      - Tjp

      I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

    63. Re:Nothing left for Modders by T'hain+Esh+Kelch · · Score: 0

      Beyond that, a computer is a machine that you usually don't want to be visible. You see the screen, you see the mouse, and you see the keyboard. Put the mobo in a closet or a hole in the wall for all I care.

      You havent actually owned a mac, have you?

      Then you would know why...

      *Does the secret mac sign infront of him, and says a quiet prayer to Jobs*

    64. Re:Nothing left for Modders by identity0 · · Score: 1

      Looking at the aluminum metal grill and transparent side panel, I realized there is only one more thing you need to do: Turn the G5 into a hamster cage.

      Put a excersize wheel over the processor, and a water bottle and food tray on the metal grill, and you have the perfect hamster house! The fans could even vent the little poopy smell away!

    65. Re:Nothing left for Modders by AKAImBatman · · Score: 1

      You havent actually owned a mac, have you?

      Then you would know why...


      I'm typing on an iBook right now. And as I pointed out to another poster, most of the lower end Macs go out of their way to hide the computer case. Only the high-end G5's actually have a visible box.

    66. Re:Nothing left for Modders by chmilar · · Score: 0

      It also has two bottom spoilers, to take advantage of ground effect.

      --
      Reading Slashdot is ruining my spelling and grammar.
    67. Re:Nothing left for Modders by kidlinux · · Score: 1

      Like a lot of things, it's a hobby.

      What does everyone else do with their spare time and what makes it so much more valid?

      I don't do mods, but I like your dishwasher idea. Soon companies will be selling UV sensitive soap ;)

      --
      -kidlinux.
    68. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    69. Re:Nothing left for Modders by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 0

      Modding is (usually, I'm sad to say) not about getting "better", but about getting "flashier" (at least in some 1337 g4m3r teenagers' eyes).

      These same "modders" probably believe they're "tuning" their honda civics by adding gaudy wheels and silly oversized wings on the back.

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
    70. Re:Nothing left for Modders by GnrcMan · · Score: 1

      hehe, yeah, I had good success by dumping some sand in the ball bearing casings for the fan. My machine really screams now.

    71. Re:Nothing left for Modders by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Think...rice-boy-PC.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    72. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what you're saying is: Does the new PowerMac run (Gentoo) Linux?

    73. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Crazy+Eight · · Score: 1

      No they didn't. I am curious as to what they've done to make this a consumer product that will require no maintanace. Perhaps the entire setup is sealed from the start like the heatpipes in a laptop. I've also got to wonder about that series circuit for the coolant.

    74. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not much impressed by most case mods, but that one is an exception.

    75. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      Is coffee the new black?

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    76. Re:Nothing left for Modders by 0racle · · Score: 1

      While I agree that modding any Mac is a crime, modding a beige box to either fit your personality or the decor of the room your in is not something to scoff at just because it doesn't improve it in a technical manner, especially when you sit with it there for a large part of the day. I bet you at least painted the room your sitting in, and that didn't improve the room in any technical manner.

      --
      "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
    77. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      Mac guys care about Mac shit.

      Duh?

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    78. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I spit at liquid cooling!

      To enhance it's capabilities?

    79. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Art+Tatum · · Score: 1
      Fuck me.

      ASL?

    80. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if it does not float a clean foot off the desk with no visible means of support, its not worth having.

    81. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      Actually, being able to switch between a perfoect insulator and a superconductor could be ... interesting. Of course, there would be some new and funny quantum effects going on in your CPU.

      Unfortunately, not all conductors have a superconducting phase transition at low temperatures.

    82. Re:Nothing left for Modders by ocelotbob · · Score: 1

      Most USB and Firewire drives still require external power supplies to properly operate. While both power smaller devices like keyboards and the like, neither delivers enough power to drive a hard disk or CD-Rom drive. Besides, that still doesn't handle the rats nest of wiring that inevitably when you have lots of devices interfacing with each other in a tight area, like that around a computer case.

      --

      Marxism is the opiate of dumbasses

    83. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Moofie · · Score: 1

      Huh. I saw bus-powered FireWire drives at Fry's yesterday. Guess I'm crazy. And I've never seen a media card reader that requires more than a USB connection. Floppy? Get over it. Dead medium. But those are USB powered too.

      USB doesn't deliver a lot of juice, but FireWire works just fine. That's one of the many reasons it's superior. Good thing Apple supports both very nicely.

      Now, re: rat's nest, that annoys me too. But one more firewire cable isn't going to wreck my evening.

      You've got a superdrive and space for more hard drives in the case. How much internal expansion do you need?

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    84. Re:Nothing left for Modders by ocelotbob · · Score: 1
      Two optical drives is insanely useful, IMO. useful enoug to be pretty much a necessity inside the computer case. I enjoy being able to rip a CD while simultaneously watching a DVD. Or backing up CDs without using a hard drive as an intermediary.

      Having a media reader inside the system is a very useful thing, if you've ever seen it used properly. I've seen it used quite successfully for digital camera pools at events. Just drop off the memory stick and get an empty one to take more pictures. No waiting for the photos to download. Internal bays just mean less stuff to worry about accidentally disconnecting, which is a good thing.

      Also, one more of anything doesn't hurt at the moment, it's when you've got a half dozen firewire cables tangled behind a system that it becomes a problem. And while I imagine that firewire may not have problems with a drive or two, it's hardly as nice and elegant a solution as one item with the devices you use on a regular basis.

      Finally, the floppy is not dead. For small files, it's quite useful. It's pretty much ubiquitous, you don't have to wait for the computer to load the drivers to read it, and the media's cheap enough to be disposable, yet durable enough that you don't have to worry about coddling it.

      Maybe my needs are unusual, but trust me, there have been times when I've said that I wished a case had more expansion. I've never have said a case had too much expansion. Futureproofing. It's a good thing.

      --

      Marxism is the opiate of dumbasses

    85. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Moofie · · Score: 1

      I've never found two optical drives remotely useful. Copying CD to CD in my experience makes coasters more often than it makes good discs.

      As far as "accidentally disconnecting" stuff, it's hot pluggable. No big deal. Want it attached to the computer? Get some damn velcro. Me, I keep it in a drawer until I need it.

      Why would you have half a dozen firewire cables going to the back of your machine? FireWire daisy chains.

      Apple's design philosophy doesn't suit you. That's fine: Don't buy one.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    86. Re:Nothing left for Modders by hunterx11 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you can overclock your processor to 50THz but the electrons will only move at 2 mph :)

      --
      English is easier said than done.
    87. Re:Nothing left for Modders by lawnboy5-O · · Score: 1

      How about some 22'' rims?

    88. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, Herion is the new black. All the Microsoft GUI designers are doing it. How else can you account for...

    89. Re:Nothing left for Modders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I say go for the domestic musclehead look. Shoehorn a 1200W power supply into the case and do absolutely nothing else.

      Boy howdy, it sure is powerful, but the damned thing isn't any faster than it was before when you put it through it's paces on a racetrack. And man, that energy bill...

  3. Bastards by numbski · · Score: 4, Funny

    I promised my wife I wouldn't upgrade from my 800mHz 17" iMac overclocked to 900 with dual display to a G5 until they came out with a Dual 3Ghz, and I would get the 23" HD Studio display with it.

    Now I have to wait another year.

    Bastards. :P

    --

    Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

    1. Re:Bastards by numbski · · Score: 2, Informative

      http://www.numbski.net/archive/journal/imac_hack/

      There's the upgrade process I've been through, btw. Has a full gig of RAM. Waiting for some downtown to clock the FSB up to 133 to match the RAM.

      Meh. I still want my G5! :(

      --

      Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

    2. Re:Bastards by System.out.println() · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It won't be another year.... Moore's law won't allow it. :P
      IBM has fallen behind Moore this year with supply shortages and such, I expect them to hit 3GHz by Macworld in January

    3. Re:Bastards by manifest37 · · Score: 1

      you know they are giving a 500 credit if you buy a dual g5 and a cinema display: brilliant savings!!

    4. Re:Bastards by numbski · · Score: 2, Interesting

      feh, used to be $600. They're scaling back.

      I could even trade in my iMac and Studio Display at PowerMax, but I'd probably only get $300-400 for it. Being optimistic, $400 + $600 = $1000.

      Dual G5 2.5Ghz with all the bells and whistles = 2999
      23" HD Cinema Display = 1999
      Discounts = 1000
      Tax = ~.05

      If I'm lucky, I'd walk away paying $4500. I'm also an Apple Developer, so I'd get another discount there, or buy through work for being an Apple parnter for science and research facilities, so let's say $4000. I paid $1600 TOTAL last time around. Yikes.

      Yeah, okay I could finance the monster out for as long as 5 years, which is just totally insane. I've had my iMac for 2 years and I'm already looking at getting rid of it, so financing at the best possible interest rate Apple offers would for 24 months comes out to $192/mo. For a computer. People pay that much for a CAR or even other people to put a roof over their heads. My wife would kill me if I didn't have the cash saved up ahead of time, and if I did, she'd say there are far better things for me to spend my money on.

      I'll never win. :P

      --

      Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

    5. Re:Bastards by mlrtime · · Score: 1


      Or you could just save $192/mo starting now and buy whatever that has yielded in two years.

  4. Clock speed by barcodez · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I thought is was widely accepted that clock speed means nothing. Would a G5 2.5 GHz be comparable to and Intel check with the same clock speed or a AMD 2400+?

    The dual thing is pretty cool for a pre-build box though...

    --

    ----
    1. Re:Clock speed by ThogScully · · Score: 5, Informative

      The clock speed is useless to compare different architectures or even different processor lines made by the same manufacturer. So, A G5 running at 2.5GHz can't be compared to an Athlon running at 2.5GHz on clock speed alone, for example.

      But between two otherwise identical G5 chips, it can be assumed the 2.5GHz one will go faster than a 2GHz one. It's essentially the same chip, just running faster.
      -N

      --
      I've nothing to say here...
    2. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, it's probably best compared to an Athlon64 FX-53, but that's just a wild guess (Ath64 being a better comparison than P4 because both are 64-bit.)

    3. Re:Clock speed by nine-times · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Clock speed doesn't mean "nothing", it's just not the sole- or even the most meaningful- measurement of over-all system speed. People have mearely noticed that, with all the bottle-necks in a system, merely bumping up clock-speeds without improving the over-all architecture gives deminishing returns.

      What a G5 2.5 Ghz would be equivalent to in terms of Intel or AMD depends on what you're doing and how you benchmark. It really doesn't matter too much, though, unless you're trying to start a Mac vs. PC flame war. It's like comparing Apples and Oranges.

    4. Re:Clock speed by nuggetman · · Score: 5, Funny

      Or Apples to Intels

      *ducks*

      --
      ...and that's all there is to it.
    5. Re:Clock speed by supersnail · · Score: 5, Informative

      SPEC.ORG doesnt have any recent PowerPC benchmarks, but looking at historical bechmarks (Specint95 on 500Mhz processors) PowerPC has about a 20% higher score than a pentium of the same Mhz.

      I would guess this advantage has increased as PowerPC pipelining and paralellism have improved dramatically since then.

      So a 2.5 GHz PowerPC should be able to crunch numbers better than a 3 GHz Intel.

      The chip also has the advantage of not being constained by the 8080 architecture.

      --
      Old COBOL programmers never die. They just code in C.
    6. Re:Clock speed by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So, A G5 running at 2.5GHz can't be compared to an Athlon running at 2.5GHz on clock speed alone, for example.

      However, if you look at Apple's rigged demo (the photoshop test), there's almost a factor of two difference. It's probably not quite that extreme for the rest of the system, but it looks like G5s are faster than the AMD64, clock for clock. Or, they could be the same speed, but the pshop filter is multithreaded.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    7. Re:Clock speed by EccentricAnomaly · · Score: 5, Interesting

      For my applications un-optimised code on a 2 Ghz G5 runs about the same as on a 3 Ghz Pentium and a 2.4 Ghz Xenon, if I optimise the G5 code with xlf and shark I get my 2 Ghz G5 to run twices as fast as the Pentium or Xenon... but I don't have the intel compiler for the P4 or Xenon so that's not a fari comparison.

      Anyway I expect this new G5 to greatly outperform a P4.

      --
      There are 10 types of people in this world, those who can count in binary and those who can't.
    8. Re:Clock speed by brunogirin · · Score: 2, Informative

      RTFA. Apple have a performance comparison chart on the page between Penthium 4, Xeon, AMD and G5 configurations. According to them a dual 2.5GHz G5 is 98% faster (ie nearly twice as fast) as a dual 3.4GHz P4. Of course, they might be biased :-)

    9. Re:Clock speed by cozziewozzie · · Score: 1

      When the 2.0 GHz G5s first came out, there were some benchmarks (done by Apple, admittedly) that showed them beating the 3.0 GHz Pentiums. I'd assume that the new 2.5 GHz G5s are competitive with the latest Athlons/P4s. The G5s are a lot more efficient than G4s and the Pentium4s are much LESS efficient than PentiumIII.

    10. Re:Clock speed by cosmo7 · · Score: 5, Funny

      That Xenon is one noble processor.

    11. Re:Clock speed by hackstraw · · Score: 1

      A person states this:

      I thought is was widely accepted that clock speed means nothing.

      It gets modded up as "Interesting".

      Then, the same person, immediately asks:

      Would a G5 2.5 GHz be comparable to and Intel check with the same clock speed or a AMD 2400+?

      I guess you and the moderators and all those who replied have yet to accept that clock speed means....



      WFT people????????


    12. Re:Clock speed by Malc · · Score: 1

      What are the "constraints" of the 8080 architecture as you see it, and how does that impact on AMD and Intel chips, and x86 programmers?

    13. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They probably disabled SSE2 and such for the x86/Athlon codes because the G5 doesn't have SSE or SSE2. However, it has 'Altavec' type stuff so that's OK and a fair comparison, in Apple's book at least. They might as well underclock the 3.4GHz Intel CPUs to 2.5GHz (but keep calling them 3.4GHz) just because the G5 doesn't do 3.4GHz either, so putting them to the same clock speed is "fair".

    14. Re:Clock speed by fitten · · Score: 1

      Good one :) wish I was moderating :)

    15. Re:Clock speed by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      brings an interesting (albeit a little inaccurate) twist to the notion of 'vaporware', too ^_^

    16. Re:Clock speed by v1x · · Score: 1

      Actually, the 500MHz systems you are comparing are G4s Vs the P-IIIs at that time, in which case the 20% lead would be reasonable. However, before the G5 arrived, the G4 lineup was pretty much stagnated, whereas AMD Vs Intel literally took off with Athlons & P-4s, both of which also sported longer pipelines, parallelism & SIMD units (MMX, SSE, SSE2, 3dNow, etc).

      A better comparison would be between PPC Power 4 & the existing Opterons/Xeons, but bear in mind that Power-4 is big tin, with multiple cores & loads of cache, which the PPC970 (G5) lacks. Scaling the Power-4 numbers for clock speed of the new G5, 2.5GHz puts them in the same league as existing Xeons & Opterons ... so the 2.5GHz PowerPC may not be all that better than a Xeon 3.2 GHz after all.

      Oh, and BTW, the 8080 joke is getting really old! :)

    17. Re:Clock speed by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      the Pentium4s are much LESS efficient than PentiumIII.

      Well, you're several years behind. At anything past roughly ~2GHz, a P4 core is more efficient than a P3 core. It comes down to a lot of things, but take for instance the pipeline: simpler stages that can be executed faster. Of course, you have to work on keeping the pipe full, but that's the breaks.

      By the same type of argument, the Prescott core needs an even higher frequency to work efficiently - something that, by the looks of the current landscape, it won't be getting anytime soon (if at all).

    18. Re:Clock speed by Bedouin+X · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Uh yeah, notice that they are comparing a Dual G5 to an FX53 which can only run as a single CPU. They could at least go grab a BOXX dual Opteron system to maintain a shred of credibility.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    19. Re:Clock speed by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

      Of course, they might be biased :-)

      I'll say... only one of the PCs is dual processor, and its a XEON which scales for crap. Put a dual Opteron system there and see how much faster the G5 is. Knowing Photoshop and Apple, it will be faster, but not nearly what that ridiculously slanted (against AMD anyway) chart shows.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    20. Re:Clock speed by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

      However, if you look at Apple's rigged demo (the photoshop test)

      Beg pardon? How is it a "rigged demo" if Apple takes one of the most widely-used cross-platform applications and... well, you know. Runs it. How does that constitute a "rigged demo?"

      Besides, it's not just Photoshop. Photoshop on the G5 beat Photoshop on the Pentium, sure. But Logic on the G5 was also able to play four times as many tracks as Cubase on the Pentium, and Final Cut Pro was able to play back nearly twice as many SD streams as a PC-based Avid.

      Rigged? Whatchoo talking 'bout, Willis?

      --

      I write in my journal
    21. Re:Clock speed by Theory+of+Everything · · Score: 1

      It's like comparing Apples and Oranges.

      No, this is comparing Apples and Oranges.

    22. Re:Clock speed by brunogirin · · Score: 1

      Sorry, you are absolutely right. Their diagram is sneakily done so that you believe they're all dual processor configs. Darn, I got caught by Apple and Photoshop :-)

    23. Re:Clock speed by CAlworth1 · · Score: 1

      While that is true, it is a two against one fight, the Xeon and the P4 both have nearly twice the clock-speed as the bottom end G5. Now, while I use a dual processor machine and like it, I do understand that having 2 processors != twice the speed. The bus needs to deal with both processors at the same time, and IIRC, macs tend to not do that as well as they could. (I know that to be true for the G4's, not so sure on the G5's).

      What I'm trying to say is that, all other things being equal, the single processor machine with twice the clock speed of the dual should be able to beat it senseless. This machine is evidence to the contrary.

    24. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The "rigged demo" when it comes to Photoshop is that they cherry pick the operations they use to give the best advantage to the Mac. Invariably one of these operations is going to be CMYK to RGB conversion, which single handidly wins it. If you look at third-party Photoshop benchmarks, the results tend heavily to the x86 architecture. Plus, any "benchmark" that isn't repeatable (such as they don't tell you exactly what has been run) isn't worth the harddrive space it's stored on. And if they heavily skewed one test, it's reasonable to assume they skewed the others. "Rigged" is a very apt description of Apple's tests. Always wait for the third parties to get their hands on the product.

    25. Re:Clock speed by OwnedByTwoCats · · Score: 1

      From Apple's site, the Dual G5 1.8 GHz beats a Dual Xeon 3.2 GHz by 44% (1.66 vs. 1.15). So, if you assume that the systems are equally well engineered (equivalent bandwidth bottlenecks to RAM, etc), you have to multiply the clock speed on a G5 by 2.56 to get the equivalent clock speed on a Xeon.

    26. Re:Clock speed by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

      You have to take into the consideration that Intel chips are notably handicapped in Dual CPU configurations. Both chips inefficiently share the same memory bus which on a XEON is only 533 MHz. The Opterons have direct access to the memory via the onboard memory controllers and the chips also have dedicated links to one another. Apple is using this technology to a small extent in the G5.

      The clock speed argument is moot because all of these chips are supposed to represent the top of the line so we need to compare them all as is. Apple should be careful because people get insane overclocks on P4s and Athlons these days. Especially P4s. It just seems to have been an assumption up until now that using water cooling is a bit of a cop out WRT retail CPUs.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    27. Re:Clock speed by willy_me · · Score: 2, Informative
      (I know that to be true for the G4's, not so sure on the G5's)

      You're absolutely right about the G4, and the problem was solved with the G5. In fact, the G5 uses the same bus as an Athlon64 which gives it a pile of bandwidth.

    28. Re:Clock speed by Glonoinha · · Score: 1

      Two scales to remember in the computer world :
      On skills : High Tech, Low Tech, and Aztec.
      On honesty : Lies, Damn Lies, and Benchmarks.

      --
      Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
    29. Re:Clock speed by Ninja+Programmer · · Score: 1
      SPEC.ORG doesnt have any recent PowerPC benchmarks, but looking at historical bechmarks (Specint95 on 500Mhz processors) PowerPC has about a 20% higher score than a pentium of the same Mhz.
      Does this "per Mhz" take memory speed into account as well?

      I would guess this advantage has increased as PowerPC pipelining and paralellism have improved dramatically since.
      No ... the deeper pipelining makes it slower per clock just like the Pentium. I.e., the clock rate becomes a more telling factor. Especially the 970's architecture because they've increased minimum integer latency to two clocks per instruction.
    30. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RTFA.

      does that stand for "Read The F'ing Advertisement"? 'Cause that's about how reliable performance comparisons from Apple are.

    31. Re:Clock speed by Glonoinha · · Score: 1

      Is this for real? I haven't done any testing in a few years but the last time I jacked with it the P3 core was quite a bit more efficient than the P4 core at the same speed. If I take one of the current generation 533MHz fsb P4 CPUs and underclock it to 1GHz, put it up against a regular P3 at 1GHz - you are suggesting that the P4 would be faster? How about one of the HT enabled 800MHz fsb P4s underclocked to 1GHz vs a P3 1GHz?

      I am just asking as this flies counter to everything as I understood it. Not like I'm going to underclock a P4 ... if I want quiet and cool and slow I have a laptop for that.

      --
      Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
    32. Re:Clock speed by shotfeel · · Score: 1

      You're right about that. OTOH there have been a lot of benchmarks run with a dual G5 vs. a single processor AMD or Intel system showing the the dual G5 wasn't much faster than the single processor systems at the same clock speed.

      Funny thing is all these benchmarks use single threaded code -but they don't bother to mention that or use the free Dev tools that come with the Mac to turn off one processor and rerun the benchmark.

      IOW, we all know how reliable bencharks are.

    33. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Basically, yes. The bus improvements, improved branch prediction etc, better compilers.

    34. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but looking at historical bechmarks (Specint95 on 500Mhz processors) PowerPC has about a 20% higher score than a pentium of the same Mhz.

      Some people did an informal SPEC on 1Ghz Pentium3 and PPC G4, and the Pentium won.

      Not that it matters because the P3 went out of style 3 years ago, and Apple is still shipping the G4.

    35. Re:Clock speed by TheCrazyFinn · · Score: 1

      No, It's just that 2.4GHz is the break-even point for scaling. Below that the P4 is hurt by it's clock-for-clock performance hit, above that the P4's scaling becomes a bigger factor than its long pipeline and low efficiency.

      He sort of has a point though, because the P4's weaknesses become strengths at that point. However this doesn't change the efficiency of the P4 core, which is poor.

      --
      "You've got an invalid haircut" -Warren Zevon - Life'll Kill Ya
    36. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Strangely, that doesn't work. The question should be if you could get a P3 core to run at 3Ghz, would it outperform the P4? The theory behind the Prescott core is that it will become more efficient as its clock speed increases versus the Northwood core (although from what I've read that theory is not translating over into reality).

    37. Re:Clock speed by Creepy · · Score: 1

      The Xeon is being tested - the Dell Precision 650 is a Xeon processor (as is the HP on a linked page). The problem is, the benchmark is playing to the strengths of the PPC and the weaknesses of this particular Xeon.
      Apple vs Precision 650:
      Memory spec: DDR400 vs DDR266
      FSB: 900-1250MHz vs 533MHz
      drive (wild card): SATA drive vs U320 SCSI drive.

      I say wild card on drive because, in general current U320 drives are faster than SATA (so setup plays a factor - Raid, # drives, cache, etc), but also since all these drives transfer at more than 120MB/sec (1000Mbit) this is probably not a bottleneck.

      Also, neither machine lists CAS or any other latency, and this is one of those cases where it would be important. Since Apple added RAM, there's no telling what they put in. It could be a completely unfair 400/2/2/2/5 vs 266/3/4/4/8. Did they use DDR slot configuration? C'mon Apple, there are extreme geeks that want to know :) In Apple's defense, 99.9% of people probably don't know what the heck I just said, so it doesn't make sense to mention it in market documents. Still, I'd like to see a detailed comparison. Sigh.

      The test listed is primarily a memory movement test (disk to memory, process, then back to disk), since the process time is probably minimal, the bus and memory speeds are more than likely the difference. Many of the benchmarks Apple shows are bus and memory intensive... yeah, marketing! If you're into live video or audio editing or streaming, it's an awesome system. I suspect games won't fare quite as well, but that depends on work offloaded to the GPU.

      The 8080 architecture is almost a non-issue; the SIMD instructions have long ago been divided into inline RISC instructions. Longer pipelines aren't always better, it depends heavily on how good your branch prediction is and how often you have pipeline flushes (compiler is important!). Context switches between integer, SIMD and float (one running at a time) are also a thing of the past.

      I'm not sure if scaling the numbers for Power4 would work, as you propose, as it really depends on what benchmark was run and how. Many are designed to hit a single processor and avoid cache, so multiple cores (basically multiple processors on a single dye) and huge cache would be ineffective. I would suspect that the CPU is actually quite a bit slower.

    38. Re:Clock speed by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

      Your point about benchmarks is well taken but Photoshop on the PC is very SMP aware and would show significant differences on the Opteron chips. If it isn't on the Mac, which I highly doubt, then that would be considered an advantage (of sorts, as the G5 performs pretty well in the current state) for the PC platform.

      In the end it's all academic, but Apple is notorious for making benchmarks even more unreliable than they are by nature.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    39. Re:Clock speed by CrowScape · · Score: 1

      This particular Xeon? What, are you saying the 400MHz FSB ones would have faired better? A 533MHz FSB is the best you're going to get from the current product line.

      --
      common sense: noun
      What those who are ignorant of the subject matter think; usually wrong.
    40. Re:Clock speed by Uncertain+Bohr · · Score: 1

      My dual G5 2Ghz is significantly faster than all the Linux dual P4 and Xeon PCs when analyzing astronomical images which are huge and performing very cpu intensive operations. I would not worry any more about the raw Ghz quoted here and there. The modern Mac can easily keep up, if not beat, any of the AMD/Intel chips. The real issue is what do you want to use: OSX or Linux (or XP... argh...). My choice is obviously OSX, because I find it faster, nicer, more robust, and more trouble free than anything else I ever used (save for NeXT boxes :-) ).

    41. Re:Clock speed by Predius · · Score: 1

      Actually the G5 uses HT to connect CPUs to the northbridge, but doesn't have an onboard memory controller ala A64. So, all that phat bandwidth gets swamped by memory acess instead of being reserved for IO/SMP.

    42. Re:Clock speed by goMac2500 · · Score: 1

      The Dual Xeon gets beaten with an ugly stick in the benchmarks...

    43. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Clock speed doesn't mean "nothing", it's just not the sole- or even the most meaningful- measurement of over-all system speed. People have mearely noticed that, with all the bottle-necks in a system, merely bumping up clock-speeds without improving the over-all architecture gives deminishing returns."

      That's correct.

      By the way, complementary Kleenex will be handed out to the first 1500 attendees of the WWDC conference.

    44. Re:Clock speed by Glonoinha · · Score: 1

      I ask a question, and I got three responses : a no, a yes, and a maybe. Slashdot is easily as accurate as the weatherman and stock market predictors :)

      I tend to go with your theory though - that a P4 running 1.3GHz is going to be slower than a P3 running 1.3GHz. The long pipelines help keep the CPU busy when we ramp up the speeds, though, and the reason a 3.2GHz P4 is faster than any P3 is because no P3 can run anywhere near 3.2GHz.

      I wonder if it would be worth underclocking a hyperthreaded P4 to 1.2GHz to compare it with a 1.2GHz P3. If it was just as fast (or faster) and could run with passive cooling, that would be a slick platform, a good start for a silent machine that ran 'fast enough'.

      --
      Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
    45. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, my response was not a maybe, but simply a redirection to a more appropriate question. I happened to be writing my response at the same time as CrazyFin posted. If I had already seen his post, I would have either a) not posted feeling it was a good enough answer or b) expanded upon it with the Prescott-Northwood example. As any architecture gains hz its efficiency tends to decrease, so you get diminishing returns. Some architectures handle this fall off better than others. The question you should ask to determine whether the PIII is better at scaling than the PIV is simply would the PIII be as efficient per-clock cycle at 3.0 Ghz as the PIV is, not would the PIV be more efficient per-clock cycle at 1.0 Ghz. It's a bit like trying to compare the performance of a turbojet engine versus a scramjet engine at subsonic speeds to determine which one will get you around the world faster.

    46. Re:Clock speed by 10Ghz · · Score: 1

      And Dual Opterons mop the floor with Dual Xeons.

      --
      Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
    47. Re:Clock speed by Glonoinha · · Score: 1

      I agree - but for two things :
      I could probably run a P3 at 3.0GHz, but not for very long and not very stable (and the P3 probably wouldn't survive the trip.)
      If a P4 hyperthreading CPU was faster in the 1.0GHz - 1.2GHz range, and if I could run it using only passive cooling (big heat sink) - that's fast enough for most business work (not games) and quiet to boot.

      I remember watching the rollout hoopla surrounding the DEC Alpha at 133MHz (with the ultra fast 166MHz coming 'real soon now') at a trade show when a DEC rep said that the Alpha architecture was designed with scalability in mind, that the day would come when a computer with a 600MHz 64-bit CPU would be available ... not just in secret government labs, but in your own home (for the low low price of about $6,000.)

      600MHz I thought ... no way one single person could use all that power. Ahhh to be young and naive again.

      --
      Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
    48. Re:Clock speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      officially the nerdiest joke ever

  5. cool by aixou · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That's great that new G5s are out, but am I the only one a little underwhelmed by the increase in proc speed? (Especially considering the "3Ghz in a year" when they were first announced).

    Anyway, sorry to be looking at the glass half-empty. :)

    1. Re:cool by cowscows · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm mostly disappointed that they still haven't announced new monitors. I don't want a sleek aluminum G5 sitting next to one of those dated looking plastic cinema displays, with a three inch border around the screen. New displays!

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

    2. Re:cool by radicalskeptic · · Score: 1

      No, you're not the only one. They also put the dual 1.8 in the motherboard comparable to the previous 1.6 model, which means less available ram slots, and no PCI-X expansion.

      --
      WARNING: If accidentally read, induce vomiting.
    3. Re:cool by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well, IBM was the first to go on record as saying that 90nm was considerably more difficult to implement than they first expected. There's a lot of current leak going on, meaning wasted power, which leads to increased heat (see Intel's Prescott as a very good example). Supposedly AMD's having some 90nm issues as well now.

      I guess those issues would explain why Apple had to switch to liquid cooling for this round of systems.

    4. Re:cool by eclectic4 · · Score: 1

      True, but I'll bet the house they'll be "announced" by Steve in a couple of weeks at WWDC, to be shipped in the fall.

      --

      "The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge." - Daniel Boorstin
    5. Re:cool by russellh · · Score: 3, Funny

      You gotta love the press quotes on Apple's G5 page, like: "it's the fastest Mac I've ever used in my entire life". yeah, that SE/30 was a screamer, but this G5 toasts it, no contest.

      --
      must... stay... awake...
    6. Re:cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't have to use an Apple Cinema Display with your Mac. I find that the apple towers look great with, for example purposes, the Samsung 172X; a very thin silver 17" LCD comparable in price to the 17" display Apple sells.

    7. Re:cool by marmoset · · Score: 1

      Thanks for making me feel better about buying my Dual .8 a couple of months ago. :)

    8. Re:cool by Bedouin+X · · Score: 2, Informative

      Dude, if you're going to pay 3K for a Mac, you HAVE to get a cinema display. 17 inches @ 4:3 on that beast is sacrilege.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    9. Re:cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll take that bet! Give me an email address and I'll send you my info so the title to the house can be transferred. I'll be nice and give you 60 days to get out after that. :)

      Can you say Osbourne? Apple would be insane to announce 3.0 GHz G5s so soon after this update. Everyone would wait again and Apple would make no money.

    10. Re:cool by kitzilla · · Score: 1

      Well, they're coming. But I actually like my Cinema Monitor, and it doesn't look particular dated to me. Those new aluminum-framed models will match the G5s well and attract PC buyers. Good move.

      --
      This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
  6. Not Much Here by USAPatriot · · Score: 1, Interesting
    One year later, the only real change is a 2.5 Ghz, and faster Superdrive. Steve promised 3.0 12 months ago, and didn't deliver. The video cards are ancient. And only 256 MB RAM on the 2000 model?

    All in all, a fairly underwhelming update.

    --

    Slashdot Moderation: From positive to terrible in 2 "insightful" posts.

    1. Re:Not Much Here by Paulrothrock · · Score: 5, Informative
      1) IBM is having trouble getting the G5s built in big enough numbers. It doesn't help that the first XServe G5s are going to Virginia Tech. It sucks they're not up to 3GHz, but it's probably not Apple's fault.
      2) Fast video cards are nice, but if I want a gaming machine I'll get a PS2.
      3) Yes, only 256MB of RAM on the 1.8GHz. You need more, buy it from somewhere else. Apple overprices their RAM

      The real development here is the liquid cooling. It's a big step forward, because this means that they might be able to put faster processors into the Powerbooks, and they'll be ready for 3GHz and faster processors once IBM overcomes the Voodoo Curse.

      I'm a little disappointed, but since I have to save for a wedding, I'm kind of glad they're waiting to release the dual 3GHz. It will be easier to convince my future wife that we need it when we aren't dropping $5000 next week for a payment.

      --
      I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
    2. Re:Not Much Here by foidulus · · Score: 5, Funny

      Meh, if you were a REAL GEEK you would settle for a drive-through wedding(while messing with your powerbook) and put off honeymoon activities until you got an FP on your new G5!

    3. Re:Not Much Here by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 1
      I'm a little disappointed, but since I have to save for a wedding

      Two words: Las Vegas.

      You get married cheaply, and you might even win a little cash to buy some extra RAM.

      Just call me the problem solver.

      --
      --- Ban humanity.
    4. Re:Not Much Here by corporatemutantninja · · Score: 5, Funny
      No kidding. I was counting on that "3 Ghz by summer '04" promise, and Steve blew it. I have now lost all faith in him for delivering cool technology, or for hitting release dates. "Three strikes and you're out" may be fine for drug dealers, but technology CEOs should be held to a stricter standard. I don't care if he gets a major OS release out every year, or if he invents a whole new product category every other year. I mean, a professional CEO like Bill Gates promises Longhorn and...

      Oh, wait a second.

      Ok, forget Bill. But look at open source guys: THOSE people know how to hit release dates. At least I think they do because it seems like every other day Slashdot is announcing availability of version 4.31.57.111 of some software package I've never heard of. Or are those really secret IP addresses for some conspiracy to which I haven't been invited?

      --
      Actually, I was trying to be Insightful, not Funny.
    5. Re:Not Much Here by Gsus411 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The anemic RAM included is a good thing. Apple charges far too much for RAM. It's much cheaper to buy your RAM separately instead of upping the RAM on the config you order.

    6. Re:Not Much Here by TheCrazyFinn · · Score: 3, Funny

      Steve promise 3.0GHz 10 months ago. He's still got 2 months to deliver a product announcement. And they wouldn't have to ship until september.

      Apple always has a big announcement in late July. The 3GHz could be it. It could also be the new iMacs though (As Apple has stopped producing the current model as of this week).

      --
      "You've got an invalid haircut" -Warren Zevon - Life'll Kill Ya
    7. Re:Not Much Here by hattig · · Score: 1

      12 months ago? I don't believe that the G5's have been out for 10 months yet.

      Maybe IBM or Apple do have 3 GHz G5s though. Not enough to make a product from. So they can say that "they are at 3GHz" technically. Anyway, everyone has been having problems at 90nm, and things are a few months behind for all the players.

      Give them another few months before bitching about this. In fact I think that people who expect a giant business to owe them anything are rather retarded, to be honest.

      It was retarded of Jobs to say "3GHz in a year" as well though. I bet that killed off many a G5 sale as people decided to wait for the 3GHz model. Hasn't he heard of the Osborne effect?

    8. Re:Not Much Here by theMerovingian · · Score: 1


      if i had mod points, they would belong to you :)

      --
      "If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
    9. Re:Not Much Here by mystereys · · Score: 1

      Even cheaper: get it done at city hall (or your county building). Cost: under $100 for fees & license. You don't even need to dress up. My county even had a non-denominational "chapel" with pews for guests who wanted to witness the ceremony, free of charge.

      (Fyi, I was the bride & I wanted it this way. Used the saved $ to buy an iBook & a vacation.)

      --
      "Righteous speed demon and trust fund party darling of justice"
    10. Re:Not Much Here by caffeine_monkey · · Score: 1

      Are you insane? They added a SECOND PROCESSOR and you're complaining about coming up short 500 mhz in processor speed? Stop trolling, you troll.

    11. Re:Not Much Here by Loco3KGT · · Score: 1

      1) IBM is having trouble getting the G5s built in big enough numbers. It doesn't help that the first XServe G5s are going to Virginia Tech. It sucks they're not up to 3GHz, but it's probably not Apple's fault.

      2) Fast video cards are nice, but if I want a gaming machine I'll get a PS2.

      3) Yes, only 256MB of RAM on the 1.8GHz. You need more, buy it from somewhere else. Apple overprices their RAM


      I feel like your entire post is why Apple computers are still largely inadequate.

      Regarding your first statement, it is Apple's fault. Steve Jobs' is writing checks his company can't cash. He needs to quit overstepping reality so he quits _lying_ to his customers.

      Your second statement is the reason why Macs will never be considered a gaming platform. You, and I'm sure others, are content with using a 4 year old game console. So, Apple does little to make their platform conducive to being developed on for games.

      And last but not least, yea, you can buy RAM from people other than Apple. But is it really so bad to expect them not to bend you over when you're buying their hardware? Is it really so wrong to think that, when buying a $2000 computer, you could get 512MB of RAM?

      I enjoyed being a Mac user the last 3 years of my life (90% of those 3 being in college). But now that I've graduated and have to pay my own way, I don't foresee me buying a Mac again. The price vs capabilities just suck. The G5 is amazing, having two would be awesome. Most of the iLife software I used was absoluetly wonderful. And being forcibly removed from gaming by owning a Mac saved my grades.

      But now I feel like I'm just wasting my money. At the very least it would cost me $2k to get a new PowerMac plus I'd have to BUY MORE RAM? They couldn't sacrifice a little bit of their 30% profit margin?

      --
      Blessed be he who reads this post, Cursed be he who tells my boss.
    12. Re:Not Much Here by cens0r · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Here's a better thing. How about they don't overcharge so much for RAM?

      --
      Jack Valenti and Orrin Hatch will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
    13. Re:Not Much Here by geoffspear · · Score: 2, Funny

      Even cheaper: just suggest to your fiancee that you should have a cheap wedding you you can afford more computers, and then you get to have no wedding at all, absolutely free!

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    14. Re:Not Much Here by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      They added a SECOND PROCESSOR and you're complaining about coming up short 500 mhz in processor speed?

      You're either trolling yourself, or deluded by the megahertz myth here. there's a major difference besides the 0.5GHz clock difference involved: a different technological process .

      Look at how even 2.5GHz has to be liquid-cooled to be stable enough with the old transistor fabrication process. Steve Jobs happily ignored the fact that everyone seemed to have some problems with the transition to 90nm when he made his prediction. Counting on engineers to save the marketing's butt doesn't always work.

      However, bashing Steve for that is fun once, then it gets lame. It's not like anyone is completely infallible, so he has a right of making silly predictions now and then. As someone else pointed out, Bill Gates has been abusing this very right with lots of Windows release dates, so there.

    15. Re:Not Much Here by clf8 · · Score: 1

      Among Apple freaks, it's common knowledge that "summer" means all the way through September. Tough to call it "Apple's fault" for not having 3GHz by their announced date. IBM gives them the roadmap, IBM just couldn't deliver.

      The only thing Steve blew in this case was trusting IBM. You're right, the AirportExpress isn't cool technology in the slightest. Wait, I got confused which parts were sarcasm and which weren't.

    16. Re:Not Much Here by toddhisattva · · Score: 1

      The way Apple counts summers, they still have until late September.

    17. Re:Not Much Here by cavebear42 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Wait! Apple overcharging?!?! I don't belive it!

      I mean sure, you paid $2000 for a $600 system, I guess there's that. And then you can pay for cool upgrades such as $200 for a $120 hard drive and $300 for $200 worth of ram. And just for fun we will tack on $300 for a $100 wireless networking setup. I mean, come one. At least the linux guys don't set their money on fire when they desire to go down the less beaten path.

      Go ahead and mod me Troll. If thats how you have to deal with your obession to waiste money, I understand.

    18. Re:Not Much Here by jeffasselin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's the same way we count summer here. It's from June 21st to September 21st, or approximately, depending on when the summer solstice and fall equinox occur.

      --
      If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
    19. Re:Not Much Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem isn't with Steve lying, it's with Mac Fanatics believing the lies, then spouting them. "Supercomputer", yeah right.

    20. Re:Not Much Here by TTop · · Score: 4, Informative

      Tom Boger, Apple's Director of Power Mac Product Marketing:
      "All-in-all, no we are not getting to 3GHz anytime soon"

    21. Re:Not Much Here by dogmatixpsych · · Score: 1

      It could also be the new iMacs though (As Apple has stopped producing the current model as of this week).
      Apple is actually releasing a cell phone/PDA/digital camera running their new "Tiger" OS on a single 1.8 GHz 64-bit processor. It uses a hydrogen fuel cell with a built-in hydrogen scoop (no need to ever recharge). In a pinch you can use it as a parachute if you ever happen to mindlessly wander off a plane while using it. Also, if your non-Mac aquaintences ever happen to make fun of Apple you can hit them with it.

    22. Re:Not Much Here by dogmatixpsych · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Look at how even 2.5GHz has to be liquid-cooled to be stable enough with the old transistor fabrication process.

      What's wrong with liquid cooling? It is the future of computing. Fans are good but Apple is really trying to change the personal computer. What they do design-wise and technology-wise usually influences the overall computer market (e.g., end of floppy drives; WiFi; 64-bit processors). Apple is breathing life into computers (although IBM could just make more efficient processors that don't put off as much heat but eventually we will need liquid cooling or something other than just fans to keep our computers cool).

    23. Re:Not Much Here by Paulrothrock · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Steve was probably misinformed by IBM. They made claims of their miraculous fabrication plant that hasn't lived up to expectations. They can't make enough processors, and the errors in their new process makes the ones that get out the door expensive. Once it spools up, prices will drop and speeds will increase.

      I use my Mac for actual work. I'm waiting for the PS3 to buy a console, and I've even put an Ethernet port next to my cable jack for it. Until then, I'm happy to play WarCraft III and UT2K4 in my spare time. They run wonderfully on my Powerbook. Through college I didn't have any trouble finding games to waste lots and lots of my time.

      I would rather buy third party RAM than have Apple's profit margin cut. It's that 30% that allows them to put so much into hardware development. Sure, a $1600 G5 would be nice, but if it hurts development and bundled software (iLife is worth a whole lot more than $400), I will be patient.

      I'm sure you could pick up a refurb, but that would involve extra effort, and you don't want to actually have to look for products, you just want them to be available.

      --
      I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
    24. Re:Not Much Here by SnakeJG · · Score: 1

      The real development here is the liquid cooling. It's a big step forward, because this means that they might be able to put faster processors into the Powerbooks, and they'll be ready for 3GHz and faster processors once IBM overcomes the Voodoo Curse.

      You say that the liquid cooling is a real development and a big step forward. I don't see either of these as being the case. As any overclocker knows, liquid cooling is great for getting chips to run cooler so you can overclock them. This is probably exactly why Apple is releasing these chips with liquid cooling, because they are not capable of releasing them with air cooling at this speed without sounding like a jet engine. Now I am behind Apple doing this, keeping their commitment to producing a quite computer, but don't delude yourself and think that liquid cooling is a big step forward.

    25. Re:Not Much Here by ytsejam-ppc · · Score: 1

      Yeah! A real geek would have gotten married here. Like maybe in October of 2000. In a Yukon. At 11:30 PM. On a saturday. Maybe.

    26. Re:Not Much Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fast video cards are nice, but if I want a gaming machine I'll get a PS2.



      What about 3d modeling apps?

    27. Re:Not Much Here by OS24Ever · · Score: 1

      Unless they cut out their reseller channel, this would be dumb for them to do without ticking off the resellers (even more)

      Resellers are able to find the 'less expensive' memory and package up deals that make them look more attractive than Apple. This works the same way with all desktop vendors that have a reseller channel.

      This lets the reseller create their own bundles.

      Plus it's added margin for those that want to buy their memory direct from Apple.

      --

      As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.

    28. Re:Not Much Here by cens0r · · Score: 1

      Are resellers really able to undercut apple on installed memory prices? I've been shopping for an iBook, and haven't seen a difference in price whether from apple, fry's, or the university bookstore when configuring different memory prices. Of course, fry's might run a special where they throw in a stick of memory, but that's hardly the same thing.

      Everyone knows apple is overcharging for memory. If they charged inline with other manufacturers (which is still gouging imho), I would think that they would increase the number of people ordering with extra ram. It may decrease the margin on the ram, but it would increase the amount of profit on each computer sold.

      --
      Jack Valenti and Orrin Hatch will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
    29. Re:Not Much Here by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      Nothing wrong with using new tech. The problem is that when you need liquid cooling you're already hitting a technological barrier: the chip runs too hot, eats too much power and you have to change something qualitatively to deal with it.

      That and the fact that, unless 90nm gets a lot better, G5 powerbooks look kind of distant if Apple already neeeds to remove that much heat from the cpu. Here's hoping that I'm wrong and those cpus running at less than 30W are actually possible (and then, adding liquid cooling for efficiency, not because nothing else works, would be quite neat)

    30. Re:Not Much Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Buy Now before it's too late!!! Once you're married, you may never get a new Mac again!!!!! Beware, beware!

    31. Re:Not Much Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no, the real geek spends the money on the computer then puts on his robe and wizard cap.

    32. Re:Not Much Here by rthille · · Score: 1

      I've got a copy of iLife I'll sell you for only $425.

      --
      Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
    33. Re:Not Much Here by cheekyboy · · Score: 1

      Why dont they just make a smaller form factor board for 4 x 2ghz CPUs, that way , they get their combined 8ghz and each chip would be much cheaper than 2 x 2.5s

      Or even 3 x 2ghz couldnt hurt.

      It might be asking a lot, but why not go back to the CPU slot model and give every mac motherboard 4 slots, and sell em with 1 cpu card with the others as $250 extras.

      --
      Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
    34. Re:Not Much Here by Binary+Judas · · Score: 0

      Half as in $1999 for this Dell desktop with an FX 5200?

      --

      Tua consilia omnia nobis clariora sunt quam lux. Tu delenda est!

    35. Re:Not Much Here by Paulrothrock · · Score: 1
      It's the first big-name manufacturer to do this. It is a big step forward in that sense. By having Apple's amazing R&D department behind its development, it will mature very quickly. They are planning for a time when they will have G5s in the iMacs and Powerbooks, which would require a high-efficiency liquid cooling, which is a real development.

      Crays have had liquid cooling for quite some time, so don't delude yourself into thinking that overclockers were the first ones to come up with this.

      --
      I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
    36. Re:Not Much Here by OS24Ever · · Score: 1

      If they use non-apple memory, yep they can do whatever they want. However they could match Apple's price and use a cheaper cost item (to them) and make more money off it too

      --

      As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.

  7. Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by neccoant · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think the 2.5 model, with the whiz-bang cooling and new chips, is the first next-gen G5, whereas the lower models are designed to clear out old supplies. November will see the real "bump" to 2.5/2.7/3.0 all-liquid series.

    Here's a theory: The 2.5 is slated to start shipping in July, so maybe Apple is getting around the new-model-launch-delays bear? Will they announce and ship the "missing" 2.7 and 3.0 portions of the range in September, when they would have shipped anyway, even if they were announced today? "Clearing out the old machines and releasing the typical low-end 'shipping today' portion of the new model range, and keeping mum on the parts we would normally delay two months."

    That said, they are still impressive machines, save for the GPU. Also, to the first poster, the top end chips are 2.5Ghz, not 1.5...

    1. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are not clearing out old processors. I believe all of these G5s are the 90nm ones, not the old ones.

      Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

    2. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by nine-times · · Score: 5, Funny

      they are still impressive machines, save for the GPU

      I know, the GPU's in these things suck. The Radeon 9800XT is a toy, just because it was released more than a month ago. Why didn't Apple pack these things with some unreleased card from ATI or Nvidia that would run 5X as fast, huh?

    3. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by pev · · Score: 1
      I think the 2.5 model, with the whiz-bang cooling and new chips, is the first next-gen G5, whereas the lower models are designed to clear out old supplies. November will see the real "bump" to 2.5/2.7/3.0 all-liquid series.

      I think that makes sense, except I reckon that they've only put the liquid cooling on the top models to thrash out any tech issues before releasing en-masse to everyone... ~Pev

    4. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by nine-times · · Score: 1

      "Insightful"? I was hoping more for funny...

    5. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by sensate_mass · · Score: 2

      I was just about to say you're wrong, but this (pdf) says you're right. It's not clear whether they moved all of them to the .90nm process, or just the 2.5's.

      Could G5 Powerbooks be far behind?

      --
      --- Submission is feudal.
    6. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by PsychoSid · · Score: 1

      Well it's because of ADC which Apple may well be dropping.

    7. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by Amorpheus_MMS · · Score: 2, Insightful

      they are still impressive machines, save for the GPU

      I know, the GPU's in these things suck. The Radeon 9800XT is a toy, just because it was released more than a month ago.


      Released yesterday would be too old if a new generation had since then succeeded it soundly. Which is what has happened. Compared to the X800 cards, 9800s are mid-range. Not "suck", just unimpressive.

    8. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by Luckboy · · Score: 1

      I know, the GPU's in these things suck. The Radeon 9800XT is a toy, just because it was released more than a month ago. Actually, they DO suck. Performance wise, they're great. However , the high pitched whine emitted from the 9800's Fan is louder than all the fans in the Dual G5 2.0 GHz that I banished from my office, and now work with remotely. Wish I'd gone with the cheaper, slower card just to stop the noise.

    9. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by miked378 · · Score: 1

      Is there really a spot in the lineup for a 2.7 GHz machine? I mean, it's less than 10% faster clock speed than the 2.5 GHz -- with no other alterations, it's really going to have negligible performance increases, but you can be sure you'll be shelling out a couple hundred $$ for it. Just go straight to 3.0!

    10. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could G5 Powerbooks be far behind?

      Yes. Very far.

    11. Re:Liquid Cooling is, uh, cool by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 1

      "Why didn't Apple pack these things with some unreleased card from ATI or Nvidia that would run 5X as fast, huh?"

      Right, because the GeForce 6800 is completely "unreleased". So "unreleased", in fact, that Newegg.com is selling them right now.

      Oh, and the Radeon X800 is "unreleased" as well.

  8. Hot stuff! by CommanderData · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now we know what all the extra space is for in the new G5 case design, to hold the liquid nitrogren tanks!

    --
    Urge to post... fading... fading... RISING!... fading... fading... gone.
  9. Liquid Cooling by swordboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I like the idea of liquid cooling but I also like simple systems. There's too much complexity here. So...

    I've often pondered creating a sealed aluminum case with integrated heatsink. Stick the components in and fill it with dielectric oil in order to create a huge, passive heat sink (like a big transformer or whatever). Thoughts? I almost got around to this but stopped after submerging an old hard drive in some dielectric - if you seal the breating hole, it works fine (I believe the hole is there to relieve pressure differentials caused by changes in altitude so it should be fine in a stationary location).

    Provided that the dielectric has good enough heat transfer, this should work, no?

    --

    Life is the leading cause of death in America.
    1. Re:Liquid Cooling by ArsonPerBuilding · · Score: 1

      too many pitfalls. What if you got a leak in the middle of the night? The idea isn't new; if it could work well enough more people would do it. Submerged computing is really really niche.

      --
      1 tequila 2 tequila 3 tequila floor
    2. Re:Liquid Cooling by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's been done...and more. One guy dumped all the components of his PC in a polystyrene tub full of liquid paraffin, which is pretty much what you're suggesting. However, he also stuck the evaporator of a fridge in there and got the paraffin down to stupidly low temperatures. The disadvantages: it looked crap and it smelt bad.

      --
      When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
    3. Re:Liquid Cooling by TheGavster · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually the breathing hole in the hard drive is critical to maintaining the cushion of air that the drive heads use to float the couple of microns over the platter surface that they need. If you plug the hole, you've got a good chance of having a hard drive crash in the most literal sense of the phrase when the heads dig into the platters on boot.

      --
      "Because Science" is one step from "Because old book". Try "Because of my experiment testing my falsifiable assertion".
    4. Re:Liquid Cooling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The easy answer... it depends!

      The heat has to eventually leave the case. The monolithic case will eventually reach a steady-state temperature, where the heat generated by the CPUs and other system components exactly equals the heat lost from the case surface to the environment.

      Heat will be lost in 3 ways, conduction into the table it is sitting on (minimal), radiation into the environment (minimal for a low-temperature body), and finally free convection into the air.

      You need a lot of surface area to get rid of heat by free convection, which is why forced convection (i.e. using a fan) is used instead.

      A rule of thumb factor for free convection on a vertical surface, the heat transfer coefficient can be estimated by:

      h = 1.42 * (delta T / L) ^ 0.25

      Where L is the vertical dimension in meters, delta T is the difference in temperature (centigrade) between the surface and the air. The units for h are watts per meter squared per degree Celsius.

      So the equation for heat loss is:

      q = h * A * delta T

      The convection coefficient for a horizontal surface (i.e. the top) is:

      h = 1.32 * (delta T / L) ^ 0.25

      I will leave the calculation of the optimum case size as an exercise for the reader. ;-)

    5. Re:Liquid Cooling by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 1

      That would sure make upgrading fun :-)

    6. Re:Liquid Cooling by swordboy · · Score: 1

      What if you got a leak in the middle of the night?

      Build the case like a tub - the cables come out of the top. If you do it properly, you could integrate a slot into the lid so that the cables can pass through in a discreet/elegant fashion.

      --

      Life is the leading cause of death in America.
    7. Re:Liquid Cooling by alecks · · Score: 1

      At RIT in the Computer Science House, we filled a fishtank with about 100 bottles of baby oil. Took apart a 486 and left the IDE cable and HD hanging off the side, while Mobo and everything else was submerged in the baby oil. Was fun. (5 yrs ago, btw).

    8. Re:Liquid Cooling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This was discussed extensively here.

      As another poster suggested, there is no reason why the harddrive cannot be outside the liquid - if you're already going to that much trouble, you can surely rearrange things in your case.

    9. Re:Liquid Cooling by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · · Score: 1

      Doesn't sound so simple after you consider that you'd have to seal it properly. Not as easy as it sounds. And you'd have to drain it out when you just wanted to add RAM etc.

    10. Re:Liquid Cooling by joshmccormack · · Score: 1

      How about housing a computer in an old chest freezer? Make a hole for all the wires, connect to it by 802.11, use a terminal on a fanless, no moving parts computer for silent running. Or just use a laptop. Freezer would keep it quiet, too. And a chest freezer is pretty nondescript - a big box, really. You could stick it in a basement, if you have one, but even out in the open with woodpaneling or a tapestry over it it wouldn't be ugly.

      Would humidity be an issue?

    11. Re:Liquid Cooling by crackshoe · · Score: 1

      humidity wouldn't be an issue - heat retention would be. a freezer 9or fridge, for that matter0 is designed with minimal airflow and thermal insulation in mind. early attempts at cooling via fridge/freezer failed because they heated up incredibly - the freezer doesn't cool more than the system heats up, and all the heat just hangs around.

      --
      Don't worry - its just stigmata. Pass me a napkin and don't you dare tell my mother.
    12. Re:Liquid Cooling by troc · · Score: 1
      Would humidity be an issue?
      Yep. There's a reason why we have the annual "defrost the freezer" ritual.

      Troc

      --
      Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net
    13. Re:Liquid Cooling by ibmman85 · · Score: 1

      I'm sort of a csh member.. I applied.. and did the packet.. and showed up for house meetings.. dont know if there was anything else i was suppossed to do since i never asked anyone about that.. its always funny to see rit people on slashdot though for some reason.. i dont think there were many csh experiments quite like that this year

    14. Re:Liquid Cooling by joshmccormack · · Score: 1

      so it would need another hole - air flow going through a dehumidifier. Air filter would be nice, too, to cut down on dust and junk that most boards attract like crazy. Just making a shopping list...

    15. Re:Liquid Cooling by mgoff · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually the breathing hole in the hard drive is critical to maintaining the cushion of air that the drive heads use to float the couple of microns over the platter surface that they need.

      Reference? I don't know of any hard drive where this is the case. The only purpose of the breather hole is for pressure equalization. The heads fly due to the aerodynamics of their physical design-- just like an airplane wing.

    16. Re:Liquid Cooling by sockonafish · · Score: 1

      A wing underwater will work much the same way as a wing in the air. If this were a vacuum, you'd definitely have a problem, but I think liquid would work plenty fine.

    17. Re:Liquid Cooling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Someone has already done something similar.

      This was taken from a past Slashdot post: http://slashdot.org/articles/03/03/16/2023221.shtm l?tid=193&tid=137

      "A group of 802.11b fans in Tordera, Spain, are running a wireless node on the roof of a building, with the idea of a free wireless network for everyone on the neighbourhood. Its a system running linux with a home made can antenna, mounted on a plastic tool box in the roof. To keep it cool under the sun and protect it from rain, wind, they have immersed it into vegetable oil (yes, the whole thing). As oil is non-conductive, everything should run fine. The site is in Spanish, here is the google translation and the google cache."

    18. Re:Liquid Cooling by BenjyD · · Score: 1

      There are hundreds of non-conductive heat transfer liquids used in industry - I guess it could be any of them.

    19. Re:Liquid Cooling by milkman_matt · · Score: 1

      Actually the breathing hole in the hard drive is critical to maintaining the cushion of air that the drive heads use to float the couple of microns over the platter surface that they need.

      Yeah that's the one hang-up I was running into was the drives... But I think the best solution for that is one of those externeal SCSI drive racks or something... should be an acceptable solution.

    20. Re:Liquid Cooling by dex22 · · Score: 3, Informative
      Reference? I don't know of any hard drive where this is the case. The only purpose of the breather hole is for pressure equalization. The heads fly due to the aerodynamics of their physical design-- just like an airplane wing.


      Ummm, no. The heads are stationary relative to the airflow. They move across the platter or are stationary. They are not shaped to be aerodynamic, and actually cause a lot of air turbulence when they move.


      What makes the head float over the platter is laminar flow. This is the tendency of air to stick to the platter. This creates a molecules thick layer of fast-moving air that generally spirals out from the center of the platter to the outside, turning in the direction of the platter's rotation. As this flow is faster than the surrounding air, it draws the head closer to the platter. As the head gets very close, the laminar flow slows, until equilibrium is reached and the head floats stably.

      The primary reason why most hard drives cannot be used above 10,000ft is because air pressure gets low enough for tolerance limits to be reached.

      The primary purpose of the vent hole is to allow the drive to equalize pressure. Variations of pressure cause the case to flex, which can affect the head alignment against the platters.


      Hope this helps...

    21. Re:Liquid Cooling by Moofie · · Score: 3, Informative

      The notion that you're looking for is "boundary layer", not laminar flow. Laminar flow is the opposite of turbulent flow, and you won't find it inside a hard drive.

      Consider a coordinate system fixed to an airplane wing. Immediately at the surface of the wing, the airflow is stationary with respect to the wing skin. As you move farther away from the skin, the air moves faster and faster wrt the wing skin. If you consider the coordinate system fixed to the ground, the air far from the wing is more or less stationary (ignoring wind and the like) and the air close to the wing is moving at the speed of the aircraft.

      So, the heads are not stationary relative to the airflow. The air is moving more or less at the speed of the platters (in a spiral like pattern as you described). The heads fly through this (pretty high speed) airflow.

      The rest of your post is pretty well spot on.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    22. Re:Liquid Cooling by dex22 · · Score: 1
      Yes, boundary layer, not laminar flow. Sorry, I did this at college over 20 years ago, and it's all a bit jumbled now.


      What you describe explains for me how the forces move the head relative to the airflow, but they don't explain how the head moves relative to the platter. Could you maybe enlarge on this a little, so I understand it better?

    23. Re:Liquid Cooling by Moofie · · Score: 1

      Disclaimer: I know about zero about the actual aerodynamic details inside a hard drive. I know how big wings work when they go fast in large air volumes. : )

      But, my understanding is thus: The read/write heads use aerodynamic forces to keep them close to, but not touching, the drive platters. The "radial" motion comes from a pivot outside the cylinder occupied by the disk platters, not unlike a phonograph arm. So, the drive spins at a more or less constant rate, and the heads fly nice and close to the platter, and then the head arm pivot moves the head in a more or less radial direction (yeah, it's really an arc, but I bet there's trigonometry to fix all that mess) at a speed that's very low wrt the speed of the platters relative to the heads. So you've got the drives spinning fast in the circumferential direction (7200 rpm=120 revs/sec=43200 degrees/sec, drive platter perimeter is about 3.5*pi=10 in or so, so 1 200 inches per second = 68.1818182 miles per hour according to Google), and the heads moving in the "radial" direction at some fairly high number of degrees/sec, but I'd say it's still a lot lower than 43200 deg/sec. So, the radial motion of the drive heads will not change the airspeed of the heads too much.

      I'm not sure I answered your question, but I sure talked around it a lot. : )

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    24. Re:Liquid Cooling by i+wanted+another+nam · · Score: 1

      So now, instead of a fan and a heatsink, you want a fridge (with a loud compressor and fan), with a hole in it that defeats the purpose of the insulation, hooked to a dehumidifier that hums?

      I have a solution for any loud computer:

      MORE COWBELL!

      --
      The image is a dream, the beauty is real. Can you see the difference?
  10. Awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple really starts to flex its muscles, finally. I'm glad to see this as a bonafide Machead. When Intel sees that Apple's G5 chip has finally caught up to the latest P4 chips, the merry go round of hardware upgrades!

  11. Attention to detail... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From the Apple link:

    Each of the four thermal zones is equipped with its own dedicated, low-speed fans. Apple engineered the nine fans to spin at very low speeds for minimum acoustic output. Using 21 different sensors, Mac OS X constantly monitors component temperatures in each zone, dynamically adjusting individual fan speeds to the appropriate levels for the quietest possible operation. As a result, the Power Mac G5 runs two times quieter than the previous Power Mac G4 enclosure.

    Nine fans and 21 sensors, generating half as many decibels. Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy but that's the level of attention to detail that seperates Apple from Dell, etc.

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
    1. Re:Attention to detail... by cowscows · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's not attention to detail, that's just a different methodology. Not going the cheapest way possible. For attention to detail, notice the lack of cables all over the place inside the computer, or how the little capacitors and other components on the boards are colored to match the internal design. It may be silly in some ways, but when designers care enough to try and make the inside of a computer beautiful, I find that kind of comforting.

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

    2. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The same Apple attention produced the "wind-tunnel" power mac. This is an attempt to NOT alienate existing customers.

    3. Re:Attention to detail... by IIEFreeMan · · Score: 1

      I don't want to nitpick but two times quieter does NOT mean half as many decibels. It means 3 decibels less (it is precisely e less decibels but you get the point) as decibels are a logarithmic scale.

    4. Re:Attention to detail... by martingunnarsson · · Score: 1

      Yes, and that's one of the reasons you get that warm, fuzzy feeling from the Apple computers. I just love them.

      --
      Martin
    5. Re:Attention to detail... by krjordan · · Score: 1

      sing 21 different sensors, Mac OS X constantly monitors component temperatures in each zone, dynamically adjusting individual fan speeds to the appropriate levels for the quietest possible operation.

      Am I the only one that would rather have a dedicated controller to handle the fans as opposed to during it in software?

    6. Re:Attention to detail... by Plutor · · Score: 4, Informative
      > > ...the Power Mac G5 runs two times quieter...
      > ...half as many decibels...

      Noise level (bels, often referred to in tenths of bels, or decibels) is a logarithmic measurement, similar to the Richter scale. The number of bels for a given ratio of power levels is calculated by taking the logarithm, to the base 10, of the ratio.
      b = log10(P1/P2)
      b = log10(1/2)
      b ~ -0.3010299956
      So this is actually a reduction of just over three decibels. Doesn't sound like much, but it really is twice as quiet. Gives you more respect for the 20db case fans, eh?
    7. Re:Attention to detail... by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      "but when designers care enough to try and make the inside of a computer beautiful, I find that kind of comforting."

      Funny, I find that it just means they are trying to use appearance to sell more computers.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    8. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "half as many decibels" Only true if the previous Power Mac G4 generated 6dB.

    9. Re:Attention to detail... by WarriorPoet42 · · Score: 1

      Now I can't respond to painted capacitors (that seems to be a silly level of modding), but Alienware does a top-notch job of cable tie-downs. So much so, I end up having to untie everything if I ever want to add a component. Annoying, but impressive, nonetheless. All in all, though, these "retail mods" seem to be a very niche market.

    10. Re:Attention to detail... by frinkster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Perhaps, but it requires a talented and dedicated engineer to produce this kind of work.

      I'm willing to appear superficial to get some good, quality engineering on my desktop.

    11. Re:Attention to detail... by Rew190 · · Score: 1

      So then what you're getting at is that Apple's attention to detail is a bad thing in some manner?

    12. Re:Attention to detail... by l00sr · · Score: 1

      Not to nitpick, but... technically speaking, if the power of the sound output is half as much as it was before, it is about three decibels quieter, since decibels work on an log-10 scale. Explanation here.

    13. Re:Attention to detail... by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 1
      fans to spin at very low speeds for minimum acoustic output

      Are they crazy?!?!?

      give me more noise. Nothing like impressing clients when they call you on the phone! If they are into computers, you can say 'that's the computer fan it's got two overthrusters, and a 11 teen thousand rpm fan to keep it cool'

      If they don't care about com-puters, you can tell them that it is the jet warming up for take off!

    14. Re:Attention to detail... by slimak · · Score: 1
      Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is not 'e' less since decibles are defined in log10 not (natural/base e) log.

      dB = 10*log10(.)

      thus,
      if A =10*log10(v)
      then
      B = 10*log10(.5*v) = 10*log10(.5)+10*log(v) = A + 10*log(.5) ~= A - 3.01

      so B is 3 dB less than A, not e dB, which would be 2.71ish.

    15. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Appearance is just one piece of the puzzle. This attention to detail is found throughout the Mac experience, not just in the case design. You might want to actually try using a Mac sometime. Seriously, I'm not just trying to be an ass.

    16. Re:Attention to detail... by falcon5768 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      ahhh but bundling up cables and actually designing the cable to be hidden are two different things.... even on the original B/W G3 you couldnt find a IDE cable anywhere, they ran under the motherboard and the case frame except in one spot where it was above

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    17. Re:Attention to detail... by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 1

      The HP D530 systems at my school have two fans and no thermal zones, and they are whisper quiet. The loudest component is the 5400rpm HDD.

      And they have P4s.

    18. Re:Attention to detail... by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It is attention to detail. The sound computers generate these days is oftern overlooked by most makers. "Attention to detail" isn't just limited to asthetics you know.

    19. Re:Attention to detail... by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      I use both macs and PCs regularly. I realize its one piece of the puzzle, however keep in mind that they have a whole team of designers whos job is to make things look pretty so you buy them. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with actually using the mac.

      Also, the people responding seem to think that its the engineers who come up with these color scheme ideas. Its not, its the designers.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    20. Re:Attention to detail... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Nine fans and 21 sensors, generating half as many decibels. Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy but that's the level of attention to detail that seperates Apple from Dell, etc.

      Most Dell desktops are a fair sight quieter than the G5, from what I've seen (and heard). It's impressive that Apple got a computer that needs nine fans to be fairly quiet, but with most Dells, well, you only need two fans (one in the PSU and one over the CPU, with a plastic hood).

      The PowerMacs are impressive for all sorts of other reasons, but saying "amazingly quiet for having nine fans" is progress seems backward to me. Same with the liquid cooling; it's only there because the G5 runs incredibly hot. I'm sure people will be touting liquid cooling as an advantage, when really I think it should be viewed as a necessary evil. Wouldn't it be better to use a processor that doesn't need to be liquid cooled??

    21. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      a fair sight quieter

      Wow! You hear with your eyes? I see with my feet!

    22. Re:Attention to detail... by dasmegabyte · · Score: 5, Insightful

      True. I've found that engineers who don't care about how things look on the outside generally don't care too much about how they work on the inside either. Meaning no features that aren't in the spec, no effort expended to fix designs that sound good but won't work in the real world. So we get things like the flimsy door covering the ports on the front of a Dell precision desktop (ports which are impossible to see and useless if you put the tower on the ground, like everybody I work with)...

      Apple's design is more than simply "superficial." It's thorough. When I was looking for laptops, I found plenty of really nice machines with big, fast, hot processors that only got a little more than an hour of battery life. And I found machines with nice, big 17" screens that had super high resolutions, but were only viewable from a tiny angle. And any machine that had similar features and speed were close to two inches thick and weighted upwards of 15 pounds.

      I only found one that was even close to the footprint of my 15" with similar specs, and it was the Apex Ferrari. Now, since I'm not going to buy a gaudy red laptop with a ferrari logo on it, I only had the one choice :).

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    23. Re:Attention to detail... by marmoset · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm sitting two feet from my (oldschool) G5 1.8x2, and it is silent, SILENT, on a day when the ambient room temperature is 82F/28C. That is engineering.

    24. Re:Attention to detail... by Xrikcus · · Score: 1

      But half the output power is not necessarily the same as half as loud, because the human ear hears along a log scale. Would you say an aircraft taking off is a billion times louded than your computer, for example (random and inaccurate number off the top of my head because I'm busy, but illustrates the point to a certain extent).

    25. Re:Attention to detail... by Moraelin · · Score: 0, Troll

      As opposed to the 12 dBA fans I have on my PC case?

      --
      A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
    26. Re:Attention to detail... by teeker · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Well, here at work, we have a handful of Dell desktop machines and we were also the first on our block to get the dual 2Ghz G5. I can tell you for certain that the Mac is WAY quieter than these particular Dells (YMMV of course).

      It's not so much that the Mac is amazingly quiet for having 9 fans, it's amazingly quiet for having any fans. They could definitely get away with 2 fans, but they'd have to run faster so they'd be louder.

      The liquid cooling thing is all part of it...you know the kind of fans you're typically running on a new Intel/AMD chip? Well if you liquid cooled them like this Mac, you could probably get away with a much quieter setup. Again, I'm sure they could air-cool them, but they'd be loud like your typical PC.

      --
      teeker
    27. Re:Attention to detail... by Pope · · Score: 1

      Since it's in software, a number of OSX updates have had fan controller tweaks as part of them. If you download the CHUD Tools, if gives the user even more options.

      --
      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
    28. Re:Attention to detail... by fyonn · · Score: 4, Informative

      Am I the only one that would rather have a dedicated controller to handle the fans as opposed to during it in software?

      assuming that the new g5's work the way the current ones do in this regard (and I'm sure they do). the software overrides the hardware. if there is no software to control the speed, then it defaults to full blast.

      if you install linux on a g5 then the fans all run at full because the linux people haven't decoded the fan controllers yet (or hadn't last I looked). and even with osx on it, when you turn it on, the fans blow at full for a short while until bios/osx gets loaded and takes control and brings the speed down.

      so if osx crashes so hard that even low level drivers like that die, then the machine should still not overheat.

      dave

    29. Re:Attention to detail... by Brackney · · Score: 1

      I know I'm looking forward to the low sound output since I'll be using my for digital audio work. I'd been using an old Linux box running FC1/PlanetCCRMA as my primary DAW, and that thing sounded like a jet about ready to take off. Hardly the kind of thing you want in a recording studio. :) That said, there are still some audio apps for Linux that I expect to keep using even after my G5 shows up.

    30. Re:Attention to detail... by RetiredMidn · · Score: 1
      Most Dell desktops are a fair sight quieter than the G5, from what I've seen (and heard).

      Well, maybe, but my dual 2GHz G5 is quieter than the Dell Latitude C840 laptop my employer equipped me with. And don't get me started about my fan-less G3 PowerBook...

    31. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes but somethings that subjectively appears to sound two times quieter will actually be around 10 db lower:

      "A 10-dBA increase in the level of a continuous noise represents a perceived doubling of loudness; a 5-dBA increase is a readily noticeable change, while a 3-dBA increase is barely noticeable to most people."

      from http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Bel_(Acoustics)

    32. Re:Attention to detail... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 2
      The Dells I'm talking about are of the dark grey variety. If you pop the hood you should see a green plastic hood over the processor, which covers a big slow 92mm fan (mounted on the back panel) and a big heatsink on the processor.

      My parents have one of these and the two fans are inaudible from more than 12 inches away. They happen to have a Western Digital hard drive so you can still hear a slight idle whine and you definitely hear seeks, but I would assume most Dells today would have drives with fluid bearings. In any case, if the hard drive is the noisiest component, you can slap it in a $25 NoiseControl NoVibes frame, problem solved (though unfortunately I don't think you can fit it in a PowerMac).

      I read somewhere that when Dell started selling a lot of PCs in Singapore that they began getting serious about quietness; apparently Singaporeans care a lot about office ergonomics. So Dell created an acoustics lab, and the results were so good that they started quieting all(?) their computers.

      (I don't know if this applies to their Precision workstations or their top of the line Dimension XPS, as I haven't heard those. But it seems to be the case for all mainstream Dimensions.)

      I personally disagree that the Mac is amazingly quiet for having any fans. But after spending considerable effort silencing my own computer, and lurking around the SilentPCReview forums, my scale of what's quiet and what's not has been recalibrated.

    33. Re:Attention to detail... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
      It's not hard to believe your modern desktop is quieter than your modern laptop--you can't fit big, slow fans in laptops. And I was only referring to Dell desktops.

      Does your Dell Latitude burn your lap like a G4 PowerBook would?

      I'm not anti-Apple, really. But they're pretty much subject to the same engineering constraints as everyone else, albeit with a higher budget (I imagine). Given the size and variety of the PC industry, is it really so hard to believe that Apple has not built a machine that is the fastest AND quietest AND coolest-running desktop in the world?

    34. Re:Attention to detail... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1

      It looks like the "liquid cooling" may be a heat pipe, in which case I take back what I said about it being a necessary evil. Heat pipe equipped heatsinks are good; they don't cost much more than traditional heatsinks and provide much better performance, and they don't leak.

    35. Re:Attention to detail... by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

      Just another data point: this is also true of my G4. (2002 model, dual-optical.) It's got an ATA-100 bus for two of the internal drives and an ATA-66 for the other two, plus an ATA-66 bus for the two optical drives. Open the case, you can see where the ribbon cables terminate, but their actual runs are tucked away nice and neat behind things.

      --

      I write in my journal
    36. Re:Attention to detail... by Plutor · · Score: 1

      It's difficult to decide what Apple really means in this case. Although I agree that in practice, a 3db noise difference is virtually unnoticeable, Apple says "...the Power Mac G5 runs two times quieter...", not "...the Power Mac G5 is perceived as running two times quieter...".

      (And is "two times quieter" even a valid comparison? It seems a backwards way of saying "half as loud.")

      </nitpicking>

    37. Re:Attention to detail... by jwthompson2 · · Score: 1

      Liquid cooling allows for reduction of noise if done right. I had a system that didn't run hot but I chose to liquid cool it 1) for the coolness factor and 2) for the noise reduction, All components (CPU, Chipset, GPU, Etc.) that I normally would have mounted fans for were integrated into the liquid cooling system and then I only needed one fan, I used an extremely quiet inline pump and voila a system that made almost no perceptable, to me, noise when running. The liquid cooling also had one other nice effect, it kept the temperature across all components stable within a 2-3 degree range as opposed to the 5-10 degree swing, especially on CPUs and GPUs that I would usually see under load. So that meant less stress on the hardware under load which was another big plus.

      --
      Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. -Martin Luther
    38. Re:Attention to detail... by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

      Most Dell desktops are a fair sight quieter than the G5, from what I've seen (and heard).

      Adjust your thermostat, or don't work as hard. :-)

      At normal room temperatures, say below 75 degrees F, a dual-processor G5 is very, very quiet. Not long after we got our G5's at the office, we had an AC unit fail. The temperature in the office climbed up to about 80 over the course of the afternoon, and the G5's got steadily louder as their fans ramped up to compensate.

      Also, if your G5 is busier, it'll be noisier. During normal work, my G5 is nearly silent in my work environment. When I fire off a big Compressor batch job, the fans slowly ramp up.

      Same with the liquid cooling; it's only there because the G5 runs incredibly hot.

      A G5 at 2 GHz dissipates less heat than a Pentium Xeon at 3 GHz. Check the numbers. The Power Mac G5 has stuff like lots of fans and liquid cooling so it can be quiet.

      For comparison, consider the Xserve. Same G5 processors, no liquid cooling, fewer fans. It's about as loud as your average Pentium-based rackmount server. Because it doesn't have to be quiet, you see.

      Apple took it in the shorts when they released the mirrored-drive-doors G4's. They were LOUD, so loud that lots of Mac users were literally unable to use them. If you're doing audio work, you can't have a vacuum cleaner running under your desk all day. So now Apple spends a LOT of time and trouble to make things nice and quiet.

      --

      I write in my journal
    39. Re:Attention to detail... by ThousandStars · · Score: 1
      I use a Dell 8200 desktop that I bought about two years ago; last year I had it next to a single proc. 1.8, and I found the silence of the 1.8 startling by comparison.

      Not that either machine is especially loud, but the Dell was more noticeable.

    40. Re:Attention to detail... by hkb · · Score: 1

      Nine fans and 21 sensors, generating half as many decibels. Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy but that's the level of attention to detail that seperates Apple from Dell, etc.

      Actually, if you've been paying attention (no, you haven't) to most of Dell's line, you'd know that most of Dell's desktops are now whisper-quiet or even quieter.

      I have a GX270 on my desk with a 3.2ghz P4, and I cannot hear a thing. If I go behind my machine though, and put my ear right up to the fan vent, I can hear something turning. It's much quieter than the G5, which I am around a lot, too. Both machines sit on all the time.

      Dell did all this with only about 2 or 3 fans in my case, and probably a lot less than 21 sensors. That seems to be less of a hack than what Apple's pulled off with the G5.

      Dell's _____, such as the GX270 is quieter than anything Apple has, except maybe for the iPod anyways.

      Just thought I'd say that to be fair. And yes, PC's suck, and I love my Mac.

      --
      /* Moderating all non-anonymous trolls up since 2004 */
    41. Re:Attention to detail... by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 5, Informative

      Linux has had G5 fan control for several months; it works OK in our testing.

    42. Re:Attention to detail... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
      I'm not at all saying that the G5 is a loud computer... far from it. Certainly it's quiet enough for most purposes. But I think that Dell desktops are quieter. (I've not compared them in the same room so I don't know for sure.)

      I'm also not saying it's not impressive that the case has 9 fans and achieves its level of quietness. But when I buy or build a PC, I'm interested in the total dB, or the dB/performance ratio, and not the dB/fan ratio.

      I might not have brought it up if OP hadn't poo-pooed Dell, just assuming that Dells are loud and G5's are quiet. Dells are quiet, too. Sure, unlike Apple, Dell may put cost efficiency before design--but that doesn't mean it's just a bunch of monkeys running around their engineering department.

      I was surprised to see that a G5 at 2GHz dissipates less heat than even a non-Xeon P4 at, say, 3GHz. That being the case, I think maybe Apple just really decided to swim upstream with those nine fans, considering many PCs get along fine with far fewer fans, no "air channels", and no perforated case (and achieve the same noise level).

    43. Re:Attention to detail... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      I would have been much happier with my Yosemite if instead of hiding the IDE cables, apple engineers had instead put their effort into not fucking up implementation of the CMD IDE chip such that you cannot use UDMA transfer modes with the majority of hard drives.

      When you want to use a macintosh as an example of good design, pick one that exhibits good design.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    44. Re:Attention to detail... by SilentChris · · Score: 1

      "Perhaps, but it requires a talented and dedicated engineer to produce this kind of work."

      Yes, but what engineer thought it'd be good to ship a $2000 computer with an old video card? Or was that marketing's fault?

    45. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a Precision 650 -- amazingly quiet until you start to beat on the machine and the variable fans speed up. The case is also the best thing this side of a PMac G4, although the plastic is kinda cheap.

    46. Re:Attention to detail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dell spends about the same amount of money on R&D as Apple does. However, unlike Apple, Dell doesn't have their own OS or their own chipsets. That means virtually all of it has gone into case design, and it shows.

    47. Re:Attention to detail... by Bin_jammin · · Score: 1

      Soichiro Honda was the founder of Honda Motor Cars, way way back. He was passionate about air-cooled engines, and thought that a liquid cooled engine would never be popular. A team of engineers set out on a secret project to build a liquid cooled engine, built it, and invited him to drive it. Mr. Honda drove the test car with the liquid cooled engine on a rainy, cool day. After driving it a bit, he shut the engine off, with the heater fan still on. A little while later he commented "It's still warm" because he was amazed at the way the engine retained heat. This single event swung his opinion on liquid cooling, and no major auto manufacturer produces an air-cooled engine anymore. I think that what we're going to see a lot more of in the future is liquid cooling on a number of devices, not because they cool far better, or because the high wattage requires something massive like liquid cooling to keep the heat down, but because it's a more stable way of cooling a processor. Heat sinks can only do so much, and be so big, before a liquid cooling setup becomes smaller and cheaper.

    48. Re:Attention to detail... by falcon5768 · · Score: 1

      Only Rev a models have the problem, and even then only a portion of the Rev A. My two rev a's haven't had a problem yet.

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    49. Re:Attention to detail... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      From what I understand, all rev As have the problem, but not all hard drives exhibit it. Amusingly this is the same chip that Sun used in the Ultra 5 and other systems without issue. Rev Bs have a different (later) chip.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    50. Re:Attention to detail... by falcon5768 · · Score: 1
      no what it is, is all Rev A could have the problem, but a good portion of the Rev A's actually have the chip they used in the Rev B (like my two Rev a's) Theres actually a hard to find line between Rev A and B, the only true way to call it a Rev B is it has a HD bracket, the updated chip, AND has a redesigned heatsink. There is a good amount of Rev A's that have on or another but are still Rev A's.

      Its weird, the easiest way to figure it out is to go to XLR8youmac, and view the file that shows you the chipset number of the updated chip, then compaire it to your G3. I ended up buying a IDE 133 board only to find out my dad didnt need it

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    51. Re:Attention to detail... by Malor · · Score: 3, Informative

      That's only partially right. You are confusing the energy being generated with the perceived loudness of a sound, which is quite different.

      Your figures are correct for actual power output. However, a sound 10db higher, 10 times as much energy, is perceived as being only twice as loud. Each 10db increase doubles the sound volume, but increases the energy required by 10 times. That's why a really loud stereo takes so much power; to make a sound 4 times louder, it takes 100 times as much energy. 8 times as loud requires a THOUSAND times as much energy.

      The reverse is true.... to cut the apparent loudness of your case fans by half, engineers have to drop the amount of generated noise by 10 times. One fourth as loud is 1/100th the original energy. So it really does give you an appreciation for a case that is 20db quieter than another.

      So Apple's actual claims could be either 'energy' or 'loudness'. They say it is 'two times quieter', which I perceive as typical marketspeak bafflegab. It's hard to interpret. If the correct interpretation is 'half as loud', then the G5 is at -10db and is generating 1/10th as much sound energy. If it is 'half as much energy', then it's about 3db as you state, and would be perceived as slightly quieter.

      Judging from how hard they're pushing this feature, I'm suspicious it's the former... people would be angry if their $3K computer didn't really sound half as loud.

    52. Re:Attention to detail... by andreMA · · Score: 1
      I have a GX270 on my desk with a 3.2ghz P4, and I cannot hear a thing
      Yes, long term exposure to white noise can result in permanent hearing damage.

      (Yes, I know. It's a joke; I found your phrasing amusing).

    53. Re:Attention to detail... by cowscows · · Score: 1

      I was not implying that details only involve aesthetics. The point that I was trying to get across that an issue like noise reduction has become more than just a detail for Apple. A detail in that sense would be maybe adding little dampening pads where a fan is bolted to the case. But Apple went further and designed the whole system around thermal zones and a large number of computer controlled fans.

      At that point, it goes beyond a detail, and is one of the defining elements of the computer's design. And I hope a lot of people appreciate how the goals of thes powermac designers/engineers involve more than just putting the fastest processor available into a box in the cheapest way possible.

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

    54. Re:Attention to detail... by your_mother_sews_soc · · Score: 1

      Agreed. I have MiniMoog Voyager - a modern version of Bob Moog's classic analog synthesizer. When I needed to open it up to perform some maintenance I was blown away by the beauty of the PC boards. Not only is the Voyager a nice instrument, but its construction is a thing of beauty. It's probably not a coincidence that I own 4 Macintoshes.

      --
      My user name was a mistake. Input wasn't restricted, my bad.
    55. Re:Attention to detail... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
      Did the Dell look like this machine on the inside? And if so, was the noise mostly the whooshing of air, or was it low frequency vibration, or a very high pitched buzzing? If #2 or #3, it was likely the hard drive (though 3 could also be due to bad fans).

      If it was whooshing air, then I happily stand corrected, and hurrah for Apple for being better and more innovative than Dell in yet another way.

    56. Re:Attention to detail... by hkb · · Score: 1

      Your observations suggest a G5 sitting at idle. I've noticed that, yeah they're pretty quiet when they're idle, but that the fans are quite audible (though nowhere near loud) when you start crunching work on it.

      The Dell GX270 I use on the other hand never seems to make noise, even when crunching. There was one time where I had a program go into a loop and I heard the fan once, though.

      I would venture to guess that the Dell machines you got weren't Optiplex machines? Or were older Optiplex machines? I think their Dimension series are crap, and besides, they're targeted for home users, not office work.

      The current line of Optiplex machines (for the past two or three years) have been super quiet. Quieter than the G5, definitely. Every model I've seen, anyways.

      And no, I'm not a troll. See earlier comment about my love of Macs.

      --
      /* Moderating all non-anonymous trolls up since 2004 */
    57. Re:Attention to detail... by kitzilla · · Score: 2, Informative
      if you install linux on a g5 then the fans all run at full because the linux people haven't decoded the fan controllers yet (or hadn't last I looked) ...

      Yeah, Terrasoft (Yellow Dog Linux) has the fan thing down. Their new 64-bit Fedora port, the inexplicably named Y-HPC, is just about ready for commercial release.

      As an aside, it appears YDL is just days or a week or two from shipping Yellow Dog Linux 4. It will be KDE 3.2, X.org, RPM Package Manager 4.3, gcc 3.3, and kernel 2.6.6. The Apple hardware support has always been excellent.

      --
      This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
    58. Re:Attention to detail... by -Harlequin- · · Score: 1

      "I've found that engineers who don't care about how things look on the outside generally don't care too much about how they work on the inside either."

      Be careful in this judgement. I've found that good engineers have an engineer's aesthetic - and that that aesthetic may appear to others to be lack of caring about appearances, and rub non-engineers the wrong way.

      In the same way that an architect will build his own home, and it will be a black cube that outrages the non-architect neighbourhood, who portest the ugly "eyesore" to the planning commission, an engineer's aesthetic may be well developed, yet appear to most other people as an absence of aesthetic consideration. What it is, is usually some kind of "form follows function" aesthetic, where the thing perhaps gains great beauty to the eye of the engineer on account of the sheer efficiency of the design - everything in the design has purpose, every purpose is so beautifly arranged as to minimally hinder the function of the rest of the machine, etc etc.

      But to anyone else, it might look like a mess.

      Apple machines show first and foremost a marketer's aesthetic (have it look pretty to the consumer). I think they usually show some decent engineer's aesthic on the inside as well, and while I suspect the later is of lower importance to Apple, that's not really my point. My point was that appearances can be deceptive when it comes to engineers and aesthetics :-)

      (As to laptops, I use a tablet/laptop convertable desktop replacement machine. 5 hour battery life, wacom art pen for the screen, etc etc. Apple doesn't make anything close to it, which surprises me, as they place themselves as catering to designers, and what could be better than a go-anywhere electronic sketchpad? I personally suspect that Apple is doing another ipod manouver - developing tablets, but letting the tablet innovators spend their R&D finding and overcome the problems of the form factor, allowing Apple to spent theirs on flair and blitz the market. But I couldn't wait for that, had to get my tablet right away, and it's great. Totally impressed by the design :) I digress again...

    59. Re:Attention to detail... by dasmegabyte · · Score: 1

      See, I don't think that Apple's designs are even a marketing thing. Marketing tends to be about finding a design that will appeal to the most people. Apple's design seems to be about finding a design that will astonish people...some of whom might buy it even if they don't like. Certainly I wouldn't have chosen snow white as the ideal color for a laptop...but I must admit, it made my iBook stand out.

      The aluminum PowerBook really is a thing of beauty, to the point that I've started carrying a chamois with me to remove grubby fingerprints from the case ;)

      Oh, and I am a firm bellieve in functionality, but there's no reason the functional can't also be very nice looking. I mean, I drive a friggin' Beetle -- and my favorite dinnerware comes from a restaurant supply company...it's just plain aluminum with no shine and no patterns. Placed on our simple vinyl placemats, it really lets the food do the talking, ahhh.

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    60. Re:Attention to detail... by -Harlequin- · · Score: 1

      I don't think that Apple's designs are even a marketing thing. Marketing tends to be about finding a design that will appeal to the most people. Apple's design seems to be about finding a design that will astonish people...

      I can't think of any computer design that rivals Apple's work in "finding a design that will appeal to the most people", ie marketing oriented aesthetic. Apple designs to appeal to non-techies as well as techies, as broad a market as possible. I definitely think it's marketing-driven design. (Just wanted to say that for that record, I know you don't agree :-)

    61. Re:Attention to detail... by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      "Nine fans and 21 sensors, generating half as many decibels. Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy but that's the level of attention to detail that seperates Apple from Dell, etc. "

      You're impressed by this? I always rooted for Apple, hoping they could make a power-efficient CPU, but now they're using Rube Golderberg-esque designs to account for crappy power efficiency, just like Intel/AMD. (although 0Intel's centrino uses less power than G5 and outperforms Apple/AMD).

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    62. Re:Attention to detail... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 1

      Apple doesn't make the G5 CPUs. In fact, unless I'm mistaken, Apple has never made CPUs, just like they've never made graphics chipsets. They've always left all that to semiconductor companies like Motorola and IBM, so the efficiency or inefficiency of the G5 CPU design has nothing to do with Apple whatsoever.

      --

      "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
    63. Re:Attention to detail... by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 1

      "Nine fans and 21 sensors, generating half as many decibels. Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy but that's the level of attention to detail that seperates Apple from Dell, etc."

      No, it doesn't.

      I am installing computers for my local school district. We are installing about 1800 HP D530 SFF systems. They use a total of three fans, have no "thermal zones", and are nearly silent (the loudest component is the 5400rpm HDD).

      The fact is, Apple's system is *overkill*. A system with a ducted thermally-controlled fan can perform similarly in both cooling power and noise to the G5.

      The new water-cooling system is even more overkill. A single P4 Prescott runs over 100W. I highly doubt that the combined output of a dual 2.5GHz G5 system is any higher.

      It is more than possible to develop a system which uses few fans, cools well, and is quiet. Apple's solution of "thermal chambers" and 9 fans is innovative, but it is absolutely overkill.

    64. Re:Attention to detail... by dcam · · Score: 1

      Not happ with something like this?

      --
      meh
    65. Re:Attention to detail... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 1

      That's hardly an apples with apples comparison, is it?

      The PCs you're talking about are entry level desktops with single 32-bit 2.4GHz Celeron processors, integrated graphics chipsets (as opposed to dedicated graphics cards), 48X CD-ROM drives and (according to you) 5,400 RPM Parallel ATA hard disk drives.

      The Apple systems we're talking about are high level workstations, with dual 64-bit 2.5GHz G5 processors, either an ATI Radeon 9600 XT or NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics card (either of which is normally capable of sounding like an afterburning jet engine just by itself), an Apple DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive and a 80-160GB 7,200 ROM Serial ATA hard disk drive.

      That's like comparing a Mini and a Ferrari, hardly a valid exercise.

      If you want to make a valid comparison, compare these Macs to their PC equivalents, such as Dual Xeon workstations from Dell, HP, IBM, etc.

      --

      "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
    66. Re:Attention to detail... by dasmegabyte · · Score: 1

      It's a nice laptop, to be sure...but it's got a smaller hard drive, an underpowered graphics card, no dvd burner, no built in bluetooth (meaning you have to tie up the pcmica card slot AND have a protuding antenna) and no backlit keyboard. All this, and it's $600 more than what I paid.

      But it *IS* a nice laptop. The size and weight are perfect. And you know, a black magnesium shell is pretty sexy. If only it could be made to run OS X (which is worth its weight in magnesium shells).

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    67. Re:Attention to detail... by Daleks · · Score: 1

      Is it on?

    68. Re:Attention to detail... by dcam · · Score: 1

      Disclaimer, I bought this laptop so I guess I need to justify my purchase.

      smaller hard drive

      You can upsize to 80G. What annoyed me is that there was no way (according to IBM) that they could stick a 7200RPM drive in the laptop. I know they put them in similar machines like the T41P. Anyway I digress.

      underpowered graphics card

      Fair enough.

      dvd burner

      You can replace the DVDR/CDRW with a DVDRW/CDRW.

      built in bluetooth

      Fair enough.

      backlit keyboard

      There is an LED thingy at the top of the screen. It is pretty good. I've used it in low light conditions.

      All this, and it's $600 more than what I paid .... If only it could be made to run OS X

      I code stuff for windows so I needed a windows laptop, but your point is very well made. I was able to get 15% off through a friend who works for IBM. In incidentally the prices on the site were in AUD, not USD.

      I am very happy with though. It is perfect for my needs and it does look pretty cool.

      --
      meh
    69. Re:Attention to detail... by marmoset · · Score: 1

      It would have been a cool trick to make that post with it powered off. :)

    70. Re:Attention to detail... by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      "...so the efficiency or inefficiency of the G5 CPU design has nothing to do with Apple whatsoever."

      they make it seem that way when it is to their advantage. not that this is a bad thing, it's called marketing. difficult to seperate the two.

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    71. Re:Attention to detail... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 1

      Any CPU currently on the market capable of similar performance to a G5 has similar heating issues. Given the constraints of the best manufacturing available today, that's just a byproduct of running that much silicon at that speed.

      Saying that "oh they wouldn't need all that cooling if they had a decent CPU design" is nonsense, because the problem is the same for equivalent Intel (Xeon) and AMD (Opteron) chips and it's not even a problem that has a solution of the sort that you seem to be looking for (less heat generation) at the current time.

      The best solution for high-end CPUs right now is cooling, and that's what Apple, Dell, etc do. It's just that, in this case, Apple haven't just gone for a cooling solution and left it at that, they've gone for a cooling solution that generates as little noise as possible. Dell, etc, have workstations equivalent to these new dual-G5 systems but they almost all are a lot noiser than you would imagine.

      I've discussed the issue of comparing apples to apples elsewwher in this dicussion, so I suggest that you read that too if you're at all interested in a fair analysis of why what Apple has done has raised the bar again.

      By the way, for the record, I don't currently own and never have owned an Apple product. But that doesn't stop me from recognising good engineering and design when I see it.

      --

      "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
    72. Re:Attention to detail... by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      that is debatable. if we cherry pick benchmarks, i could show that an equivalent Intel CPU could be lowered in frequency and remove the fan and still perform as wall as a G5 with liquid cooling, and vice versa.

      i just see this as a hack rather than raising the bar. i undertstand your point about noise, but the industry shouldn't stand for liquid cooling because it just opens the envelope for higher-power designs, which is bad. it is absolutely possible to design high-performance power-efficient design. look at Intel's Centrino core (Banias), it is a P6 (Pentium3) core that outperfroms most P4s and runs at less than half the power. that is the direction the industry should go, not bolting on more sophisticated cooling solutions that allow designers to waste power.

      i'd be just as pissed if dell made liquid cooling standard. it's a big hammer solution to laziness on behalf of Intel/Motorola/IBM. transmeta is the only company serious about power.

      btw, i have a 3.0 GHz Dell system and you can't even tell it is on, it uses fan cooling, and outperforms the G5. go figger.

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
  12. Looks like a heatpipe by gl4ss · · Score: 0

    http://www.apple.com/powermac/design.html

    *The dual 2.5GHz Power Mac G5 features an innovative liquid cooling system that's more efficient than a traditional heat sink. This system provides a continuous flow of thermally conductive fluid that transfers heat from the processors as they work harder. The heated fluid then flows through a radiant grille, where air passing over cooling fins returns the fluid to its original temperature.*

    seems like it's the usual heatpipe deal. you could say it's been used in stock pc's for a while now(it has, in the sff form factor computers especially as stock).

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by UU7 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not even close.

      "Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature."

      Try reading more carefully, thanks :)

    2. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by Cthefuture · · Score: 1

      True, but your typical PC heatpipe thing uses air where this one is using fluid.

      I don't see what the big deal is though. Looks like just your run of the mill Apple marketing crap to get people to spend money on expensive sounding stuff.

      Really all a heatpipe does is either relocate the heatsink or provide more surface area for heat dissipation. In other words, it's no different than adding a bigger normal heatsink with good ventilation to the outside.

      Now if they were using peltier's or something to cool the fluid in a remote location, that would be nice. From what I see this new Apple thing is just a normal heatsink that happens to use fluid.

      --
      The ratio of people to cake is too big
    3. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by steeviant · · Score: 1

      "seems like it's the usual heatpipe deal. you could say it's been used in stock pc's for a while now(it has, in the sff form factor computers especially as stock)."

      I doubt that they're just standard heatpipes, my G4 PowerBook has heatpipes all over the place and I didn't see Apple making a song and dance about that, like I'm sure they would have if they thought that was real liquid cooling.

    4. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      well they sure as hell are putting it up like they were just standard heatpipes, offering no explanation why they would be better than those in your powerbook.

      .

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    5. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because heatpipes use AIR, and these use WATER, and unlike most watercooling systems, the *flow* and radiator fans are dynamically adjusted by the OS based on heat levels.

      All of that info is on their page, I guess they felt that they didn't need to spell out the differences so explicitly. Too bad the average slashdot reader can't seem to make logical comparisons by themselves.

    6. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by CrowScape · · Score: 1

      your typical PC heat pipe thing uses air where this one is using fluid.

      What? Heat pipes use fluid that evaporates and condenses. If you don't believe me would you believe NASA? Here's one from Coolermaster just to show it's not limited to G5s and satelites.

      How in the hell would one that doesn't use fluid work?

      --
      common sense: noun
      What those who are ignorant of the subject matter think; usually wrong.
    7. Re:Looks like a heatpipe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. Heat pipes use a liquid. Having a machine with ducts to direct airflow is not the same.

  13. Water cooling... by Chief+Typist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did anyone else notice that the lower processor on this diagram doesn't appear to be turned on?

    Come on, Apple. I want purple and red water coming out of both processors!

    -ch

    1. Re:Water cooling... by tweakiegeek · · Score: 1

      could it be because the water is going from the heat-sink to the processors via the bottom tube?
      then again, perhaps I am mistake, and paid far too little attention during classes

    2. Re:Water cooling... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So the top chip gets the hand-me-down, warm liquid that already cooled the bottom chip? Sucks to be the top chip! He's getting shafted!

    3. Re:Water cooling... by Umgawa71 · · Score: 1

      I'm really kind of afraid to get a liquid-cooled computer, out of fear that the system might spring a leak or something. I'd hate to hop back on my Windows box one day and tell my friends, "Yeah, I can't use my Mac right now, because I'm waiting for the plumber."

    4. Re:Water cooling... by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      From the picture, this looks like a (sealed) heat-pipe design, which is much less likely to spring a leak than (for example) my friend's watercooled Athlon XP system that uses an aquarium pump and tubing (it's the Koolance case, if you're wondering).

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  14. Graphics cards... by radicalskeptic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The dual 1.8 and dual 2.0 GHz machines come with an "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra" graphics card. Isn't that card pretty low-end (or midrange at best)? Is it just me, or should a 2,000+ dollar machine come with a decent graphics card?

    Of course, the whole point of a tower is that you can replace the card, but when you're already paying 2,500 USD, should you have to?

    --
    WARNING: If accidentally read, induce vomiting.
    1. Re:Graphics cards... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People that buy Macs are just as stupid as other computer buyers; they see the GHz and buy accordingly, without bothering to check the graphics card.

    2. Re:Graphics cards... by martingunnarsson · · Score: 1

      Games are (almost) the only software that use the full power of the latest graphic cards, and sadly there aren't too many games for Mac. I think a card with good 2D-performance is more important on the PowerMac, since it's unlikely to be used as a gaming computer anyway.
      But with that said, I agree with you.

      --
      Martin
    3. Re:Graphics cards... by ioErr · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Gamers are not exactly Apple's core market. For most customers the current cards should be sufficient.

    4. Re:Graphics cards... by entrox · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why do you need a 3D graphics monster for Logic? Or Photoshop? If you want to play games, you can also order the G5 with a Radeon 9800 XT built in.

      --
      -- The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
    5. Re:Graphics cards... by JJahn · · Score: 1

      Yeah, the FX 5200 is inexcusable for Apple's best machine. I admit I'm tempted by one of these, but when I see that I'll need to buy more RAM, a new video card, and probably another hard drive the decent base price balloons into way more than I (a poor college student) can hope to afford. They should probably offer a 9600xt (or NVIDIA equiv.) in the lowest G5 and the X800 or whatever the newest ati card is on the higher end. I'd still love one though.

    6. Re:Graphics cards... by The+Old+Me · · Score: 1

      Well, it would be nice to have one of the latest NV boards. Maybe someday. In any case, FYI, ATI's OpenGL drivers are 'touchy' and generally disliked among OGL developers who would prefer to do the first pass on an NV board to get the durn program to work and then make whatever changes are needed to get it to work with the ATI driver.

    7. Re:Graphics cards... by DougMackensie · · Score: 1

      The apple store says that for $50 bucks extra you can go to the ATI Radeon 9600 XT 128MB.

      I can only see that as partially cheezy.

    8. Re:Graphics cards... by iphayd · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Just to let you know, you can upgrade this in the build to order options.

      Think of it this way, the target market (A graphics professional- Photoshop, Quark, Illustrator, InDesign) has no need for 3D acceleration. The NVidea card in the G5s have plenty enough power for Quartz Extreme, so they put them in.

      Now, if you are someone who would use a higher end graphics card, by all means- switch it out in the BTO.

      I do wish they would include the bluetooth module in all machines.

    9. Re:Graphics cards... by seven5 · · Score: 1

      actually, considering Os X pipes its graphics through the 3d card using openGL via Quartz Extreme, a fast graphics card with lots of memory actually counts for something in what you call the "2D" part of the Os. With windows, everything is just 2D so 3d cards don't matter if you're not playing games. This isn't the case with Apple Computers. We can actually use those 3D cards for something while not playing games.

    10. Re:Graphics cards... by SilentChris · · Score: 1

      I think what he's saying is that at that price range you kind of expect top-of-the-line equipment. I was kind of surprised by the default 9600 XT on the top of the line Mac. You'd think at the very least they'd go for one in the 9800 series. Wonder if it generated too much heat.....

    11. Re:Graphics cards... by infinii · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This is a professional series machine. If you are a poor student, face the harsh reality and buy an iMac|eMac|iBook.

      The G5 is professional grade, it hasn't been filtered down to their cheaper lines yet.

    12. Re:Graphics cards... by lowe0 · · Score: 1

      How about Final Cut Pro or Motion? Motion, in particular, requires a Radeon 9700 or better - and I wouldn't call a GeForce 5200 better than my Radeon 9700.

      And then there's Maya...

    13. Re:Graphics cards... by andcarne · · Score: 1

      I still manage to get along fine with my old Geforce 2MX. It runs everything I throw at it. Newest stuff at low detail, but when you consider that its all 3 years old thats pretty good. There is no real reason for needing the BEST and the LATEST card. It's pointless. Just another way for graphics card designers to suck more money from you.

    14. Re:Graphics cards... by rsmith-mac · · Score: 1

      You have to keep in mind however, that all of Apple's cards are custom built, and don't enjoy the usual massive production scales of video cards. Each Mac card is going to require an AGP Pro connector, a Mac video BIOS, the circuitry for the ADC port, etc; this all adds up in to a Mac card costing more than the PC equivalent. Apple could probably get away with using all 9600XT's(in terms of price), but it's still costly.

    15. Re:Graphics cards... by phpsocialclub · · Score: 1

      You can always upgrade the card but

      From the apple store

      Special note on the ATI Radeon 9800 XT: due to size of this advanced graphics card, the adjacent PCI or PCI-X slot will be blocked and cannot be used. This reduces the number of available PCI or PCI-X slots from three to two.

      you can add the card, but it makes sense to not include this card

    16. Re:Graphics cards... by fireteller2 · · Score: 1

      It is sad that the graphics options for Macs are so limited. It's the only reason that my company hasn't switched to Mac yet. The performance of the latest G5s as powerful as they are just can't compare with Quadro, or Fire level graphics cards on PCs. What's the need you may say? Well if I'm not mistaken aren't Macs supposed to be the graphics computers. And the entire interface is now implemented in OpenGL, so not only do I get essential acceleration for applications such as Maya, but the interface for all my applications is as fast as it can be.

      One day Mac will have a pro graphics card option. On that day, I switch to Mac.

    17. Re:Graphics cards... by ragecgi · · Score: 0

      Um, well for starters, the 2D graphics throughput available in the highend cards I use on a daily basis are NOT compatable with osx yet.

      So THATS why. The "gaming" cards seem to have no issues with this for less $$.

    18. Re:Graphics cards... by Brackney · · Score: 1

      I really appreciated this sub-thread. In the course of upgrading my order from a 2x1.8 to a 2x2 this morning I bumped up the video card as well. After the upgrades I still saved $70 over my original order price. WooT! :D

    19. Re:Graphics cards... by sith · · Score: 1

      Motion "recommends" a 9800 or higher. It requires:
      -- NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
      -- NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200
      -- ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
      -- ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
      -- ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
      -- ATI Mobility Radeon 9700
      -- ATI Radeon 9800 Pro

      After playing with it at NAB on a 9800 though.... I think that's where to be. It is very sexy software.

    20. Re:Graphics cards... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But you can't return BTO systems, remember.

    21. Re:Graphics cards... by gsfprez · · Score: 1

      >I do wish they would include the bluetooth module in all machines.

      In classified environments (SCIF) areas, you can't have any devices with RF I/O (mostly, its the output that gets security's panties in a wad). Its just not allowed.

      Now, if they would make the BT modules as user-friendly to install as the Airport cards, then they'd having something there.

      As it is, since you can't order the 17" powerbook without BT, it is already precluded from bsing used in some situations where it would be very welcome in the classified arena.

      --
      guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat.
    22. Re:Graphics cards... by BrookHarty · · Score: 1

      Why do you need a 3D graphics monster for Logic? Or Photoshop? If you want to play games, you can also order the G5 with a Radeon 9800 XT built in.

      OSX uses the GFX card instead of the CPU to render AQUA in all its glory. So a Faster GFX card actually makes the desktop faster on OSX.

      The offloading makes a big difference on which GFX card you have.

    23. Re:Graphics cards... by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Considering how well Quartz Extreme runs on my iBook (800MHz G4, Mobile Radeon 9200, 1024x768x32), I would think that the difference in QE performance between a 9600 and a 9800 (even at the higher resolution that a PowerMac would surely be using) would be like the difference between 200 and 300 FPS in Quake 3... in other words, not noticeable.

      Of course, that doesn't change the argument that a high-end system should have a high-end graphics card anyway.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    24. Re:Graphics cards... by mustardayonnaise · · Score: 1

      >If you want to play games, you can also order the G5 with a Radeon 9800 XT built in.

      If you want to play games, you should probably just buy a PC. :)

      Don't get me wrong, I think Apple makes phenomenal hardware and software- it's just that in general it seems as if Macs are always about a year behind PCs and consoles when it comes to game development.

      Mac users shoud just continue to enjoy the lead on 2D graphics, video editing, 3D graphics/rendering, etc.- the stuff that'll earn you the money to buy a gaming machine. :)

    25. Re:Graphics cards... by drunkenbatman · · Score: 1

      Think of it this way, the target market (A graphics professional- Photoshop, Quark, Illustrator, InDesign) has no need for 3D acceleration. The NVidea card in the G5s have plenty enough power for Quartz Extreme, so they put them in.

      Not when you're driving a decently high resolution (like a cinema display) and it your expose key. Or are using smaller resolutions with dual displays... the lack of VRAM is killer for these.

  15. Powerbook G5 for the Developer Convention? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Go Steve! I know, you know, they know that the Powerbook G5 is comming next month :)

  16. Is that lower CPU off? by m_chan · · Score: 5, Funny

    I doubt that the art guys checked with the science guys before illustrating the CPU cooling design, unless that lower CPU is either A)Off or B) Magical.

    1. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by Gropo · · Score: 1

      Or C) the heat from processor #2 is coming out the other (obscured) side?

      --
      I hate Grammar Nazi's
    2. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by Nexum · · Score: 1

      B) Magical.

      --

      This sig has been deprecated.
    3. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Well we know that the Jobs distortion field is magical.

      The diagram is a little off unless the heat to color scale is non-linear.

      It does bug me a bit that the things are shown in series. That means that one device will invariably be hotter than the other, assuming equal load. I imagine that they could set the affinity such that one CPU gets a job if there's little to do, the second CPU only gets a job when things get busy. Windows seems to try to balance them.

      I've heard on Harley's V-Twins that it is almost always that if a cylinder goes bad, it is the back cylinder because the cooling air that reaches it is pre-heated by the front cylinder. Makers like Moto-Guzzi have the engine with the V facing forward, so they avoid that problem, each cylinder gets its own air.

    4. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 2, Funny
      I doubt that the art guys checked with the science guys before illustrating the CPU cooling design, unless that lower CPU is either A)Off or B) Magical.

      the top cpu is wired with the + enrgy going out and the - energy coming in, the bottom cpu is wired with the - energy going out and the + energy coming in. They are in cereal.

      (+)->(bottom cpu)-> (-)->(top cpu)-> (+) Therefore since the top cpu is a heater, the bottom cpu is a cooler, as it is wired in the opposite diection

    5. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by GuyFawkes · · Score: 1


      Ducatis it may be the case, but not so's you'd notice, the rear cylinder weakness in harleys is down to the design of the con rods...

      see
      http://www.chopperscycle.com/Merchant2/merc hant.mv c?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=vts&Product_Code=18051&Ca tegory_Code=41-321
      the front rod ends in a fork and the rear rod sits inside it, this gives the front rod more rigidity with respect to the axis of the cylinder bores.

      The old english ariel square 4
      http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m/ari4f37.htm
      DI D have issues with the rear cylinders overheating.

      In motorcycles (like computers) lots of marketing bullshit is spoken and technical facts are usually covered up. For example honda experimented with turbochargers on of all the models in their current range at the time, the one model that was most derided and ridicules, the cx500 transverse vee twin.

      Honda marketingspeak at the time claimed this was because the vtwin was a difficult configuration to turbocharge so if they could sort it on that ike they could sort it on anything.

      This was of course the purest marketing bullshit.

      just like faster computer processors, turbochargers most significant characteristic is more heat (IC engines are after all just heat engines) and honda only had two liquid cooled motorcycles in their range as test beds, the relatively light and tough CX500 motor, and the unweildy flat 4 gold wing, which already suffered from self destructing crankshafts even without any additional torque from a turbo unit being pumped through it.

      "IBM compatible" PC design is INCREDIBLY crude and awful from any mechanical or thermal engineer's perspective, the dual watercooled G5 simply takes a Trabant ( http://www.team.net/www/ktud/trabi.html) and sticks a nice coat of paint and some body filler on it, it is still incredibly crude from the thermal engineer's viewpoint.

      --
      http://slashdot.org/~GuyFawkes/journal
    6. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >They are in cereal.

      they're cooled by milk?

    7. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by aaarrrgggh · · Score: 1

      The alternative is that phase change wouldn't occur until the second processor. This would be a more ideal heat pipe design. Thus, the color could refer to temperature and not total heat.

      This would also explain why they use a variable speed fan; it would improve the performance of the system by not completing the phase change until after the second processor. The system would ideally operate at a phase change, reducing the fan energy (and noise), which would be the justification of not over-cooling the liquid form.

    8. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      Fromt the text:

      The dual 2.5GHz Power Mac G5 features an innovative liquid cooling system that's more efficient than a traditional heat sink. This system provides a continuous flow of thermally conductive fluid that transfers heat from the processors as they work harder. The heated fluid then flows through a radiant grille, where air passing over cooling fins returns the fluid to its original temperature.


      It stays liquid; no phase change.
    9. Re:Is that lower CPU off? by patman600 · · Score: 1

      notice how they use the term "fluid" not liquid in most of that description. Fluid can refer to either liquids or gasses, so a phase change is not ruled out.

  17. I don't understand. by IncarnadineConor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I read the little blurb on the site but I don't understand what is innovative about the liquid cooling they are doing? Or is it liquid cooling that is innovative?

    1. Re:I don't understand. by Short+Circuit · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Everyone's waving the "Innovative" flag about their product design.

      I suppose what's really innovative about it is that this is the first time I've ever heard of a major manufacturer shipping systems liquid-cooled.

  18. Majik Ovarcl0xoring Juice by johnthorensen · · Score: 1

    My question is, does the new G5 implement liquid cooling because of need (i.e. fans aren't enough), or do they just want to quiet things down some.

    I really hope that Apple hasn't just become the biggest SUP4R 0verclox0r of them all...

    -JT

    1. Re:Majik Ovarcl0xoring Juice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really don't see the 'need' to liquid cool a G5. The PPC970 @ 2ghz uses a whopping peak of around 40watts of power. I'm sure the 2.5ghz is slightly higher, but compare that with the ~80-100+ watts consumed by the average 2ghz AMD or Intel... The PPC runs very cool as it is.

    2. Re:Majik Ovarcl0xoring Juice by System.out.println() · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's just to keep it quiet.

      It's a common misconception that Apple *needed* the elaborate cooling mechanism they designed for the G5. They didn't design it to keep the chips cool, they designed it to keep the chips cool quietly. The G5, I'm told, actually runs cooler than the high-end P4 chips. It runs hotter than the G4 for sure, but it's not like there's a miniature fusion reactor in your tower or anything.

    3. Re:Majik Ovarcl0xoring Juice by Man+in+Spandex · · Score: 0

      Usually when people care a lot about temperatures of CPU's, you know that they want to do overclocking sooner or later. I guess that's why the P4 northwood/prescott are popular among enthusiasts who can gain 500mhz and more without fuss.

      I ignore the overclocking capabilities of the G5 (not even sure why should anybody overclock a fast system like a G5 anyway heh) but those lower temps I'm assuming surely helps Apple to boost their CPU's faster in the not soo distant future? Am I right?

  19. Still missing something... by yoshi1013 · · Score: 1

    I think what's really going to make the G5 big is when they upgradet the main Feramantel Drive unit.

  20. how much quieter? by brentlaminack · · Score: 2, Informative
    As a result, the Power Mac G5 runs two times quieter than the previous Power Mac G4 enclosure.

    If I recall my log scales correctly, "two times quieter" would equal 3db quieter. Not exactly revolutionary, but a step in the right direction.

    1. Re:how much quieter? by ergo98 · · Score: 1

      Of course it begs the question of how something could be "2x less" by any scale, unless you're dropping into negative territory.

      1/2 as loud seems like a pretty clear way of stating it.

    2. Re:how much quieter? by Carbonite · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "two times quieter" would equal 3db quieter. Not exactly revolutionary...

      If the G5 is "two times quieter", that means half the noise, right? That seems pretty revolutionary to me. Who cares if 3db doesn't seem like much? In reality those 3 decibels make a big difference.

      If your system suddenly became twice as loud, would you just shrug and say "Oh well, it's only 3 decibels louder"?

      --
      ich muß mehr Kuhglocke haben
    3. Re:how much quieter? by pe1rxq · · Score: 2, Informative

      The human ear isn't linear....
      Thats why volume controls work logarithmic.

      Jeroen

      --
      Secure messaging: http://quickmsg.vreeken.net/
    4. Re:how much quieter? by Unloaded · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't be so quick to devalue this achievement. They've increased its production of thermal energy, yet managed to cut the overall acoustic energy produced by the cooling system and the machine overall in half. Who cares what the scale is.

    5. Re:how much quieter? by Altus · · Score: 1


      once again the slashdot crowd proves they know nothing of logarithmic scales...

      did you know that your eardrum will shatter at 160 Db. so be sure not to drop 16 pins at once or you wont be able to hear anything!

      --

      "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson

    6. Re:how much quieter? by Xrikcus · · Score: 1

      Very much depends on how you interpret the "two times quieter". If you interpret it on actual measured power, then you're right, it would equal 3db. However, the ear hears in a roughly log scale anyway, so the point is that decibels are closer to how the ear hears differences (or how the brain interprets them, maybe). That is to say that if a sound has 10 times the power, we hear it as twice as loud. So actually 2 times quieter could well mean half as many db, rather than the actual measure of power of the sound waves in the air.

    7. Re:how much quieter? by TimmyDee · · Score: 1

      Being one to own an MDD G4 (dual 867 with the replacement power supply) and use a G5 at work, I can say that 2 times quieter is quite revolutionary. My G4 at home absolutely hums most of the time. It's gotten to the point where I don't notice it as much, but it doesn't take a lot to hear it under my desk.

      The G5, on the other hand, sits on my desk at work a scant two feet from my ears. From experience, it's significantly quieter than my G4. Those controlled fans, cooling zones, and oodles of sensors on the older model sure make a bit of difference. Plus, the noise is more "white" on the G5 than whiny or piercing. I'm sure the new one holds to this standard.

      --
      Per Square Mile, a blog about density
    8. Re:how much quieter? by Carbonite · · Score: 1

      How did my reply prove that I know nothing of logarithmic scales? In fact, my reply demonstrated my knowledge.

      The parent post was complaining that the G5 was "only" 3db quieter. I commented that since a reduction of 3 decibels cut the noise in half, 3db were significant. At no point did I state or imply that the scale was linear.

      --
      ich muß mehr Kuhglocke haben
    9. Re:how much quieter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't it important to note that our HEARING is also logarithmic? So half as loud is half as loud regardless.
      JPV

    10. Re:how much quieter? by Lycestra · · Score: 1

      > Thats why volume controls work logarithmic.

      only in iTunes 4.5 and later

      --
      Lycestra
    11. Re:how much quieter? by Moofie · · Score: 1

      Anybody worried about clarity of language needs to not misuse the phrase "begs the question".

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    12. Re:how much quieter? by ergo98 · · Score: 1

      My dear pedantic nitwit,

      "Begs the question" has fallen in common language (that is, language spoken by mortal human beings), to the delight of ivory tower relics that relish the idea of pointing of the foibles of others, to mean "invites the question". This is fairly commonplace, although I'm sure you're kept up at nights writing letters to the editor to set things straight. One day, several decades down the road, you'll still be carrying on your campaign to fight for "Ye Old English". Cheers!

      To humor your petty pedantry, though, my use could be construed as entirely apt per logic rules, given that the Apple claim PRESUMES that 2X less = 1/2, allowing them to derive the conclusion that the sound is "2x quieter", when in actuality that presumption is incorrect.

    13. Re:how much quieter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Quiet = X

      2 * Quiet = 2X

      two times quieter = X - 2X

      New noise level = -X

      Yes it's true, the new powermac actually makes other things quiet through it's new "negative noise" technology distortion field. Take that you dell losers with your fancy "faster cpus"

  21. new Display too by patrickoehlinger · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There may come new Displays (20, 23 and 30 inch with the known aluminum brushed metal look) to the WWDC, as reportet here.
    Think Secret writes they may even come with DVI port.

    --
    >> Had I been going to bed earlier every night? Have I been sleeping later? Has Tyler been in charge longer and l
    1. Re:new Display too by afidel · · Score: 1

      How are you going to push that 30" monster?!?!? The Cinema Display HD already pushes the DVI spec for available bandwidth and there are only 2 KVM's that I know of that can handle the HD, this thing will be insane. I guess they might go the route of using dual DVI ports since the spec supports that but then driver support will become unbelievably difficult since nothing else uses that kind of setup (well there is that IBM display that uses like 4 connectors but that's a purpose built system not a general purpose computer and display)

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    2. Re:new Display too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should make the displays cross platform! People will end up with all these Apple products and they're gonna be like wow all of these Apple products rule... I wonder what their computers are like?

    3. Re:new Display too by Microsift · · Score: 1

      The rumor is that the next generation of Apple displays will ditch the innovative, cool and only used by Apple ADC connector, and replace it with the more standard DVI interface...We'll see.

      --
      My other sig is extremely clever...
    4. Re:new Display too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It uses DVI, you can't get much more 'cross platform' than that.

    5. Re:new Display too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I suspect it will come with VESA Plug and Display port instead, which includes Firewire and USB support. After all, it still has less clutter than DVI.

    6. Re:new Display too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Given who's in charge of Apple, it will more likely be something that looks like P&D, but with rearranged pins or adding useless proprietary features, to ensure vendor lock-in. After all, Steve has wanted all you ipod owners to replace battery only through the overpriced programme, by making it hard to replace.

  22. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  23. Re:liquid cooled by Ghoser777 · · Score: 0

    Yeah, I think water is liquidy. Just like an apple is foodish and such. I'm not really sure what "thing" you're criticizing though. Do you not think that water is a liquid, or that it is inapproriate to use a general term (liquid) to refer to a more specific thing (water)? But no illegal casting is need - no compiler errors, ClassCastExceptions, etc - it's all good.

    Matt Fahrenbacher

    --
    James Tiberius Kirk: "Spock, the women on your planet are logical. No other planet in the galaxy can make that claim."
  24. PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by wisebabo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    and that the new machines have more than two drive bays!

    I do (very) high end post production for a living and I wanted to replace my G5s with the new machines because I needed internal RAID arrays of more than 2 drives. Two drives will not give you the bandwidth you need for HD or digital cinema formats. I can't use solutions like WiebeTech's G5 Jam because my full length PCI cards take up the space.

    I looked on the web site and it looks like the new machines didn't put in new drive bays in front of the CPUs (as was mentioned on some rumor sites). Am I wrong? Is there a way to add more drives?

    Bandwidth in my work is more important than CPU speed.

    1. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by tknn · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think they want you to buy an xServe instead. I think that is why they have crippled the number of HDs.

    2. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by wisebabo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      thanks but I need internal drives because I take my machines on set. I've already got some Kingston 8-drive bay SCSI arrays, they are large, extremely heavy and very loud.

    3. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by stang7423 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Lets see...

      Adding more Drives....hmmm

      Well there is the firewire route, last time I checked fw800 could handle full DV...

      then there is the fiber channel BTO option with an Xraid, I think 2Gb/s of drive bandwidth will do just fine too.

      If you want to go oldschool you could also add one of those newfangled SCSI U320 cards which would also do a pretty good job with DV as well.

      So I guess the answer to your question is a resonding yes. Since you do (very) high end work then you should be using a very high end storage system like one of the above. If you are a professional and need high bandwidth you shouldn't be relying on apples software raid anyway. But thats just my two cents.

    4. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by argent · · Score: 1

      If you pull out the Superdrive you get three, I think. The only way to add more drives is external.

      That's one thing I found annoying. The "crammed" PC they show below the G5 appears to have 7 bays.

    5. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Then simply stick to doing what the rest of us are doing.

      internal drives in the computer are system drives.

      leave the stack of external fiberchannel/scsi drives as the media drives in the raid array.

      works great for AVID when dealing with HD or digitalcinema.

      and I prefer that those 15Krpm drives be external... we have had to RMA 2 of them already this year for failures/ excessive noise from 2 different AVID suites here in the office.

      External media drives are the only way to go.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    6. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by wisebabo · · Score: 1

      the internal RAID solutions I was hoping for are (like WiebeTech's G5 Jam) using a 4-port SATA RAID card. Like I mention above, I've got some external kingston arrays but they are bulky, heavy and loud. Not the kind of things you want to bring on location.

    7. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      If you actually need RAID arrays of more than two drives its hard to believe that they must be internal. If you are working with uncompressed HD I can't see how you would consider an internal array as a requirement. On the other hand, compressed HD work could certainly be done on a more modest storage system.

      It's a shame that such a large system can't hold more drives though.

    8. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by wisebabo · · Score: 1

      unfortunately I'm not using the systems in a nice comfy post house, they are on location and the amount of gear that I have to lug around is a major consideration for me. It would be nice if I didn't have to bring more than a couple of hundred pounds of hardware with me to every shoot! (I'm replacing my HD monitors with flat panels and using the new Blackmagic SDI->DVI converter to drive them.)

    9. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by pev · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If your consideration is portability, then perhaps bunging an Xserve and Xserve-raid in a rack would be more useful for you ; not much bigger in the end, in fact possibly smaller...

      ~Pev

    10. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah dude. And they have those portable small rack enclosures on castors that are designed for travel!

    11. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by wisebabo · · Score: 1

      good idea but not enough PCI slots

    12. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      You edit uncompressed HD using portable equipment?

      Of course, many PC's can do that but I doubt that's very helpful.

      I agree with you that a box that big should be capable of taking more than two drives.

    13. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by caulfield · · Score: 1

      Fine. YOU'RE WRONG!

      What was the question?

    14. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! by pev · · Score: 1

      Ah, shame. Of course you could use a Magma PCI chassis, but then you lose a few more U of rack space...

      ~Pev

  25. Re:Innovative liquid cooling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because it is mostly aftermarket add-ons. Only recently have some small producers started coming out with them.

  26. Not very impressive. by Silverlancer · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    This isn't really that impressive. When they come out with a processor that can beat the Athlon 64 (which by the way, is cheaper), I'll be impressed. But currently, an Athlon 64 3400+ defeats a G5 by over 70% (this is not counting the new chips, this is using the best of the old G5s) in QUICKTIME ENCODING, which is sort of sad. And Apple has the advantage of RISC also--they don't have to deal with the ridiculously inefficient x86 instruction set. Considering how much of an advantage they have over AMD and Intel in creating their processors (they don't have to be forced into Microsoft's standards), I expected something better.

    1. Re:Not very impressive. by stang7423 · · Score: 1

      Links??? not that I don't trust you but I want to see numbers. Otherwise I can only suppose you are a troll.
      And these test where they both 32bit code using apples quicktime implementation, or was the Athlon 64 testing done with that linux quicktime package?

    2. Re:Not very impressive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      please post the details of the bechmark in order to repeteat it myself. Then i will belive ;)
      thanks

    3. Re:Not very impressive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good job forgetting to mention that "QUICKTIME ENCODING" you're harping about was done with Adobe Premiere, the video app that sucked so bad on the mac that Adobe stopped making it. Do the same thing in FCP and watch it come out a few times faster.

    4. Re:Not very impressive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      'Normal use' of the power button would be to switch the computer on after the first time you plug it in - it's an Apple.

    5. Re:Not very impressive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      10 years ago, RISC and CISC meant something.

      Not much any more...different philosophies, but they all ended up at almost the same place these days with Intel reducing a lot of their instruction sets where they can run multiple per clock, and Apple adding to their instruction set for things like the Altivec.

      AMD also has the advantage of sitting back and watching the others, regardless of how /. spins it, and can make up with volume that allows them to refine the process a bit more (even if IBM is manufacturing a good deal of the chips). Personally, I'd like to see an Altivec core thrown on these chips and move away from technologies that are great, but not in wide usage (noting that several million new Macs were sold last year -- including one to me -- still not wide enough for the market).

    6. Re:Not very impressive. by dfghjk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Of course, Apple doesn't design the processors, they just integrate them.

      I think that you should also say that "PowerPC has the advantage of a modern intruction set" rather than "Apple has the advantage of RISC". PPC's instruction set may be classified as RISC but is hardly "Reduced". Besides, the whole RISC/CISC argument was discredited long ago. Processor architectures and instruction sets are not closely coupled any more.

      Incidently, the x86 instruction set is, in fact, incredibly efficient. Not ridiculously inefficient as you say. It was designed to be compact and powerful bit is quite hard to decode compared to RISC apporaches. Memory space is not as precious as it once was so x86's primary advantages are no longer valuable.

    7. Re:Not very impressive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well the main memory is not as precious any more but the cache on the cpu is precious since it is only aound the 1MB mark. So code densety is stil of some importance as it helps to reduce the number of expensice cache misses.

    8. Re:Not very impressive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't bother pointing stuff like that in apple threads. And don't ever post an objective comment while logged in, your karma is forfeit.

      An AMD system with a decent mobo, antec cases, psu and fans will wipe the floor with any apple system for less money and be just as quiet. These people don't want to hear it, if you forgive the pun.

    9. Re:Not very impressive. by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      Of course, 1MB of cache is enormous compared to all of system memory at the time of x86 design. Still, the point is valid. You can argue successfully that x86 requires less memory bandwidth to perform well so I find it curious that P4 requires so much.

      Fact is, the instruction decoder for an x86 is very difficult compared to more modern designs, but several companies know how to do it and do it very well. With the 64-bit extensions, x86 gains a reasonable number of GPR's so even that criticism goes away. It's clear at this point that it takes far more than a more efficient decoder to cause x86 to become obsolete and that was Intel/HP's thinking when they went with EPIC. EPIC hasn't done too well so far but at least it has a chance at being a compelling alternative.

      I would think that a 2.5GHz 970 would be quite competitive even if poeple view it as a disappointment.

    10. Re:Not very impressive. by Calibax · · Score: 1

      As a person who runs three Athlon 64 systems in Antec Sonata quiet cases, as well as two G5 systems, I can only say that you are incorrect.

      The Athlon 64s do not wipe the floor with the Macs (or vice versa, come to that) and the Macs are cost competitive in real-world configurations, and I can't honestly hear much difference in the sound volume between the systems.

      But hey, don't let your speculation be interrupted by practical experience...

  27. Uh... by Azureflare · · Score: 1, Informative
    That picture only shows one processor... Cold water in, hot water out, ya know....

    I think it's just a demonstration of the basic principles of water cooling, not an actual in-use G5.

    1. Re:Uh... by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      NO, you are -5 wrong.

      the two flat things you see on the diagram are the cpus. the thing that the fan is pushing air through is the heat exhanger.

      it's just a very regular heatpipe cooler.

      it's very probable that it's not water too, some refrigant probably.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  28. Where's Steve? by blackmonday · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm surprised that the 2 new offerings from Apple were simply put out on the web without any Steve Jobs fanfare. I like it when Steve shows it first, he allows into his RDF. I guess overall it's not the update I was hoping for, the video card should have been upped as well.

    I think it's pretty safe to say we're gonna have an all new iMac at WWDC. It's the other upgrade everyone's been waiting for. Aluminum iMac? We'll see.

    1. Re:Where's Steve? by chia_monkey · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I like it when Jobs does his old "oh, and one more thing..." also. I think the WWDC will have something bigger than new G5s though. I'm guessing it will be bigger than a new iMac. With the release of AirPort Express and such, the low-fanfare announcement of the new G5s, but more importantly the setup of an entirely new division dedicated to the iPod, I'm guessing we'll see a new consumer product. You gotta love the rumors that fly around the Apple camp. I'm taking stabs at what the next unveiling will be also...but it sure is fun. New consumer product...hmmmm...

      --

      "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
    2. Re:Where's Steve? by foidulus · · Score: 1

      Maybe a tablet pc-esque device? Who knows..there has been code for handwriting recognition in OS X since 10.2, though it doesn't look like many things actually use it.
      But then again, if Apple tries something like this it will probably dismissed as another Newton.
      Damn you Mr. Jobs and your enginmatic personality! Now I won't be able to get any real work done!

    3. Re:Where's Steve? by _|()|\| · · Score: 1
      I think it's pretty safe to say we're gonna have an all new iMac at WWDC.

      My first reaction to the new PowerMac line up was underwhelming. Then I realized that the bottom of the line just got more expensive--no 1.6, no SP. Then it occurred to me that a good reason to drop SP PowerMacs was to avoid overlap with new iMacs (headless, please).

    4. Re:Where's Steve? by dasmegabyte · · Score: 1

      Yeah. With all these pretty cool products coming out BEFORE WWDC...Steve must really have some awesome shit to show off, not just some more evolutionary enhancements. In the past month, we've seen speed bumps in the Powerbook line, a DVD burner added to the iBook line, new iTunes, new Airport Express, and now water cooled G5s. All released kind of how's-your-father.

      I'm kind of hoping the earth will quake at Steve's announcement at WWDC.

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    5. Re:Where's Steve? by ThousandStars · · Score: 1

      They'll probably have monitors, too. Rumors sites like Think Secret have published reports about the soon-to-be-released monitors. So you might not want an old Cinema display to go with that new PM.

    6. Re:Where's Steve? by joncrie · · Score: 1

      In an interview today with Tom Boger, Apple's Director of Power Mac Product Marketing, he says there will be no G5 Powerbooks or a G5 iMac before the end of the year. Perhaps the aluminum LCD monitors previously rumored will be revealed.

    7. Re:Where's Steve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well the prices of iPods are supposed to come down soon. Maybe that will somehow work into this. Although not sure iPods are really appropriate in the context of the WWDC, but hey whatever!

      Just give me my headless G5 iMac dammit!

    8. Re:Where's Steve? by mikeee · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I'd like to see Apple's answer to Microsoft's XP Media Center. Something along those lines has to be in the works... Tivomac... mmm, tasty.

  29. Major manufacturer doing liquid cooling. by Deathlizard · · Score: 1

    I'm not sure about this, but I think that this may be the first major PC manufacturer to do liquid Cooling in a consumer PC.

    Has any other major PC manufacturer sold PC's with liquid cooling standard? I've seen laptop's and shuttles use heat pipes, but nothing like actual pump driven liquid cooling without having to buy an external kit.

    1. Re:Major manufacturer doing liquid cooling. by Analogy+Man · · Score: 1
      I have a Shuttle bare bones that comes with liquid cooling out of the box. All I needed to do was pop on a processor, RAM, HD, and DVD.

      The high quality of this case will actually push me toward the Apple design for my next box. It has many of the features I appreciate in my Shuttle and then some!

      --
      When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
    2. Re:Major manufacturer doing liquid cooling. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NECs done it in Japan. English press announcement
      and at least some of this line.
      They seem to be pretty quiet in real life, with I assume is a radiator sticking out from the back a little.

    3. Re:Major manufacturer doing liquid cooling. by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      Have you seen where Apple documents that they actually use pumps? Their diagram suggests a heat pipe and nothing in the text actually refers to a pump being used. Like to see this better explained.

      Of course, liquid cooling is something you'd rather not have to use (as a major PC manufacturer)...

    4. Re:Major manufacturer doing liquid cooling. by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      My guess would be the bit in the blurb where they talk about being able to dynamicaly control the liquid flow.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    5. Re:Major manufacturer doing liquid cooling. by Hadlock · · Score: 1

      heat pipe's flow is dependant on how cool the cooling block is, and how hot the processor is. flow more air over the cooling block, and you increase the temp. differential, flowing more fluid. slowing down the fluid implies slowing down the cooling fan.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
  30. Cooling similar to Shuttle ICE? by epexegesis · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Difficult to tell from the article, but the liquid cooling system looks similar to that found in Shuttle XPCs The article says that OS X can vary the flow of the liquid though. Very nice though, looks like they have thought about noise, which is good.

    1. Re:Cooling similar to Shuttle ICE? by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      I think the text said that flow of the liquid varies with processor load. Not quite the same. Don't know why you would need to OS to vary pump speed (assuming there is a pump).

    2. Re:Cooling similar to Shuttle ICE? by et3rnul · · Score: 1

      If it were OS controlled, all we need is a virus/hacker to turn it off, maybe...

    3. Re:Cooling similar to Shuttle ICE? by epexegesis · · Score: 1
      From the article:

      "Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature."

      I suspect you can set a maximum temperature and the system will try to keep the system temperature down to that limit (as many small x86 pcs do).

      I suppose that if the cpu gets hotter then the fan speed will increase. This would cool the liquid down faster so it could be returned to the cpu end sooner. That makes sense, I think. I think the shuttle heat pipes work with convection currents, so no pump. I'dve thought Apple would do the same, but that's not what their article says.

      Of course the article is marketing material, so it could be unintentionally misleading.

    4. Re:Cooling similar to Shuttle ICE? by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      Yes, I read that but considered it marketing material and assumed it could be misleading (even intentionally). I was looking for specific proof that a pump existed but wasn't certain that was it.

      I could imagine claiming that changes heat generation would directly alter the flow rate of the liquid and that OS X could control the heat generation (and the fan speed). Marketers, being skilled liars, could make a claim like this. Not saying they did, of course.

      I wonder why controlling pump speed would even be desirable. My experience is that these devices aren't the noisiest but perhaps that's the issue.

  31. Re:What a cool machine! by Slowtreme · · Score: 4, Informative

    Macs run Windows XP a hell of a lot faster than a PC can run Mac OS X.

    --
    Post: Sigged, for your pleasure.
  32. Re:OK AMD...lets get with it.... by obsid1an · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And yet AMD64 series has managed to be the fastest out there. For much less too.

  33. Still no ECC RAM by HalfFlat · · Score: 1, Insightful

    They tout it for scientific research applications ... but still no ECC support!

    It's hard to imagine any sort of serious scientific computing that is making use of the advertised features - such as 64-bit optimised libraries, 8GB of memory, etc - which wouldn't also feel the lack of any real confidence that the results aren't contaminated by bit errors.

    The newest Xserve supports ECC. Whyever do they not support it on their workstations?! It boggles the mind.

    1. Re:Still no ECC RAM by EccentricAnomaly · · Score: 0, Troll

      Why do you need ECC in a workstation??? ECC is important in clustering applications... but for a workstation why spend the extra money?

      --
      There are 10 types of people in this world, those who can count in binary and those who can't.
    2. Re:Still no ECC RAM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know why you got modded insightful, because this looks like a troll to me.

      Instead of complaining to *us* about it, why not go ask Apple for some ECC RAM? If they haven't offered it, it might just be because no one has asked for it.

      Here, I'll even give you a link

      select General Feedback from the dropdown, and POLITELY ask for (and justify getting) ECC for your computer.

    3. Re:Still no ECC RAM by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 2

      I've always wondered about this. I've been programming computers for over five years, and I've *never* seen a program crash or behave strangely because of a 'bit error' before... needless to say, I've also never used ECC RAM in my workstation computer. Is this really a threat? What are the odds of seeing a bit error with normal non-error-correcting RAM?

    4. Re:Still no ECC RAM by Scott+Wood · · Score: 1

      It's rare, but it does happen. I once had a compilation fail claiming an unrecognized preprocessor directive #inclufe (or something similarly off by one bit). It was not that way in the file, and compiling it again succeeded.

      It's kind of scary to think about what could have happened if it were a production build, and it had happened in a way that did not render the file uncompileable.

      I'd imagine that, at least on a workstation/desktop, a lot of such errors go unnoticed, hitting unused RAM (such as cache that isn't used again, or the code/data for one of the fifty billion features of $BLOATED_APP that the user never uses...). Then again, given typical software quality, how many times would, upon seeing something crash or behave strangely, one think, "must have been a bit error!"?

    5. Re:Still no ECC RAM by EccentricAnomaly · · Score: 1

      Ouch a troll mod for this, but no answer to why one would need ECC in a workstation?

      btw, a 'troll' mod isn't supposed to be for someone you don't like or don't agree with... sheesh... google for it and figure out what the word means...

      --
      There are 10 types of people in this world, those who can count in binary and those who can't.
    6. Re:Still no ECC RAM by FredFnord · · Score: 1
      and I've *never* seen a program crash or behave strangely because of a 'bit error' before...
      My god, man, how do you know? It's not like the computer would put up a dialog that says, "Gamma Ray Error. Next time use ECC RAM, sucker!" In fact, the only way that you could credibly claim this is if you'd never seen any program of any kind crash or behave strangely unless you knew the exact reason it was doing that. If that's so, in what wonderful world do you live, and how do I visit for long enough to make illegal copies of all of the software there? (And no, 'because it's Windows' is not an exact enough reason.)

      Back when it was parity RAM, there was a certain amount of justification for the 'Using parity RAM means that you crash 1/9 of the time for no reason whatsoever' joke. But I understand that ECC fixes that, and it might be worth it. I wish I had some numbers for how often bit-flips do occur in normal usage. (That is to say, not in a science lab, not in a shielded bunker, and not in a university setting with 200 computers all up close and personal). But don't assume they've never happened to you.

      -fred

      (Who until this very moment assumed that the EM tag was to insert an em dash. What? It seemed reasonable to me.)
      --
      Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
  34. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by carcosa30 · · Score: 0

    Hilarious.

    --
    Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
  35. Other Older Models by blackmonday · · Score: 1

    I immediately looked at the refurb section to see what's tasty. They have the dual 2.0 at the same price as the new one, so I don't think they've changed those prices yet. I also looked at still-available G4 Power Macs and they are completely overpriced. $1774 for a dual G4 1.5? When I can get a dual G5 for 200 more? Pu-Lease.

    1. Re:Other Older Models by falcon5768 · · Score: 1

      thats because they are underpriced for the ed market... you could get one for 1200 if your a student,

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

  36. logarithmic scale by Gothmolly · · Score: 3, Informative

    Its only 3 dB less. Remember that funky math that we said we'd never use? 2x the noise = +3dB. You can get more difference than this by simply switching your ghetto case fan for a good one. Unless of course Apple MEANT 1/2 the dB, which is a meaningless number w/o a reference: 1/2 the dB of a 6dB source is 3dB, or half the volume. 1/2 the dB of a 50 dB source is more significant.

    So before we all drop to our knees on this one, lets consider the physics.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
    1. Re:logarithmic scale by Shawn+Parr · · Score: 5, Informative
      Actually half or double the sound pressure is +/- 6dB.

      Double or half the power is +/- 3dB.

  37. To sexy by digitalgimpus · · Score: 1

    Apple's new G5 is just to sexy.

    I think the Heat Sink isn't the only thing getting wet ;-)

    I'm drooling.

    1. Re:To sexy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GAY

  38. Mods on crack again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is obviously an old repost-troll. The top of the line chip is 2.5ghz now, and it's definitely very competitive with intels chips (as opposed to being soundly defeated).

    1. Re:Mods on crack again by electrofreak · · Score: 0

      thats cuz Intel's chips suck. AMD is much better.

      --
      I need a sig.
  39. Why PCI-X? by Boone^ · · Score: 1

    PC manufacturers are |___| this close to releasing PCI Express motherboards. ATI and NVidia already have PCI-e video cards, and the standard peripherals are to follow soon. Since Apple greatly controls what 3rd party hardware can be attached to their machines, why didn't they plan for the future with PCI-e instead of causing Apple geeks everywhere to invest in PCI-X for a few months?

    Apple's never had a paper launch before, so this machine could have "come out" in July, and by August-September when people start receiving their shipments PCI-e will already begin to have market penetration. Maybe it was just too much risk for Apple?

    1. Re:Why PCI-X? by Silverlancer · · Score: 5, Informative

      PCI-X is twice as fast as PCI and is a replacement for PCI. PCI-E is a replacement for AGP and is twice as fast as AGP 8x. PCI-Express boards will have multiple PCI-X slots for sound cards, network cards, etc, and one PCI-E slot for the graphics card.

    2. Re:Why PCI-X? by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 1

      That's flat out wrong. PCI-E has multiple implementations. PCI-E x16 is the AGP replacement. There are also standard x1 slots (look at some motherboard pics from Computex to see what they look like). PCI-X is simply a wider (64 bits vs. 32) & faster (66/133MHz vs. 33) PCI bus. PCI-X has always been relegated to the server/workstation sector and it will remain there until it's finally superceded by PCI-E entirely (since PCI-E x1 is faster).

    3. Re:Why PCI-X? by Demon-Xanth · · Score: 1

      There is multiple levels of PCI-Express. The x1 level is ment to replace PCI while the x16 is to replace AGP. There's also x4 and x8 slots. They differ in length and the x1 is about 1" long,

      --
      If you think education is expensive, you should try ignorance -- Derek Bok, president of Harvard
    4. Re:Why PCI-X? by Ignominious+Cow+Herd · · Score: 2, Informative

      Bzzzttt. Thank you for playing.

      PCI express is not just an AGP replacement. It is intended to completely replace PCI. PCI-X is/was a stopgap performance bump for those that needed it. PCI-e is the future.

      --
      Lump lingered last in line for brains, and the ones she got were sorta rotten and insane.
    5. Re:Why PCI-X? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My guess is that these machines were originally slated for release months ago, but were held back because of IBMs yield problems. As a result, they were forced to delay the entrance of a PCI-e Powermac G5. Hopefully, the next revision will will include PCI-e as well as integrated Bluetooth, ATI Xseries GPUs, and 3GHz CPUs.

    6. Re:Why PCI-X? by danigiri · · Score: 1

      Remember that Apple was first in USB-ubiquity, Firewire-ubiquity, floppy-less-ubiquity and a long list...

      Because of that track record, cut them some slack on this, if they haven't done so yet, there must be plenty of reasons for it.

      On the other hand, complaints on the graphics card relative weakness... bear in mind the minor speedup photoshop or parallel number crunching would get with a more high-end GPU, marginal at best. If interested in smoother UT playing, just BTO a better card.

    7. Re:Why PCI-X? by Varmint01 · · Score: 1

      As much as I want one of these machines, I'm still going to wait until they include PCI Express. ATI has said that they'll keep up with AGP models of their cards through next year, but what about after that? I don't want to have a machine that I can't upgrade the graphics card on after just one year.
      I've been able to keep my current G4 for so long because of its upgradability (upgraded from 500 mhz to 1 ghz, upgraded from a rage 128 to a radeon 8500), and it's still going strong 4 years later. Certainly it can't handle the newest games, but it performs swimmingly in any non-time wasting process that I want it to do, and I'd like to see that same performance from a G5 four years from now. Without a PCI Express slot, I don't know if that'll happen or not.

    8. Re:Why PCI-X? by neuroscr · · Score: 1

      Is PCI-e backwards compatible? If not, this makes a lot of sense why apple wants to use PCI-x. And as repeated many times on this thread, most apple users do not need 3D acceleration, so what else is coming out in PCI-e this year?

    9. Re:Why PCI-X? by Boone^ · · Score: 1

      By your argument Firewire 800 is useless because Firewire 400 is what's in use *now*? New PCI-X development will be EOL'd in a few months as the entire world switches to the cheaper and higher-performing PCI-e standard. If this machine will never need to be upgraded you're set. If not...

    10. Re:Why PCI-X? by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

      Because PCI-X, unlike PCI Express, is backwards compatible with PCI.

      --

      I write in my journal
    11. Re:Why PCI-X? by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

      By your argument Firewire 800 is useless because Firewire 400 is what's in use *now*?

      Well, no, that's not what his argument was, but it raises the important point: FireWire 800 is backwards-compatible. PCI Express is not. There's no way to take a PCI card and put it in a PCI Express slot. Can't be done.

      On the other hand, you can plug a FireWire 400 device into a FireWire 800 port by using a six-pin to nine-pin cable, readily available.

      New PCI-X development will be EOL'd in a few months as the entire world switches

      You see the problem here, right? You just said "the whole world switches" and "in a few months" in the same breath. That's an oops on you.

      --

      I write in my journal
    12. Re:Why PCI-X? by EconolineCrush · · Score: 1

      Ahh the joy of Slashdot. 5, Informative for a post that doesn't understand that PCI Express is a replacement for PCI, PCI-X, and AGP.

    13. Re:Why PCI-X? by neuroscr · · Score: 1

      How is PCI-X Cheaper than the current PCI?

    14. Re:Why PCI-X? by Boone^ · · Score: 1

      "cheaper and higher-performing PCI-e"

      PCI-e(xpress) is supposed to be cheaper than PCI-X due to its smaller number of wires which makes controllers smaller (less I/O pads) and eases mainboard routing issues.

  40. Liquid-cooling? by puregen1us · · Score: 1

    It seems to me that the liquid-cooling system is little more than a fancy heatpipe. These have been around a while in PC systems on heatsinks. I had a coolermaster with one, a silentpipe. The idea being that a slowfan with the two copper liquid-filled pipes could move more heat to the top of the sink and away, than a quick fan. I think it worked. Never cared that much any way. It cost about 30 only, not a lot of song-and-dance, except to be able to say, wow, liquid cooling. Could be the same here.

    Of course, the PSU was the noisy thing, so I couldn't tell the difference in CPU fan noise anyway.

    Just a thought.

  41. One thing about Apple liquid cooling... by daveschroeder · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...and multiple fans: Apple does it because they want to keep the machine as quiet as possible while still as cool as possible (as opposed to being forced to do it, lest the processor become hotter than the surface of the Sun).

    (They don't do it because the PowerPC 970 family is "so hot", either; the PowerPC 970, and the 970FX even moreso, run much cooler, and require less power, than even the newest generation PowerPC 74xx (G4) family processors: )

    Also, new PowerPC 970FX information from IBM is now available.

    1. Re:One thing about Apple liquid cooling... by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      G5's require too much power for passive cooling to be a reasonable option. That's clear by Apple's design considering their past history or preferring passive cooling. G5's are not unreasonable in power consumption considering what they are but don't pretend they are a low power part.

    2. Re:One thing about Apple liquid cooling... by Spatula+Sam · · Score: 1

      Since the surface of the sun is about 5800K on a good day, I doubt the G5s could possibly get that hot, fans or no fans.

    3. Re:One thing about Apple liquid cooling... by babbage · · Score: 1

      Actually, from some of what I've read, the new 90nm fabrication process is producing a CPU so small that traditional air cooling methods weren't efficient enough to dissipate excess heat away from the processor, so the liquid cooling was necessary to keep heat under control.

      That's not to say that the chip runs all that hot (as you note, it compares very well to other CPU families here) or that sound dampening wasn't a factor (it was, obviously). These things are true, of course. But it's also true that these chips are both smaller & hotter than the original G5s, and this forced the engineers to come up with a more efficient heat transfer method.

      That the solution they came up with is both quieter & cooler than air cooled systems is just one of those little elegant flourishes that these guys are getting so annoyingly predictable about :-)

  42. Re:Liquid Cooling And MORE... by Zzootnik · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, the one I saw the guy built a custom styrofoam cooler/case, put in all his goodies except the power supply, then filled it up with some odd and expensive 3m non-conductive liquid...actually I think he used mineral oil first, but that turned out pretty gooey... Then put in a pump and started pumping liquid from the bottom to the top where it dropped over a coolant radiator.

    Yeah- that's a long way to go to attempt overclocking, but it was pretty neat.

    IIRC, it ended up overheating anyway because the liquid got less viscous (more??--more solid) the colder it got, and created isolated thermal heat nodes around the hot components. Would've been cool to see on an infrared scope...

    --
    Sig currently under construction. Mind the gap....
  43. Add a pony by Chemisor · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am sure there is a place for a pony in there somewhere.

  44. Don't care about apple... by sinner0423 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...as much as I care about the liquid cooling part. I remember liquid cooling my crappy little celeron, thinking it would never go mainstream because of my belief at the time that water + electricity = bad.

    Now, we've got liquid cooled technology backed by Apple. It's pretty sweet, considering you either have to buy a specially designed freon pumping case, or a $500 video card to reap the benefits of this kind of cooling.. Now all you've gotta do is buy a $3000 Mac.

    Sarcasm aside, I think this shows that soon, the PC's on the shelves will mostly all be using some sort of heat pipe / water cooling technology.

    I'm not a Mac fanboy, don't own one, but this really goes to show that Apple can and does set standards for personal computing. With major backing like this, it's only a matter of time before it trickles down to where everyone can be using it for a relatively cheap price. Way to go, Apple.

    1. Re:Don't care about apple... by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      and I think Apple will abandon it as soon as they can. No manufacturer would prefer such a setup if they could get by without it. That assumes it's actually different than heat pipes in common use already.

    2. Re:Don't care about apple... by INeededALogin · · Score: 1

      It depends. This type of cooling may end up being superior to air cooling. Hardware may stay cooler and have less failures. This enables a G5 laptop as well, without Apple having to make it 3" thick. This may very well be the future direction of Apple computers. Water cooling is not overly complicated if it is designed well and their is no reason to think that Apple sold it out.

    3. Re:Don't care about apple... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 2, Insightful
      According to this pic, it looks like it's just a heat pipe, not what you are probably thinking of (e.g. no pump or reservoir).

      pic

    4. Re:Don't care about apple... by supertsaar · · Score: 5, Funny

      Please don't use the words
      "Trickle Down"
      In a post about liquid cooling...

      :)

      --
      The Bigger The Headache The Bigger the Pill
    5. Re:Don't care about apple... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The water cooling in the G5 looks more like a heat pipe, so it's difficult to say how mainstream water cooling had gotten as a result of this release. However, Alienware and a few other highend vendors are planning to release water cooled machines within the next few months... so yes, water cooling is starting to become mainstream and things should get rather interesting.

    6. Re:Don't care about apple... by shawnce · · Score: 1

      Did you note the following statement on that page?

      Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature.

      and

      This system provides a continuous flow of thermally conductive fluid that transfers heat from the processors as they work harder. The heated fluid then flows through a radiant grille, where air passing over cooling fins returns the fluid to its original temperature.

      So it may have a pumping system or some type of flow control... possibly even a reservoir but likely not needed.

      Also don't read to much into an artists rendering of things.

    7. Re:Don't care about apple... by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      Wattage in a laptop is limited by packaging, heat dissapation and battery life. Apple needs a G5 that consumes the right amount of power for all those reasons and I don't think liquid cooling is a special enabler there. Heat pipes are very commonly used in laptops already.

      Clearly, a superior cooling system could be a real competitive advantage if a manufacturer could leverage it. Apple is doing that here by processor speed bumps. If it has pumps then it will be expensive and less reliable than simple forced air. You have to weigh that against the speed benefit.

      Dry sump oiling is a big advantage in racing engines but you rarely see it in automobiles. Quite a reasonable analogy really.

    8. Re:Don't care about apple... by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
      Yeah, I thought that was weird, but, if you take "Mac OS X" off the sentence "Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature" then you'd be describing any heatpiped heatsink with a thermal monitoring fan. The rate at which heat is transferred through a heat pipe is inherently a direct result of the temperature being applied--more heat, faster transfer. I wouldn't put it past Apple's marketing dept to call that "dynamically adjusting".

      It is weird about the Mac OS X bit, though. But then, I try not to read too much into marketing people's rendering of things. :)

    9. Re:Don't care about apple... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

      This "speed bump" seems to have a couple of hidden costs, which might not matter to some people.

      I thought bluetooth was standard on the previous G5s, now it's a $50 module. I thought AirPort Extreme was standard on the previous models, but now it's a $99 add-on. I personally don't care much for wireless G networking on a fixed workstation, so it's not too much of a loss.

      Given that the bluetooth module + bluetooth keyboard & mouse combo is only a $100 upgrade, I'd say it is still worthwhile.

    10. Re:Don't care about apple... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      excellent analogy, except most of the population doesnt understand what dry sump oiling is.

    11. Re:Don't care about apple... by CAlworth1 · · Score: 1

      Being the owner of a dual 1.8 G5, I can safely say that it never came with airport nor bluetooth. The same is true of at least a few G4 models - my dad bought one, and I have a friend with another.

      Looking at the page to buy from, there were three models in the past, low, med, high, and sutom-built. the custom built had both wireless as stardard, but was head and shoulders above the rest price-wise.

      Thats the closest I have seen any towers to having built-in wireless capabilities. Also, as a previous poster mentioned, there are security reasons for not including those products as standard - and extra RF I/O could be your research leaking out...

  45. awww damn it! by mikeburke · · Score: 2, Funny

    I just orded a Mac II like 3 days ago!!! thanks again Jobs.

  46. Re:liquid cooled by ePhil_One · · Score: 3, Insightful
    liquid equals water?

    More precisesly, Water is a subset of liquid.

    Gasoline and alcohol are also liquids, but will have a distictly different effect on you when consumed...

    --
    You are in a maze of twisted little posts, all alike.
  47. One down, two to go by mr_tap · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Powermac G5 updates down - iMac G5 and Powerbook G5 to go!

  48. Re:Graphics cards...are important by acomj · · Score: 1

    Considering all the screen rendering in done in 3d (opengl) on the cards. 2d cards are pretty irrelevant.

  49. Apples and oranges by Chemisor · · Score: 1

    You sure can sqeeze an orange faster than you can sqeeze an apple.

  50. pretty nice... by typhoonius · · Score: 1

    A 1.25 GHz FSB on the top-end model. Yeesh. Can't wait to see if this stacks up against Intel's and AMD's offerings nearly as well as Apple says.

    Interestingly, they're still selling PowerMac G4s, and I don't think they've speed-bumped the Xserves yet (at least, there aren't any at 2.5 GHz).

    1. Re:pretty nice... by pev · · Score: 1

      Believe it or not, there are still people out there that use OS9 software but need new machines!

      ~Pev

    2. Re:pretty nice... by nuggetman · · Score: 1

      one word: Classic

      --
      ...and that's all there is to it.
    3. Re:pretty nice... by pev · · Score: 2, Interesting

      several words : If you're using hardware that only has OS9 drivers classic doesn't help. If you need to run OS9 audio/video apps, classic is too slow. Also, some people are happy with os9 and dont want to buy new app upgrades. For them, running OS9 natively makes far more sense.

      As an aside, three word replies are really not very useful if you're tryin to make a serious point.

      ~Pev

  51. One Word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Absolute Zero!

    1. Re:One Word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's two words.

  52. European Prices by Fawad · · Score: 1

    Once again European Prices are much higher...
    US$1999 = 1645 (With Irish 21% VAT = 1990)
    However Euro prices are 2249

    Whats the deal with a 250+ markup?
    (That's a further 13% est.)

    1. Re:European Prices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It cannot be taxes, at least not directly on the computer. He already added in the 21% VAT, and there are no customs duties for computer equipment. But perhaps European resellers have higher costs overall?

    2. Re:European Prices by Bricklets · · Score: 1

      Whats the deal with a 250+ markup?

      The cost it takes to UPS a system to Europe. Kidding of course.

      --
      Little Bricklets
    3. Re:European Prices by easter1916 · · Score: 1

      Joking aside, they're manufactured in Cork, Ireland... buddy of mine is the direct marketing manager there.

  53. Re:How to identify a Mac-basher by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Market share is used as a criterion for evaluating a product.

    Think sheep

  54. You forgot ONE thing by WormholeFiend · · Score: 5, Funny

    Frickin "LA-ZER" Beams.

    1. Re:You forgot one thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently, most the rest of the mac community would rather have nekkid guys.

    2. Re:You forgot one thing by JudgeFurious · · Score: 1

      Nope, Just you baby. Just you.

      --
      Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
    3. Re:You forgot one thing by kmo · · Score: 3, Funny
      What, am I the only redneck who owns a mac?

      No, but all the other rednecks who own macs, own Mac TRUCKS.

    4. Re:You forgot ONE thing by chmilar · · Score: 1

      There is a laser beam in the optical SuperDrive.

      --
      Reading Slashdot is ruining my spelling and grammar.
    5. Re:You forgot one thing by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 1

      Mudflaps. With the nekkid ladies on 'em. What, am I the only redneck who owns a mac?

      Yes. yes you are.

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
    6. Re:You forgot one thing by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      What, am I the only redneck who owns a mac?


      Oh hell no. I got a dead Chevy in the front yard, Miller High Life in the fridge and just fried up a mess of catfish. Yes, I do have a gigabit ethernet switch and have upgraded my G3 300 to a G4 900 and my Cube is running along at 800Mhz but I still consider myself a redneck. I've washed car parts in the dish washer and there's parts of a dead sheep hanging on the back fence. Gotta' love the country life. Just need to move out there so that the damn inspectors will stop hassling me about mowing the lawn and pick up my spare tires.

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
  55. Being productive? by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 2, Informative

    You know, there uses for these 'puter things other than tinkering with the 'puter itself.

    --
    --- Ban humanity.
    1. Re:Being productive? by Short+Circuit · · Score: 1

      I don't tinker with pewter...It detracts from the value of the original art, IMO.

  56. No case mod, but... by cuzality · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...my computing has always been liquid-cooled.

  57. Thermal Zones by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 1

    I'm glad to see Apple moving in the direction of dedicated thermal zones in the case. It strikes me as a rather logical idea that hot components be isolated from the rest of the system as much as possible. It's similar to Intel pushing the BTX standard for their upcoming products.

    It's too bad that implementing something like that in ATX cases seems to be nearly impossible (at least in an efficient manner).

  58. Re:OK AMD...lets get with it.... by Short+Circuit · · Score: 1

    I haven't seen any benchmarks that manage to directly compare an x86 system and a PowerPC system.

    Perhaps running linpack on a single machine?

  59. If... by mcgroarty · · Score: 1
    If aluminum cases and water cooling are going to save Apple, then I suggest we all start investing in window kit and LED fan manufacturers.

    That said, I'm first in line for the coffee-cooled PowerBook thermos.

  60. Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by bfg9000 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Nice specs. I like Apple stuff, but I still honestly don't know why Apple speedbumps are always front page news, especially when we have a dedicated Apple section to deal with minor announcements like hardware releases. Dell, IBM, or HP don't make the front page for every Mhz bump, let alone have their own section on Slashdot.

    I would bet that 99% of us can't name one product from the HP lineup, but can name off the PowerMac, PowerBook, iMac, iPod, iTunes, iBook, etc. even though most of us don't own one and are far more likely to encounter an HP anywhere in the real world. I rarely see tv ads for Apple, and it's even more rare for me to meet another Apple user in the world (ONCE at Starbucks and once at Future Shop) but I read about Apples daily on Slashdot. We are all well acquainted with them due to our exposure here. I have no problem with that; it's better than Windows getting exposure, if only because we need more diversity, but I do have minor doubts as to the editorial discretion which leads to most Apple stories making the front page as well as their subsection.

    Read into this what you will, but if I were HP or Dell, I'd start submitting articles to Slashdot. It's free publicity with a large section of the computer-buying public, and it doesn't seem hard to spin a typical product announcement into a "techie" story that would get accepted as News by the editors.

    --

    I'm not normally an irrational zealous dickhead, but I figure "When in Rome..."

    1. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by stang7423 · · Score: 1

      Intel speed bumps always make the frontpage, so why not apple? Or are you a processor racist.

    2. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by The+Mutant · · Score: 4, Funny

      "...I would bet that 99% of us can't name one product from the HP lineup, but can name..."

      Well I certainly can - HP sells iPods!

    3. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by amichalo · · Score: 1

      Stang7423 is right - When Intel or AMD release a new Proc, it makes /.

      When Dell and HP stop cloning one another and start setting industry trends like Apple does, then maybe their hardware releases will make some news. The Dell DJ did. Sony gets exposure for new models because they do more than rebrand an Intel box.

      I think you have a good point about the editing though but the reality is that everyone has their own prejudces and though the /. editors may try to be unbiased, it is impossible so their interests get highlighted while that which may interest you doesn't.

      Bottom line: Want to pick stories for geeks to read? Start your own /.

      --
      I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
    4. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by cassidyc · · Score: 1

      because.... apple don`t make the processors?

      That would be motorola.

      CJC

    5. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That would be IBM

    6. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wrong. Motorola made the G4, and I think the G3, but IBM makes the G5.

    7. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by aldoman · · Score: 1

      Hahaha, processor racist. That is very funny.

      I'm just imagining a hillbilly farmer with a shotgun and chewing some straw in his mouth saying 'yea run off wid' ur damn amd-made-in-malasyia bullshit' .. 'we only use good ol' made-in-NY-ibm!'

    8. Re:Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary by CAlworth1 · · Score: 1

      >because.... apple don`t make the processors?

      >That would be motorola.

      Or in this case (G5), IBM. Motorola still makes processors for other models, but IBM runs the G5's.

  61. Re:What a cool machine! by Silverlancer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Thats a completely worthless argument. Mac OS X is designed to ONLY run on apple processors. It is designed to use RISC. Windows XP is designed to work with x86 instructions, which are quite easy to emulate. RISC instructions are almost impossible to emulate on x86 CISC processors. So you can't really use that to say that the Mac is faster.

  62. Uwaaa by Azureflare · · Score: 1
    Wow, I didn't realize the cpus were that tiny! I guess I'm used to the big heatsinks on intel/amd chips. I've never actually seen a mac chip, so I stand corrected.

    I thought the little G5 labels were little sensors for the heat in the liquid coolant or something...

    Man, I just can't seem to get anything right recentl ;_;

    1. Re:Uwaaa by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      A P4 or Athlon XP CPU is small too - there's not really a size difference between those and a G5 (as far as I know).

      Also, a G5 with a heatsink (like the older ones) is just as big as a P4 heatsink (or acutally bigger). It's not that the size is different, it's just that a heatsink is bigger than a water block.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  63. Did someone say cathode tubes? by jhesse · · Score: 1
    --

    --
    "I have also mastered pomposity, even if I do say so myself." -Kryten
  64. Heat pipe? by MrNemesis · · Score: 1, Interesting

    The details on this liquid cooling thing are a bit sketchy, but the diagram doesn't show a pump/compressor.

    Is it possible that this is actually using heat pipe tech like that found in the newer shuttles? Namely, block attached to the CPU is linked to a large sink away from the processor, connected by pipes filled with conductive fluid. Large fan cools the radiator.

    Net result is of course a complete lack of moving parts other than the (easily replaceable) fan(s). Of course, it doesn't cool as well as a full blown liquid setup, but then the PPC970's don't run *that* hot.

    Anyone know any ore about this? Even if it's not entirely revolutionary, it's still interesting tech.

    --
    Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
    1. Re:Heat pipe? by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
      It does look like a heat pipe. All the newest bestest heatsinks in the PC aftermarket are using heat pipes, they've been around for a while now.

      I wish they had just said "heat pipe" instead of "innovative liquid cooling", which to us obviously sounds like a traditional liquid cooling setup a la Koolance. For me, that would be a big negative; I would really rather avoid the complexity and risks of liquid cooling.

    2. Re:Heat pipe? by MrNemesis · · Score: 1

      Ditto, it puts me off as well, hence why I was hoping it used a heat pipe. They're all contained, so there's little chance of leakage, and no bendy pipes you have to seal.

      Also, I imagine (hope!) the coolant/conductive stuff isn't actually electrically conductive in the first place.

      Nice to see heat pipes becoming more mainstream, but c'mon Apple! Be honest!

      --
      Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
    3. Re:Heat pipe? by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 1
      What you're describing is what the G2 uses, but it isn't a heat pipe. It's just a small conventional water [1] cooling circuit.

      [1] The website doesn't actually say what the liquid is, but as water has an unusually high specific heat capacity, is cheap and non-poisonous, I'd be surprised if they used anything else. A liquid sodium-cooled PC would have the uber-geek factor, but since it melts at 98 deg C it's not all that useful for CPUs :-(

      --
      When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
    4. Re:Heat pipe? by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      Doubtful, the writeup talks about being able to dynamicaly control the liquid flow. Doesn't sound like a heat pipe to me.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    5. Re:Heat pipe? by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1

      What's the difference? No phase change in a conventional circuit? And if so, how does the liquid circulate with no pump?

    6. Re:Heat pipe? by MrNemesis · · Score: 1

      Seeign as a heatpipe works on differential temperatures, I imagine the point could be stretched.

      Low temperature gradient = not much convective movement of the transfer liquid

      High temperature gradient (as your chip gets hotter) = more convective movement

      I'd say that could probaably be called dynamic (not sure about controllable though), but I Am Not A Marketeer and I Am Not A Thermodynamics Whiz...

      --
      Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
    7. Re:Heat pipe? by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      I'd say that's a really big stretch from this:

      Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature.

      The dual 2.5GHz Power Mac G5 features an innovative liquid cooling system that's more efficient than a traditional heat sink. This system provides a continuous flow of thermally conductive fluid that transfers heat from the processors as they work harder. The heated fluid then flows through a radiant grille, where air passing over cooling fins returns the fluid to its original temperature.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    8. Re:Heat pipe? by dmdimon · · Score: 1

      Funny
      Heat pipes WAS used by Apple in 2x1.43 GHz G4's
      Can't recall exactly, look inside your mac - if heatsink plates (thin) are PARALLEL to mainboard - be sure heatpipes are in your mac

  65. Liquid Cooling by stang7423 · · Score: 1

    I wonder if the fluid they used for cooling is that sapphire stuff that was mentioned on slashdot a while back.

    Sapphire

    It would certainly make sense, with its non-conducting properties it would be safe to keep that close to sensitive electronics. I don't know what it's heat capacity is so it might not be the best thermal choice but it at least it won't fry your G5.

  66. Re:liquid cooled by subtillus · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Have you been drinking Gasoline???

    Ughh.... Yes, mother...

  67. Re:Liquid Cooling And MORE... by Smallpond · · Score: 4, Informative

    That would be Fluorinert. Not a bad idea. NASA had a fluorinert-filled heatsink inside a mylar bag that I used once. Geez. Its still here. I need to clean out my desk more often.

  68. Stock Liquid cooling? by l33t-gu3lph1t3 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wow, that's a sign of desperation. I've heard tidbits of information at the major tech news sites that although IBM boasts it can get to 3GHz on the PPC970 architecture, and that a G5's power consumption is very nicely low at 2GHz, that changes very quickly as the speed starts to ramp. The fact that they need watercooling stock to get to 2.5GHz seems to confirm this.

    This is quite disturbing. It confirms the overall signs that photolithography scale shrinks aren't working anymore. I had thought that perhaps Intel's problems with Prescott were an isolated incident, but it doesn't seem so now. AMD has only just begun experimenting with 90nm, and now it appears that IBM, the only company so far to have said anything positive about their progress at 90nm, is having to (it would seem) overclock their chips and watercool them to get to a stable and quiet 2.5GHz..

    --
    ------- "From bored to fanboy in 3.8 asian girls" ----------
    1. Re: Stock Liquid cooling? by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 3, Informative

      IBM went on record as saying that they underestimated the difficulties of switching to 90nm. There's a lot of current leakage issues with the process that lead to increased heat output from wasted energy.

    2. Re: Stock Liquid cooling? by AxelTorvalds · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Wow, that's a sign of desperation.

      It's not a really positive sign. It could also be a little on the over engineering side. I don't know that the need the water cooler, it could just be that they feel more comfortable with it.

      I live in Boulder Colorado, the elevation at my home is 6500ft above sea level and the 2.8Ghz Dell Pentium IV I bought a couple months back is near the ambient temperature threshold as speced by Intel. If I run it in a non-AC house this July I'll probably be over the limit just because of the elevation and the heat around here. Intel references about 100 degrees F at the vent but that goes down a fair bit since the air here is more thin and can't disapate heat as well as the dense sea level air; I'm assuming the Dell builds close to the reference spec. So say it's 98 outside, no AC in the house but it's at maybe 80 degrees and then my dell tower is enclosed under my desk.

    3. Re: Stock Liquid cooling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The absolute power level for the G5 processor on IBM's 90nm process is pretty reasonable, th 2GHz 970FX is hitting about 50 Watts, the 2.5GHz part somewhat more than that.

      The challenge is getting that heat out of an area that is only 66 square millimeters, the 970FX is a tiny, tiny chip! Perhaps difficult to do with a standard fansink approach, if low system noise is a desiirable goal.

      I would wager that the cooling solution announced today has legs to go well above the wattage of the 2.5GHz chip and that's why it was developed in the first place.

  69. LOOK at the INTERNAL design by goombah99 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I think I was more blown away with the side bar showing the internal design. Now I understand why the mac G5 is slightly bigger than a PC case and why macs dont have multiple front panel drive bays. there are clear front to back air channells. so air can trully be swept through in one pass. just look at that crammed pc case : it looks as useful as a square suace pan would be on you stove. the cpu fan vents in to a poorly stirred airmass. you cant even put output fans or input fans in logical places since all of the back is taken up with power supply and PXI car slots and the front is covered with drive bays. There are endless nooks and heaps of wire. and most of the air lives in a blob above the motherboard never in contact with it.

    in contrast the mac case has layers of flowing air no thicker that what is probably the thermal diffusion length. Air flows over the top and bottom of the hotest items and does so in one pass. Its beautiful. and mac planned this out from the beginning for expandability.

    besides I like the cheese grater.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That design was there for the original G5 computers. Nothing new here, what's your point?

    2. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by danharan · · Score: 2, Interesting
      there are clear front to back air channells.
      It IS beautiful, although I am left wondering whether it wouldn't be preferrable to have the air flow rising as it naturally tends to do. Some houses have been so well engineered that there is no HVAC system needed, all the circulation is passive... would it be possible to do this with a computer?
      --
      Information: "I want to be anthropomorphized"
    3. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now, if you go out and measure the length, width, and height of your house and then do the same to your computer, you will realize that there is a pretty huge volume difference between the two... if your computer is a fairly modern personal computer, that is, and not some EINIAC-like computer (size, and probably age... since I suspect most "super-computers" today are actually loads of normal-sized computers clustered together).

    4. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 3, Informative
      Those big air channels don't come without a cost. There is only one external drive bay and two hard drive bays, and three PCI slots.

      A PC case of similar size has maybe four external drive bays and five hard drive bays, and five PCI slots plus an AGP slot.

      A PC case with similar expandability, like the Antec Aria, is much smaller. (Though the Aria doesn't have two CPUs and can't hold 8 sticks of memory.)

      While the insides of most PC cases may not look neat and tidy, it's child's play to buy or build a quiet, powerful PC that never overheats no matter what the load. So while PC cases may not (in general) have air channels, I'd say they work as well as they need to (though Intel apparently disagrees, since the BTX form factor is coming and is supposed to be designed for airflow).

      I don't think you could reasonably expect a mainstream manufacturer to give up the expandability for an academic increase in cooling efficiency, although Shuttle has clearly demonstrated that at least some people are willing to give up expandibility for a slick form factor.

      The G5's are beautiful though; I wouldn't mind owning one.

    5. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by vkulkarn · · Score: 3, Informative

      Some of the revisions of the old CRT based iMacs were convection cooled. They had no fans at all. The problem with doing that with a mini-tower case is that people tend to put things on top of a mini-tower... which would block the airflow... They got away with it on the iMac because its hard to put stuff on top of its curved top.

    6. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I think his point is that he believes the G5 is better engineered than the fucking ATX case factor, and the CPUs dont do stupid shit like exhaust HOT CPU AIR INSIDE THE FUCKING CASE. Maybe also that the G5 is still better than even the BTX form factor, and I also thinks that you are a dick, and have nothing new to say.

      I'm pretty sure that sums up his viewpoints. STFU stupid.

    7. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by SilentChris · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's not so much that PC makers don't build things "beautifully", it's that most PC makers care more about functionality and price than asthetics. Open any recent Dell case and you'll see much of the same design (wires put off to the side, drives in easy-to-manage trays, etc).

      If you're doing a comparison between a quiet, nice-looking Apple and a slightly-noisier, yet more functional PC, most businesses will take the PC. It's just not economical to buy Macs for business.

    8. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like the PowerMac G4 cube? It was a chimney, not a bad idea.

    9. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by vnguyen6 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I wouldn't waste my money on Apple product. Well, maybe the Ipod.

    10. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by johkir · · Score: 1

      Apple designs the boxes like this so that users can install new drives by just plugging them in. They are all for ease-of-use by way of USB and Firewire. The only reason to open a box would be to add RAM.

      --
      These are some of the things molecules do...... given 4 billion years -Carl Sagan
    11. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by johkir · · Score: 1
      Um, please look at these findings: here and here

      I think most businesses are afraid to change since everyone is comfortable with the staus quo. But that's a whole 'nother discussion we don't need to get into again.

      --
      These are some of the things molecules do...... given 4 billion years -Carl Sagan
    12. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by drsmithy · · Score: 1
      I think I was more blown away with the side bar showing the internal design. Now I understand why the mac G5 is slightly bigger than a PC case and why macs dont have multiple front panel drive bays. there are clear front to back air channells. so air can trully be swept through in one pass. just look at that crammed pc case : it looks as useful as a square suace pan would be on you stove.

      Because Apple would never, say, compare their machine to a home built PC costing 1/3 the price, would they ?

      Get a decently built PC, or even build your own with a decent case, and you can get similarly good airflow dynamics.

    13. Re:LOOK at the INTERNAL design by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
      Too bad external drives are so much more expensive; for example, sonystyle.com lists their latest internal DVD+/-RW for $139.99, and the corresponding external model for $259.99.

      Seems like a high price for a user to pay to not have to crack the box (and fiddle with IDE cables/jumpers, etc) at install time. It would also annoy me to have to come up with another power outlet for each drive. And don't most of those external drives have their own noisy little fans?

  70. Re:What a cool machine! by foidulus · · Score: 1

    Well, provided Microsoft gets back on schedule with Virtual PC for the G5(They had to do a lot of re-working because of a crucial instruction set difference between the G4 and G5, emulating little endian I think), the G5 may run XP just fine. It may not run it as fast as an intel CPU(wasn't designed to do so), but for most mac users who have a need for virtual pc, it will run quick enough I bet.

  71. Re:So much for "3 GHz by June" by Space_Soldier · · Score: 1

    This is may no be a new chip. This could be the same chip overclocked. That is why they have that cooler.

  72. Re:What a cool machine! by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 1

    Not to mention that Apple's had quite a head start in x86 emulation since that architecture is essentially unchanged in over 10 years. Compare that to the G5, which is an entirely different architecture and very new.

    Maybe a fair comparison would be making a G5 run an emulated IA64 WindowsXP?

  73. Re:Graphics cards...are important by GoRK · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well, actually most all of it is done in 2D with OpenGL.

    GL does have a couple 2D Drawing modes, GL_ORTHO, for instance, and cards hardware accelerate them. How do you think games draw their pretty little GUI's and menus and whatnot?

    Interestingly enough, nobody's ever developed a really good benchmark for cards that can accurately compare card performances drawing to ortho's. Maybe 3DMark should include a test like this. I imagine that raw fill rate has the biggest impact here, but who knows what kind of crazy optimizations card manufacturers might have in there to help/hurt the 2D OpenGL performance in favor of the 3D.

  74. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by Jonsey · · Score: 1

    Moderators always moderate the stories that they like, and opposing views, even when funny, get stomped on by the moderation process far too often.

    As you can see, this is still a problem on frontpaged articles too.

    There are times I wonder if it wouldn't be more convienient for the little "You have X moderator points" to be forced to be used, and forced to be used on one story. I mean, we've got the readership base that it's not going to leave many stories neglected, and it could stop fanboying, of all sizes & types.

    I'm Jonsey, and I too moderate the stories that most interest me.

    --
    I assert that my comment is only my opinion, not that of any employer, past, present or future.
  75. Let me begin by saying that... by Dagny+Taggert · · Score: 1

    I like my PC a whole hell of a lot more than any Mac I've ever used. I put it together for peanuts (well under $1000), it's screaming fast and I can upgrade it piecemeal if I so choose. But I have to say that Apple does a great job of selling "cool". They have shown us, time and time again, that a PC can look great in your living room. I think this will finally usher watercooling out of the niche of the overclocker and into the mainstream PC community, the same way they did Firewire.

    --
    Don't be a looter...and yes, I know that it's spelled with an "A" instead of an "E".
    1. Re:Let me begin by saying that... by CountBrass · · Score: 1

      Yeah blah blah blah and I bet your Pinto is as good as any S-class Mercedes and flying Economy rather than First is just as good because you get there at the same time. Heard it all before and it doesn't wash.

      --
      Bad analogies are like waxing a monkey with a rainbow.
  76. I have an interesting theory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they are dropping the ADC and going for DVI on their screens, guess what? They are going to be releasing a headless mid-range box (or other shape) soon. (as ATI + NVIDIA a no doubt in a not-caring mode about ADC, and people would complain about options if there was ADC on the cards of the headless boxes...)

    That will be awesome. I like the idea of using a screen I already have to allow me to get a mac with a g5 with a little more grunt over their previous mid-range-screen-attached offerings.

    All apple really needs to do is get the damnedest cheapest g5 headless setup they can together. Slap their mega OSX in it. And you have a real huge winner.

    Bonus points for;

    putting a TV digital tuner in it/ supporting tuners driver dev (think how cool they could make the iTV app)

    pouring some money into an open source game engine/development kit so that linux and mac benefit by a) getting more games, free and commercial and b) it becomes a thorn in sony and MS's gaming sides and becomes the dominant game platform. Then all games deved are just mods ontop of the engine (remember CS was a mod on an engine, if there was an open source game engine... all those mods would be rad for everyone)

    How awesome would a single proc headless g5 with a tuner and a game dev kit in it be? IT WOULD BE A REVOLUTION.

    Sorry kinda got carried away there.

    1. Re:I have an interesting theory by Zobeid · · Score: 1

      Yes! That is exactly what I've been hoping for. Some people call it the "headless iMac". I just think Apple should make a home computer in the tradition of the old Atari and Amiga systems, like the Amiga 500 for example.

      The closest thing they make to a home computer is the iMac, but it's too expensive -- at least partly because of the monitor. It would be especially great if they made one with DVI and HDTV output.

      It could also give Apple a kind of sneaky back-door entry into the videogame business. If this little box can hook up to a HDTV, if the specs are pretty standardized and stable, and there's a standard console-style controller made for it, and there are no royalty requirements for developing and publishing games on it . . . . it could become attractive for game developers. (That's in addition to the obvious consumer apps: web-surfing, word processor, email, and the whole iLife package.)

      The only problem with this plan is that it goes 100% against Apple's traditions. They've never gotten into the inexpensive home computer business, they've never been heavy into games. Apple needs to "Think Different" for something like this to work.

  77. Sweet by jht · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Nice speedbump - the new top-end dually is particularly nice. It's a pity that they couldn't get to the promised 3 GHz within the timeframe they planned, but a top end of 2x2.5 GHz with a bus speed of 1.25 GHz and PCI-X is still a pretty good box.

    This should give a much-needed kick in the pants to Apple's Pro sales for a while. It'll be interesting to see what (and if) they show for hardware at WWDC, since we already had the G5 today and AirPort Express on Monday, with iTMS Europe next week.

    If I had to guess, I'd say we'll get a G5 iMac now (maybe at 1.8 GHz), but I'm not too sure. It could turn out to be a software-only WWDC.

    --
    -- Josh Turiel
    "2. Do not eat iPod Shuffle."
  78. Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by amichalo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm no hardware engineer, but looking at this artist rendering (akamai.net is an image host for all Apple.com images) of Apple's liquid cooling system, I think the processors are getting different cooling.

    It would appear that the liquid passes over processor #1, then #2, then back to the heat sink to be diffused by the fan blowing over it. This would say to me that processor #2 is getting at best room temp water cooling, while proc #1 is getting cold water cooling.

    Here's my reasoning: If the heat sink with the fan blowing over it can cool the water 2X degrees, then when it is leaving the cooling system it is at Room Temp (RT) - X degrees. It passes over both processors and returns to the cooling system at RT+X degrees, where it is cooled by 2X and leaves the system at RT-X, headed for the hot processors again, follow?

    So here's the meat of it: both processors together heat the water up by 2X (see above). That means each processor heats the water by X, so when the cool water leaves, it is at temp RT-X, passes over the heat sink and it raised to (RT-X)+X=RT which then passes over the second processor and cools it to RT+X where it returns.

    So the second processor is getting room temp water cooling while the first is getting RT-X cooling. What effect will this have on the system?

    --
    I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
    1. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Rufus211 · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'm sorry, but you have no idea what you're talking about. Radiators by all laws of physics can only cool down anything going through them to (almost) room temperature. Now the equations you want are that if the radiator can bring the water within 2C of room temperature with one CPU pumping out heat, then with two CPUs it will bring the water about withing 4C. You are correct thout that the second CPU will (obviously) be warmer than the first one.

    2. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My guess is you're looking at the cooling system for a single processor. Notice the single fan, compared to the two fans for the processors in side view on Apple's web site http://www.apple.com/powermac/design.html

    3. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by shawnce · · Score: 1

      I think you are reading (err... seeing) to much into an artists drawing of the system. I would wait until folks can look at them and/or Apple releases more engineering like schematics.

      I personally doubt it is implemented exactly as the artists rendering is.

    4. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by razmaspaz · · Score: 1

      the second CPU will (obviously) be warmer than the first one

      I also have no idea what I am talking about but I don't think the second one will be warmer. The water will continue to absorb the heat of the processors, actually the aluminum sink, until it has reached equilibrium with the aluminum. As the water is cooled by the radiator and the fans it will never reach this temperature. This is also true of a set of cylinders in a car. the second, third and so on are not hotter than the first. The procesors will disspate heat at whatever rate the aluminum can absorb it. Same for the aluminum to the water. Everything is cooled at the same rate. the water will just be hotter when it reaches the radiator.

      --
      I tried for 5 years to come up with a clever sig...only to realize that I am not clever.
    5. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      Radiators by all laws of physics can only cool down anything going through them to (almost) room temperature.

      Radiators, yes - but you get more than that in the baragain. Using external power for cooling is trivial: add some expansion stage to the cooling fluid and it gets colder. All it requires is pump power.

    6. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by tyrione · · Score: 1

      Right but how many stages would this thermal system require in order to extract out as much Heat in the Work equation? The schematic would not fit within the design constraints, hence the solution they have adopted.

      I would suspect the rate of heat dissipation, dependent upon the liquid lattice structure in future solutions (i.e,. the choice of multiphase liquid) would be where they are able to improve the rates of heat dissipation and thus allow for high clock speeds.

    7. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by emorphien · · Score: 1

      I guess we'll find out of a lot of people are replacing their secondary processor in 6 months. :)

      I think they should have looked at the SFF computers and used a heatpipe system, not this seemingly halfassed attempt at watercooling.

      --


      Presently here, but not there.
    8. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      An expansion stage only helps when your material is compressible (unlike water) or when you are changing state. You would have to get enough heat into the water to boil it, then compress the steam, recondense it...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    9. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by jemfinch · · Score: 1

      If the water is being cooled by (at best) room temperature air, isn't there some law of thermodynamics that says it can't get colder than room temperature?

      In that case, your "RT-X" concept is entirely blown.

      Jeremy

    10. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by rthille · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think trying to judge the system by an artist's drawing (even in Apple's own materials) is not going to lead to any definite conclusions. Certainly the hardware engineers understand the issue you raise. Almost as certainly the artist understands that reducing the complexity of the drawing to make it more visually appealing and easier for the 'unwashed masses' to understand is more important than being technically correct.

      --
      Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
    11. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by iphayd · · Score: 1

      I would suspect that this is an artist's simplification. My guess is that the actual pipes either are independent of each other, or merge into one exhaust pipe, but the intakes are separate. Of course, not having one to disassemble makes this a complete speculation.

      Look at the other artist renditions? Do you really think that the bus architecture looks exactly like that?

    12. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      not really. It's pressure-driven in this case. A decrease in pressure brings a decrease in temperature (if you don't have too much heat exchange). The significant thermo potential here is the free energy, not the internal energy.

    13. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      But since you can't compress water the pressure won't change. You can put pressure behind it to drive it but the pressure's not IN the water. You'll have to use something else to get the effect.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    14. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by amichalo · · Score: 1
      I'm sorry, but you have no idea what you're talking about. Radiators by all laws of physics can only cool down anything going through them to (almost) room temperature.
      One time someone tried to convince me you had to be traveling 10 mph faster than another car in order to pass them. When I argued that if a car was standing still and I was going 1mph I would easily pass them, they said it didn't apply to cars that were standing still.

      Your comment makes me think of that conversation.

      This radiator has a FAN blowing on it (as I described in my previous post). If I were to blow a fan and create a 0 degree windchill factor, would I be able to only cool the water to room temp?

      The "you have no idea what you're talking about" comment woudl be appropriate right about now don't you think?
      --
      I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
    15. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1
      err ... no.

      • fluids have small but nonzero compressibility
      • this: "You can put pressure behind it to drive it but the pressure's not IN the water." makes no sense.[*]
      • even zero compressibility does not mean fixed pressure. If you push harder on the surface the internal pressure has to adjust to maintain mechanical equilibrium on the volume boundary.


      [*] Take for instance a steady flow of a viscous fluid through a pipe: you apply a pressure difference between the pipe ends, you get a pressure gradient inside the fluid that keeps it moving and provides the force to compensate for the viscous drag. Even if there's no resistance (viscous or other), you'll have an accelerating mass of fluid and then the inertial force will still give you a pressure gradient. Another example of this is simply the vertical pressure gradient in water due to the gravitational field (the rho*g*h term in Bernoulli's law).
    16. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by aaarrrgggh · · Score: 1

      A fan alone will not influence the wet bulb temperature, and hence not permit the temperature to go below ambient (dry-bulb) temperature. The radiator cannot cool below dry-bulb temperature.

      If you chose to use evaporative cooling, you can get something for "nothing"*.

      *Nothing in this case is the cost of the water.

    17. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, windchill factor, eh? You've got a lot to learn, man. All the "Windchill" factor means is that when its windy, it FEELS colder, because the air around you is moving faster and you therefore lose more heat to it. If its 30 degrees out, and there are 100mph winds, you still can't freeze any colder than 30.

    18. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by jstultz · · Score: 1

      Actually, heat transfer rates are always proportional to the difference in temperature. So therefore, yes, colder water will in fact cool the CPU faster than the warmer water (duh? otherwise, why bother going through the effort to make cold water)

    19. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by uid8472 · · Score: 1

      This radiator has a FAN blowing on it (as I described in my previous post). If I were to blow a fan and create a 0 degree windchill factor, would I be able to only cool the water to room temp?

      Wind chill reflects how cold the air feels to a human, not how cold the air actually is.

    20. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by esalathe · · Score: 1

      You are correct thout that the second CPU will (obviously) be warmer than the first one

      Only if the water circulates so slowly that it warms up appreciably during the time it is in contact with the first CPU. For sufficiently fast circulation, the water will be essentially isothermal throughout the system and cooling efficiency will be essentially the same at each CPU.

      While I do not know the quantitative engineering of the system, "sufficiently" most certainly is acheivable where "essentially" is small compared to other asymetries in the system.

      Eric Salathe

    21. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Moofie · · Score: 1

      If you put an expansion stage (bigger pipe) in a liquid (water) cooled heat sink, the water will not expand to fill it. It'll flow along the bottom of the pipe.

      To an excellent approximation, water is awful damn close to incompressible. Its volume changes with pressure are teeny. Like, thousandths of a ml per atmosphere.

      Expansion cooling works with gases, not with liquids.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    22. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by FredFnord · · Score: 1
      fluids have small but nonzero compressibility
      Which is like saying "fluids all flow". Yup. It's just that some, such as ice (which acts as a fluid under certain circumstances) flow a LOT less easily than others. Basically, most fluids compress down until, at a certain pressure (for a given temperature), they become solids. Water doesn't: water is less dense as a solid than it is as a liquid. As compared to most other fluids, water compresses orders of magnitude less easily.
      even zero compressibility does not mean fixed pressure.
      Clearly not. But just as clearly, this has literally nothing to do with the subject at hand, because the fact that an uncompressable liquid transmits pressure means literally nothing when you're asking if it makes a decent refrigerant.

      Which it doesn't. Water is basically the worst there is. Putting pressure on something doesn't raise its temperature. (Except for that amount caused by friction-- exactly the OPPOSITE effect that you want since you don't want to add energy (heat) to the system.) Compressing it (thus causing it to have more energy per unit volume) does. Cooling it while compressed and then decompressing it makes it colder than the air around it.

      And water is very close to the worst possible material to do that with.

      -fred
      --
      Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
    23. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by amichalo · · Score: 1
      Wind chill reflects how cold the air feels to a human, not how cold the air actually is.
      So the reason I 'feel' colder under a ceiling fan or whatever is because the moisture is evaporating off my skin, not what I have always percieved which is cool air moved in and hot air moved out?

      It still does not make sense to me that a radiator with a fan blowing over it cannot cool air below room temp.
      --
      I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
    24. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So the second processor is getting room temp water cooling while the first is getting RT-X cooling. What effect will this have on the system?

      That's exactly how it looks to me.

      Now if it's a heatpipe system what they have could equalize the temperature for both processors as properly designed heatpipes limit the temperature to the boiling point of the cooling fluid. There doesn't seem to be a pump so this may actually be a heatpipe.

    25. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by Too+Much+Noise · · Score: 1

      Well, you took most of it out of context, but still ...

      Which is like saying "fluids all flow".

      interesting notion. Compressibility does not imply fluidity[*]. Anyway, it's funny that you mentioned ice - it so happens that over a wide enough range of temperatures compressing ice yields a glassy state (which, btw, is fluid, as opposed to ice). Yes, it has to do with ice having the lower-density crystal structure. So no, in general you don't have to get solids by compressing fluids.

      Clearly not. But just as clearly, this has literally nothing to do with the subject at hand

      Clearly, ideed - it only has to do with something the GP said. Read it again, it wasn't about cooling, just pressure. Anyway, back to cooling: (1) there's no fluid trully incompressible (neutronic matter is a different aggregation state) so when you apply pressure you normally get a volume decrease, thus perform work and heat up the system. (2) you can't just change one parameter (like pressure) of a constrained system - the thermo equations + system constraints require at least 2 parameters to change. For a closed, neutral, non-magnetic, etc. system at fixed volume a pressure change will require either a temperature or an enthropy change (or a combination of both). However, this was mostly a theoretical argument, as there's no truly incompressible fluid.

      I'm not arguing that water is a poor refrigerant - that's clear enough. That's clear enough (note that 'poor' doen not mean 'non'). I don't know what got you carried away so much about it, but you ended up forgetting that 'nearly incompressible' != 'completely incompressible'. Compression heats up. Putting pressure compresses things (albeit for solids you'll need way too much pressure to notice a difference). The fact that the end result is small does not mean it's zero. And yes, it makes the material unfit practically for a coolant.

      [*]ex: crystals that change allotropic forms when compressed.

    26. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by puetzk · · Score: 1

      That, and you are (presumably) above room temperature - given that the human body temp is 37C or so - either well above room temperature, or a pretty hot room. So the other thing the fan accomplishes is to keep you from forming a bubble of warmed-up air around you, by replacing it with other (not yet warmed-up) air.

      But only with evaporation (or significant compression, so that you can cool with expansion - this is how AC works) can it get you below ambient.

      --
      The Matrix is going down for reboot now! Stopping reality: OK. The system is halted.
    27. Re:Room temp water cooling for processor #2 by babbage · · Score: 1

      I think there's a simple explanation: this is the diagram for how one CPU is cooled.

      Both of the CPUs in the top end machine will have a complete copy of this subsystem, with their own fan & coolant loops.

      The icons labeled "G5" in this diagram are not the CPUs themselves (why aim the fan to the left of the hot bit?) but rather are pumps or some other kind of controller apparatus.

      Make more sense? I think so...

  79. Re:Liquid Cooling And MORE... by Zzootnik · · Score: 1

    Fluorinert. Yep- That rings a bell.
    That lets me do a search that actually finds something... A Google Link! Not the one I remember, but neat none-the-less...

    --
    Sig currently under construction. Mind the gap....
  80. Apples just does the right thing by Lispy · · Score: 3, Informative

    I must say that I am impressed. I am really not a big apple fan but the company seems to do just the right thing again and again. Starting with USB on the iMac back in 1998 they made a lot of cutting edge decisions wich came into mainstream just because Apple made them successful (WiFi, Firewire, MP3 players, legal musicdownloads, their stereo-wifi-hubbie-thing, TFTs, DVD-Burners) and so on).

    Watercooling has been around for some time but no majorplayer implemented it. I bet that two years from now this could well be standard at Dells, HPs and so on...

  81. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by cheesekeeper · · Score: 1

    How is it not liquid cooled if it's liquid cooled? You mean it's not liquid cooled the same way a hobbyist would do it, voiding his warranty and using after-market parts?

    --

    Best read in good ol' Monaco 9 point.

  82. Slashdot: News for Nerds... by isoga · · Score: 1

    ... Free advertising for Apple

  83. innovative? by dekeji · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What exactly is "innovative" about liquid cooling? It's been around for nearly as long as solid state computers, and it's widely used with PCs. So are variable speed cooling systems.

    And talk about making lemonade out of lemons: Apple used to brag about how their chips dissipated less power and ran less hot, but now literally "sizzling performance" is supposed to be a selling point?

    1. Re:innovative? by veddermatic · · Score: 1

      It's not the liquid cooling part... it's that it's coming stock on a "Big Company" product line. At least that's what I got out of it.

      --
      Department of Homeland Security: Removing the rights real patriots fought and died for since 2001
    2. Re:innovative? by MoneyT · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They do dissipate less power and run cooler. The idea is to make them run even cooler and quieter. With 6 dells in my office, the only thing I hear all day long are fans fans and more fans. And quite loud I might add. Contrast this to a setup of G5s (if you can't afford it, go stick your head between them in an apple store). There's a huge difference in noise level. You can't hear the G5s unless they're really working on something.

      That's the idea here, to make them quieter. Something you could put in your living room and still have a decent conversation without shouting.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    3. Re:innovative? by dekeji · · Score: 1

      They do dissipate less power and run cooler.

      Any pointers to support that statement? As far as I can tell, when you pick a G5 and an Opteron at clock speeds that give you comparable performance, they use comparable amounts of power. But Apple is unfortunately rather coy with SPEC results, so it's hard to tell for each and every chip.

      There's a huge difference in noise level. You can't hear the G5s unless they're really working on something.

      Well, you can get a completely fanless Hush PC (nice looking, too) with a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 in it, so the Apple achievement doesn't seem all that impressive. And PCs with slow fans are even more common. If you choose to buy noisy Dell's, that's really your own doing.

  84. Yup by crumbz · · Score: 1

    Just ordered my dual 2.5 with 2GB RAM from the Apple Store. It is estimating the first week of August for shipping. Damn.

    1. Re:Yup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2GB of RAM cost you $600 more than it does at retail

    2. Re:Yup by mebob · · Score: 1

      HaHA MOD this up!

      --
      =1000101
  85. I hate improved cooling systems... by evilviper · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Frankly, I hate the fact that companies are figuring out that there are better ways to cool computers down.

    You see, as long as they don't know about more effecient coolers, they keep their heat output much lower. This means two very important things...

    First, it means I can spend $20 and replace the crap in my computer with almost completely silent fans, and very effecient heatsinks.

    Second, it means that the computers aren't outputting as much heat. Once cooling solutions they use can handle cooling-down a 500WATT processor, you'll see 500WATT processors. This means much more electricity wasted for no reason, and (more importantly for me) it means while your system is running, it's ouputting 500WATTS of heat from the computer into the building where it is held. It's getting to the point where the biggest cost of running computers is the need to have massive air-conditioners installed, and running at their max, all the time.

    Frankly, I can see us reverting back to ENIAC times. To run a computer you have to build a whole building for the thing, with massive airconditioners under the floorboards, and you have to notify the power company in advance when you want to turn it on, so you don't cause a black-out. The only difference is going to be inital purchase cost of the processors, which will be low, but on-going costs will be massively high.

    Personally, I'm using ducting to limit the need for massive air-cooling here in the 130 degree desert summer, but that isn't perfect. Lots of heat still leaks into the building, but it's an improvement. If heat output levels continue to rise, it will be pointless, and practically impossible to have a server-room, frankly.

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    1. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by emorphien · · Score: 1

      I have to agree somewhat. The processors are just going to keep getting hotter because the coolers are just going to keep moving to accomodate them. Video cards are following the same path.

      Just because we can cool it better doesn't mean we should rely on it, I don't think this increase in heat production can go much further before some unwanted effects show up.

      Hopefully in the future something's gonna change, but in the mean time we're headed down a one way path that aint gonna end pretty.

      --


      Presently here, but not there.
    2. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by iphayd · · Score: 1

      Dude, your complaint to this is because you would rather have the computer company make a noisy computer, which you can spend extra in time and money to make quiet.

      Apple is not putting this stuff in because the _have_ to. They could pump as much air as it takes through that case.

      They do this because they know that this will result in a quieter case.

    3. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by evilviper · · Score: 1
      your complaint to this is because you would rather have the computer company make a noisy computer, which you can spend extra in time and money to make quiet.


      No, you are greatly mistaken. It has NOTHING to do with noise, and everything to do with cooling effeciency.
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    4. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by 2nd+Post! · · Score: 1

      Why is he mistaken? Apple computers are known for being quiet. I certainly buy Apple computers in part because they are quiet!

    5. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by iphayd · · Score: 1

      Cooling efficiency results in noise reduction.

      Noise = inefficiency.

      Apple could have put in several high speed, inefficient fans. Probably for considerably less than developing a liquid cooling system. However, these fans would have been incredibly noisier, and they know that we, the buying public, expect our Apple computers to be as damn near silent as possible.

    6. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Just because Apple has a good (i.e. quiet) cooling system doesn't mean their computers run hotter than ones using P4s; it just means they are quieter. Just because they maybe could make them faster and hotter, doesn't mean they do.

      Also, low power chips will be around even if the mainstream ones do get hotter. Nobody's stopping you from getting yourself a Via C3 or Pentium-M or something, or even underclocking a "normal" chip!

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    7. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by evilviper · · Score: 1
      Why is he mistaken?

      He is mistaken because he is trying to put words in my mouth that I never said, nor implied.
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    8. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by FredFnord · · Score: 1

      Two solutions to this.

      One, get an older computer for a server. My main server machine is a PowerMac G4 Cube. No fans, just a heat sink. Does all a server needs to.

      Two, use a laptop as your main machine. My 15" AlBook is great on the road, and then I bring it in and plug it into all the cables and I can't tell it's not a desktop. And together they don't give off much heat and (this is the best part) when they're both powered on, with all peripherals, the noisiest thing in the room is the external DVD-RW drive's fan. No lie.

      Until I have to turn on the damn PC, anyway.

      -fred

      --
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    9. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by evilviper · · Score: 1
      Just because they maybe could make them faster and hotter, doesn't mean they do.

      Improved cooling going mainstream has always been a harbinger of increasing heat output thus far. Just because Apple happens to over-engineer their cooling solutions (which is good of course) doesn't mean they aren't going to increase heat output.

      Nobody's stopping you from getting yourself a Via C3 or Pentium-M or something, or even underclocking a "normal" chip!

      Via chips are massively under-powered. They perform like AMD/Intel chips at about half the MHz, and their heat output is about the same. So, I'd get an old 500MHz Intel processor, rather than a 1GHz C3. Neither one really qualifies as a "low power chip", they're just old and slow.

      I've been trying to get my hands on a desktop motherboard that will accept a Pentium-M processor for some time now, but all I've found is only sold in large quantities to OEMs. If you've got another source for ATX motherboards for Pentium-M processors, fill me in.

      I have been trying underclocking "normal" chips, but I just don't see the tempurature drop everyone would expect. With a 2GHz AMD XP, I can underclock it to 1GHz, and even with the performance drop, I only see a tempurature drop of very few degrees. Perhaps this is unique to AMD, since their chips have had power-management problems, but it's put a damper on any of my plans.

      There's also no reason anyone should have to accept a chip that runs half as fast just for a minor reduction in heat output and power draw. Both Intel and AMD have shown that they can make chips that use less power and output less heat, while having performance as good as their hotter chips. If they considered heat and power a priority, we could have processors that are only slightly more expensive, yet use far less power, and output far less heat.
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    10. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by evilviper · · Score: 1
      One, get an older computer for a server.

      Can't do it. My main 24/7 machine is acting as a souped-up Tivo, which means it needs quite a lot of processing power.

      My router/firewall is running on an underclocked Pentium system, so it puts out fairly little heat, and since it's an old DEC, it already has a couple quiet, tempurature-controlled 80mm fans. It seems DEC was ahead of every other company by a decade in everything they did...

      Two, use a laptop as your main machine. My 15" AlBook is great on the road, and then I bring it in and plug it into all the cables and I can't tell it's not a desktop.

      I've tried to do that, but it never worked out. I had to send it in about 3 times in 6 months because it's components couldn't handle the workload. The contrast of the LCD screen on it wasn't adjustable, and the brightness only had limited adjustments, so I was pretty well blinded by it. The keyboard was lowsy. Plus, the heat rising up from the unit was quite irritating.

      I tried plugging in my own keyboard/mouse and monitor, but it required far too much work. Every time I wanted to turn it on/off I had to unlatch the screen, open it up, hold the button, close it again, etc. I had to hit a button to shut-off the LCD screen, but sometimes I'd just brush another keyboard button and the display would come back on... Add to that the fact that I live in the desert, and the temp-controlled fan would often be operating at high-speed, and very loud, while not able to cool off the system too well. The noise of the hard drive spinning up and down was an irritant as well...

      With a basic ATX system, with the fans upgraded, my desktop systems are quieter than my notebook. Plus they can be sitting under my desk, which blocks even more of the noise. I would like to have such a low power processor in my desktop system, but absolutely everything about my notebook other than the processor itself was a bust as a desktop replacement.
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      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    11. Re:I hate improved cooling systems... by evilviper · · Score: 1
      Cooling efficiency results in noise reduction.

      No, as a matter of fact it doesn't. The ammount of noise a fan puts out has nothing to do with how effecient it is at cooling. Plus, there are other cooling systems that are less noisy than fans, yet aren't as effecient. Convection with (or without) heatpipes seems like a good example. There's also peltier cooling soultions, and more.

      Apple could have put in several high speed, inefficient fans.

      I would expect them to put several low-speed, tempurature-controlled fans, as with earlier G5 systems, not high-speed, ineffecient ones...

      However, these fans would have been incredibly noisier, and they know that we, the buying public, expect our Apple computers to be as damn near silent as possible.

      But my problem is that this liquid cooling is a sign of hotter processors in the future. Liquid cool all you like, I just get concerned when OEMs go out of their way to install cooling systems that are able to handle far hotter components. A bad sign of things to come.
      --
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  86. No, it is. by TamMan2000 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Did you look at the page?

    The schematic clearly shows a closed circuit of pump driven fluid flowing past the CPUs getting heated and then flowing into a heat exchanger (takes the place of a holding tank, and is actually superior too one) with a fan blowing on it. This is exactly like a smaller version of the cooling system in a car. There is no phase change.

    A heat pipe is completly different, it is a phase change driven system, and does not involve pumping, or traditional heat exchangers.

    --
    "I'll have a Guinness, no wait, make that a Coors Light" -Grad student I work with, who shall remain anonymous...
    1. Re:No, it is. by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Insightful

      pardon me, but where on that picture is a pump?
      is the RADIANT GRILLE or the CPU's the "PUMP"?

      the text doesn't say there is a pump either, *The dual 2.5GHz Power Mac G5 features an innovative liquid cooling system that's more efficient than a traditional heat sink. This system provides a continuous flow of thermally conductive fluid that transfers heat from the processors as they work harder. The heated fluid then flows through a radiant grille, where air passing over cooling fins returns the fluid to its original temperature.*

      all this implies that it is, in effect, a heatpipe without a pump driving the system. the diagram implies it as well.

      It makes more sense to not have a pump anyways, besides, if they did use a pump this wouldn't be that innovative at all(because this is exactly where a heatpipe cooler could/would rock).

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:No, it is. by TamMan2000 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Heat pipes are passive. How does that jive with this:

      Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid...

      To control the flow of the fluid you would need a pump. You could put a valve in it, but that makes no sence, because a heat pipe adjusts it's own flow, passively, based on the heat load.

      I don't disagree that a heat pipe would rock for this, but it is not what is in the Mac.

      --
      "I'll have a Guinness, no wait, make that a Coors Light" -Grad student I work with, who shall remain anonymous...
    3. Re:No, it is. by Aapje · · Score: 1

      closed circuit of pump driven

      That worries me. What happens if the pump fails? Hopefully, the fans will compensate and you will be alerted. However, even then you are looking at a very costly repair. Wouldn't it be possible to use a heat pipe? Does anyone know why Apple didn't choose one? They used convectional cooling for the Cube, so I assume that they looked into it.

      --

      The Drowned and the Saved - Primo Levi
    4. Re:No, it is. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I want Apple to make my refrigerator. I'm sure it would be ultra-quieter and stylin too.

    5. Re:No, it is. by geoffspear · · Score: 2, Funny

      What happens if the expensive G5 processor fails? They should have used a 68040, because it would be cheaper to fix if it breaks.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    6. Re:No, it is. by airbie · · Score: 0

      did you also notice that the liquid cpu heat sinks are connected in a series(vs. in parallel), this basically means the heated coolant from the first cpu is flowing to cool the second cpu... basically one cpu will always run warmer than the other, lets hope that's not the cpu that does all the work.

      --
      They couldn't fix my brakes, so they made my horn louder.
    7. Re:No, it is. by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 1
      What happens if the pump fails?

      The machine senses the loss of the pump, alerts you and shuts down before it overheats? What if a fan (or in the G5's case, all 9 fans) failed?

    8. Re:No, it is. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fans break far more often than processors because of their moving parts. Besides, heat pipes may be just as good as a pump-based system, so it certainly wouldn't be an automatic downgrade.

    9. Re:No, it is. by dukerobillard · · Score: 2, Informative

      As long as the system is engineered to carry away enough heat from the second CPU, this will work fine. In cars, the coolent goes to the various cylinder heads serially, and it's okay.

    10. Re:No, it is. by Aapje · · Score: 1

      What if a fan failed?

      Well, you could get a new one from Apple and swap them out. Assuming they have sensible connectors, it would be a snap. A liquid pump would surely be strongly integrated with the rest of the system. It has to have a liquid-tight connection to the tubes which are used to transport the liquid and that connection would be hard to break to prevent people from pulling the tubes loose. That means that it is probably difficult to remove the pump. Removing the pump could also result in liquid getting out, so you would have to be very careful. Then, while keeping the liquid in, you would have to connect the new pump. I assume that that this a hard repair even for a technician. And hard repairs mean $$$.

      Components with moving parts are notoriously unreliable (pumps, fans and hard disks), so this could be an big additional risk.

      --

      The Drowned and the Saved - Primo Levi
    11. Re:No, it is. by PitaBred · · Score: 2

      Or perhaps they just use the heat differential to make the fluid flow, you know, when something is warmer, it's less dense, so it goes up, and the cooler liquid sinks... sets up a dynamic system, the hotter the processor gets, the more fluid flows, etc. It's better than trying to passively radiate the heat through solid metal.

    12. Re:No, it is. by phillymacmike · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I want that one too! With holes front and back for airflow! And the one-button ice/water dispenser!

      --
      _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _>8
      Too many errors in one post (make fewer).
    13. Re:No, it is. by Warhaven · · Score: 1
      Well there you have it:

      Power Mac G5 features an innovative liquid cooling system
      No pump, right?
    14. Re:No, it is. by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      well, heatpipes flow more with more heat difference.. so they could word it like that and technically not lie.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    15. Re:No, it is. by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      Can you post a link to that comment? I didn't see it on the Apple site.

      thx.

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    16. Re:No, it is. by revmoo · · Score: 1

      And how is MacOS supposed to control that?

      --
      I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
    17. Re:No, it is. by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      by doing calculations?

      .

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    18. Re:No, it is. by TamMan2000 · · Score: 1

      Same page I linked in the post above that post, further down the page...

      --
      "I'll have a Guinness, no wait, make that a Coors Light" -Grad student I work with, who shall remain anonymous...
    19. Re:No, it is. by N1KO · · Score: 1

      Doing your math homework isn't going to cool your computer. Either the liquid flows with or without intervention from the OS, you can't have both at the same time.

  87. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by mfago · · Score: 1, Informative
    The new dual 2.5GHz does NOT use a heat pipe! From the webpage, Apple states

    Apple designed a sophisticated liquid cooling system that takes off the heat without bumping up the noise. Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature.

    If it has a pump, it's not a heat pipe.

    BTW, the prior G5 models (and new lower-end models) do use heat pipes.

    What's odd: no pictures of the internals of the liquid-cooled model yet.
  88. more work! by conJunk · · Score: 1

    ha ha!

    see the article about the future of sys-admin positions!

    imagine supporting these boxes! what used to be a software call, or faulty ram, or something like that, could now be fluid leak!

    in addition to supporting the box, we now will need to be spot-on with fluid-dynamics, plumbing, and things like this!

    ok, sure, its a really great idea, and why did it take so long for someone to think of it, but i really hope the manual is good!

    1. Re:more work! by mr100percent · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because I just shove my box off my desk at LEAST once a week. You know, to get rid of stress.

  89. There goes another one by Thing+I+am · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I just killed a kitten.

    --
    That sucking sound you hear is my bandwidth.
  90. Wow! by jcostantino · · Score: 1
    Announcements like these make me wish I still worked for an apple authorized reseller. We always would see cool new product come in for some reason or another after being announced. Now I just manage some two year old MDD's. It was very cool to be able to actually work on brand new units a month or two after their release. Apple has always put the latest tech into production machines way earlier than 'mainstream' PC companies have.

    I don't miss making chump change and having to drive all day to fix them though. :)

    --
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  91. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow, that would be a very "informative" comment if you bothered to mention what kind of pentium you meant, instead of talking out your ass.

  92. Probably Have to go to a Retailer... by Black-Man · · Score: 1

    The local Micro Center usually blows out the older Power Macs.

    This is why the news of Apple getting rid of 3rd party retailers so disturbing. Don't expect this kind of event at an Apple Store.

  93. Re:awww damn it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haha, I'm ahead of you... I got a Performa 6200 little less than 2 weeks ago.

  94. No 3Ghz any time soon by amichalo · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Citing unforseen issues with 90nm chips, Apple's dir of PowerMac marketing, Tom Boger, stated on Mac Central there will be no 3Ghz g5 'anytime soon'.

    --
    I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
    1. Re:No 3Ghz any time soon by amichalo · · Score: 0, Redundant
      Citing unforseen issues with 90nm chips, Apple's dir of PowerMac marketing, Tom Boger, stated on Mac Central ( Good Link) there will be no 3 Ghz g5 'anytime soon'.
      --
      I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
  95. blah, blah by lingqi · · Score: 2, Informative
    the liquid you want is called Flourinert. It's ~500 dollars per gallon. If you know people in chip-manufacture industry, you might be able to sneak away with some used ones (capital equipment has their flourinert changed every few monthes, and the used up ones are pretty much the same as new ones anyway (or not different enough to make up a difference of 500 dollars).

    viscosity of oil is pretty bad and flourinert is ok until about -40 degrees.

    or you can, i don't know, buy liquid cooled system like ValuStar TZ that had liquid cooling for almost a year now? (Granted, maybe japan only)

    So, can we say that MS copies off apple, but apple actually is copying off of NEC? kind of a hard fact to accept, but innovation would seem to be, erm, not so alive in the US these days...

    --

    My life in the land of the rising sun.

  96. Who cares? by pitdingo · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Who cares? these are more way overpriced machines from Apple. Build yourself a dual Athlon 64 box with more RAM, more Hard Drive space, better video, better sound, and GNU/Linux for much cheaper and get equal if not better performance. Heck, you can even skin it to look just like OSX too.

    1. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Looking like OSX isn't the point.

      The user experience is what Macs are all about. Running OSX, not just looking like it, and having a wonderfully engineered case.

      A PC running any OS it is capable of is like a bitching Camaro kicking ass in the straight-away.

      A Mac is like a BMW z4 taking on a winding road.

      You either get it or you don't.

    2. Re:Who cares? by karstux · · Score: 0

      To the best of my knowledge, there are no dual Athlon64 machines - you'd need an Opteron for that, and they come with their own hefty pricetag.

      But Apple is a wee bit too expensive, right. The smallest (dual) G4 Powermac for ~1400 EUR? Ouch! My (single )Athlon64 box is faster, has four times the RAM, twice the disk space, and a better graphics card. It is smaller and probably more silent. And it cost considerably less (~1050 EUR).

      No, Apple, as much as I'd like to get one of your computers (I really like the design of the G4 Powermacs, and the OS), I'll not do so at this pricetag.

      --
      Don't whistle while you're pissing.
    3. Re:Who cares? by pitdingo · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      It's your money...spend it at as you see fit. Personally, I would take a new Kawasaki ZX-10 for a tiny fraction of the cost of a z4, totally smoke the Camaro in a straight-away, and pass the z4 like it is standing still in the twisties.

    4. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      parent = pwnt!

    5. Re:Who cares? by Calibax · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Did that include the cost of the OS and equivalents of all the other software goodies in the Apple package? Or all the nickel and dime extras you need for a PC that come with a Mac. And I can't be too surprised when you compare a single processor system with a dual processor system and then declare the single processor to be less expensive. And when you say the single processor system is faster you may be technically correct, but I wonder if it will do more work; which is what really matters imho.

      The myth that Apple is more expensive is just not true, as anyone who has done a serious comparison of features will tell you.

      I happen to have three Athlon 64 systems and two G5 systems. I spend time on all of them as a mercenery for hire, but I believe that I'm most productive for my non-professional work on the Mac, which is where I put all my personal stuff.

    6. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ok... here goes... the cheapest dual Opteron system I can build, based on the 1.8ghz Opteron 244:

      Mobo: MSI K8T Master2-FAR $220
      CPU1: AMD Opteron 244, Retail $330
      CPU1: AMD Opteron 244, Retail $330
      DIMM1: 128MB ECC Registered DIMM $ 60
      DIMM1: 128MB ECC Registered DIMM $ 60
      HDA1: WD800JD 7200RPM 80GB SATA $ 75
      VID: GeForceFX 5200 $ 55
      DVD: 8X DVD+/-RW $ 90
      CASE: Lian-Li PC-V1000 $200
      PWR: Antec TRUE430 $ 70
      MISC: keyboard, mouse, fans, etc.$ 50
      =====
      total $1540

      So you're talking about a system that's about $1540 pre-shipping (which would probably run close to $100). And that's with the cheapest motherboard and RAM money can buy.

      The dual 1.8ghz machine with otherwise similar specs from Apple is $1999. So you're paying a premium for quality system design and support, and software.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    7. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The myth that Apple is more expensive is just not true, as anyone who has done a serious comparison of features will tell you.

      Sorry, but it used to be true. The G5's are the first systems Apple offered that are a reasonable deal compared to PC's. Honestly, I'd like to see a $1000 machine based on a 1.6ghz G5. Then Apple would really turn some heads.

      And Apple monitors, while excellent, are still too pricey. They need a $400 17" DVI-D only model or something.

      Look at the iMacs... a 1ghz G4 with a 15" LCD for $1300? I could get a MUCH faster Athlon64 system for that with more RAM and disk space, plus it would be upgradable.

      Yeah, you're paying for the software and the "experience", but frankly, most people don't care enough to plunk down the extra cash, and they still have to pay another $200 (or more) for MS Office when cheaper PC's come with it for free.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    8. Re:Who cares? by wavedeform · · Score: 5, Informative
      To that you'd have to add the cost of your time to assemble it and install software. I don't know about you, but my consulting rate is high enough that the Mac is already cheaper when assembly time is factored in.

      You wouldn't get a warranty with the Opteron system, not that you get a great one with the Apple, but it's better than nothing.

      OS X is definitely worth something, although if you're coming from a Linux POV you might think that OS's should be free. I'm willing to pay for some ease of use and elegance.

      For my money, the Mac is a better deal, and arguably cheaper.

    9. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh yeah? Well, you take your stupid jap bike, and I'll take an F-16. You'll pass the Camaro, I'll be 3 miles behind you. You pass the z4 and I'll be one mile behind... Right at that instant you'll be vaporized by my +5 AGM-65K (Maverick of Kawasaki DOOM).

      Look who's laughing now!

      Muhaha. *cough* ahahhahahaa.

    10. Re:Who cares? by karstux · · Score: 0, Troll

      Okay, I should have included the WinXP Pro license (~150 EUR) which I already had (yeah, legally) and the assembly cost (which I did myself, but time's not free) - let's say 50 bucks. What "nickel and dime extras" you are referring to I do not know. The system was built on a Shuttle barebone system, so once I added the neccessary components I was ready to go.

      What I was trying to say is that AMD's fastest home desktop system is still a few hundred bucks cheaper than Apple's minimally-equipped aging G4. The iMac isn't cheaper either. (Admitted, the eMac is, but who wants that one...) That doesn't seem right, and not particularly smart on Apple's side either.

      If they'd trim the G4 PowerMac to silence and thermic efficiency, then sell it for about 700-900 EUR (which cannot be impossible), I bet they'd have quite a market.

      Of course, if you can afford and actually use 5 top-of-the-line systems, Apple's prices might not appear that steep to you. :-)

      --
      Don't whistle while you're pissing.
    11. Re:Who cares? by pitdingo · · Score: 1

      Take a look at Pricewatch.com. You could save several hundred off that price, or use the difference to get even more powerful parts. Plus, why spend $200 on a case? You can get great looking cases for $100!

      If Apple really wants to sell these things, they should lower the prices by about $500 per machine.

    12. Re:Who cares? by Colazar · · Score: 2, Informative
      The G5's are the first systems Apple offered that are a reasonable deal compared to PC's.

      That's true if you're only looking at the desktop side. On the laptop side, Macs have been a good deal for about the last 3 years (when the dual-USB iBooks were introduced).

      --
      He decided to just watch the government, and kind of scale it down to size, and run his life that way. --Laurie Anderson
    13. Re:Who cares? by Phillup · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't know about you, but my consulting rate is high enough that the Mac is already cheaper when assembly time is factored in.

      Thank you.

      Some people know the value of time, and can get someone to actually pay it.

      Sometimes, buying the very first product you find that will solve your problem is the most economical solution.

      (Not to be confused with the optimal or best solution.)

      And, if you are doing it to make money... that is the "right" solution.

      --

      --Phillip

      Can you say BIRTH TAX
    14. Re:Who cares? by Geek_3.3 · · Score: 1

      Just to be fair, you'd more than likely have to add shipping costs to the Apple machine too. (possibly tax too) Whereas the custom build you can probably get away w/ most shipping/tax costs if you go through a place like newegg or something.

      But you're still right--for an integrated, advanced system like that, $2K-ish ain't bad.

    15. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But tell me (seriously): will you buy such a PC? Or does your personal PC have a number of better and faster parts? Why would you do that when such a bargain is available?

    16. Re:Who cares? by Arcturax · · Score: 1

      If they follow your .sig's suggestion and use free software, then the MS office problem goes away, right?

      --

      --Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop. - Dr. Walter Gibbs
    17. Re:Who cares? by thejuggler · · Score: 1

      If Apple really wants to sell these things, ...

      Apple realy does sell things, and these G5 things to boot. They're making money at it so why should they lower the price? You don't tell high end car makers to lower the price just because you can get a car that drives on all the roads just fine for a fraction of their price, do you?

      People are willing to pay for quality and reliability and even the name. So let them.

      I'd be willing to buy a new Porche if they'd only lower the price.

    18. Re:Who cares? by Calibax · · Score: 2

      I notice you didn't counter my point regarding the reasonableness of comparing dual and single processor systems.

      For nickel and dime items we can start with a free, full blown, industrial strength developer package for multiple languages. I use Visual Studio for x86 development, and Apple's free package is arguably better and can be used for both x86 and PowerPC development. In fact I build x86 projects using the Mac developer environment daily.

      As far as cost is concerned, wander over to Dell's site and configure a dual processor Xeon system with approximately the same feature set as the Mac. You will find (if you do an honest comparison of features) that the Dell comes out about $500 more expensive. And an Opteron is considerably more expensive than a Xeon, last time I looked.

    19. Re:Who cares? by Maudib · · Score: 1

      This is clearly not the cheapest system as you have ecc registered ram and one can run the opterones with plain old dims. $40 for 256mb, not 120.

      $200 for a case? You can get a perfectly good case for this system for $90.

      You are using retail CPU's, OEM can be had for $307.

      You price is $210 high. The correct comparison is $1330 versus $1999. Thats a huge difference.

    20. Re:Who cares? by Maudib · · Score: 1

      Your cpus are $23(x2) high.

      A good case can be had for $90, so take off another $110.

      Not all opteron boards require registered ecc memory, take off another $80.

      Your system is $233 high. The comparison should be $1307 versus $1999.

    21. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not much of a premium, really. I'm quite shocked.

      I mean, let's take it as read that Mac OS X is a VASTLY better OS than Windows, okay? So surely that's worth a couple hundred in "premium" right there.

      Then you add in the *vastly* superior and quieter cooling, the vastly better RAM, the support and the overall design/aesthetics ... yeah, I'd have to say that when "cheap" is not the absolute sole factor in a buying decision, this machine stacks up WAY better than the home-built for about $300 more. A good value IMHO.

    22. Re:Who cares? by TheCrazyFinn · · Score: 1

      Opterons require Registered DIMMs, as do Athlon64 FX51's.

      Plain Athlon 64's do not.

      --
      "You've got an invalid haircut" -Warren Zevon - Life'll Kill Ya
    23. Re:Who cares? by dcarey · · Score: 3, Informative
      Honestly, I'd like to see a $1000 machine based on a 1.6ghz G5. Then Apple would really turn some heads.


      The g5 iMacs are on schedule to be released in 2 weeks at the WWDC. Is this what you're asking for?


      You know that being said, I'm not sure if I ever care if Apple's prices are cheapened or not. I mean, think of it in this analogy - I love BMWs, always have. I am making a crazy attempt to save for one which will or will not ever come to fruition. But do I want BMW to come out with a $16,000 car (mini coopers do not count) that skimps on some of the quality? No, that, my friend, is not a BMW.


      Part of the price included in Apple's products is research and development for its sleek designs. I would not have it any other way.


      Yeah, you're paying for the software and the "experience", but frankly, most people don't care enough to plunk down the extra cash,


      I do, and have since 1993. There are many that feel the same. It's just a matter of preference, there is no "correct" computer purchase.

      --

      -- (Score:i , Imaginary)

    24. Re:Who cares? by jocknerd · · Score: 1

      I totally agree with you except for one thing. Video Editing sucks on Linux. When there is software as capable as Final Cut Pro 4, I'll run Linux exclusively. Until then, I need a Mac to go along with my Linux machines.

    25. Re:Who cares? by MaestroRC · · Score: 5, Informative
      You wouldn't get a warranty with the Opteron system, not that you get a great one with the Apple, but it's better than nothing.

      Apple has by far the best warranty experience that I have ever encountered. All systems come with 90 days phone support ("I can't get OSX to do this" or "my machine is doing this") and a full year of hardware support, over the phone ("shit broke"). I have a Powerbook G4 I bought in August of last year, and the 2 times I had to call support on it (once for the screen, it was a known manufacturing issue with the 15"s at the time, the other to fix the casing that wasn't reassembled properly, just a bit loose was all, nothing major) I was on the phone for a total of less than 10 minutes, calling during "peak" times, and was on hold for less than 30 seconds before I was talking to a Mac Genious (Apple's tech people, not someone just reading off of a screen prompt). When I got off the phone, a box was on it's way to me and arrived the next day to send it in for repair, and I got the machine back a day and a half later. No computer company that I know of, except for business-grade support can match that. And Apple's AppleCare warranty, which extends phone support and hardware warranty to 3 years, is only ~$250, which is cheaper than about any level of support that anyone else offers, and for a hell of a lot better service

      --
      I hate sigs...
    26. Re:Who cares? by blugu64 · · Score: 1

      except that the RAM in the G5 comes in one stick instead of your two....nitpick I know but then again....

      --
      "Personal ownership is a hallmark of conservative capitalism. And I don't believe I am entitled to anything that I did n
    27. Re:Who cares? by japhmi · · Score: 1, Interesting

      To that you'd have to add the cost of your time to assemble it and install software. I don't know about you, but my consulting rate is high enough that the Mac is already cheaper when assembly time is factored in.

      Unless you enjoy building computers from scratch like I do. It's relaxing and interesting to work with computer innards at times.

      However, I have enough old PCs laying around for that fetish, but some people prefer building their own to buying.

      --
      "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys" P. J. O'Rourke
    28. Re:Who cares? by blugu64 · · Score: 1

      ohh ya...and the G5 has Firewire800....and a modem....and I googled your mobo there and wow guess what! no freaken sound! the G5 has Optical in and out, and your typical miniplugs... so next time you get the urge to compare setups at least make sure to check that they really are comparable!

      --
      "Personal ownership is a hallmark of conservative capitalism. And I don't believe I am entitled to anything that I did n
    29. Re:Who cares? by jdbo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      you left out firewire 400/800 card and modem (don't believe that these are on the mobo).

      does this support digitial audio i/o?

      how is WiFI supported? (can it use a card, or does it have to take up a PCI slot?)

      how much to add software equivalent to the following:
      iLife (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand),
      Art Directors Toolkit, EarthLink TotalAccess 2004, GraphicConverter, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition, Zinio Reader, Mail, iChat AV, Safari, Sherlock, Address Book, QuickTime, iSync, iCal, DVD Player, Classic environment, Xcode Developer Tools

      esp: iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, QuickBooks

      also, if you're using windows that cost should be added in

      also, there's the warrantee and online service with the G5.

      finally, you left out shipping costs (unless you can get those prices locally)

      this narrows the gap somewhat.

    30. Re:Who cares? by dogmatixpsych · · Score: 1

      The comparison should be $1307 versus $1999.

      $1307 + operating system + software + headache + crashes = about the same price but probably more. I guess the good side of building a similar-to-G5-but-not-quite-the-same Opteron-based system is you get free and unlimited tech support, as long as you can figure it out yourself!

      "Ask not what your PC can do for you, but what you can do for your PC."

    31. Re:Who cares? by Lussarn · · Score: 1

      In a standard pc if a part fail I can go out and buy that part for 100$ max, any part. I will go so far as to say I don't need no warranty because parts are so cheap and easy to install.

      If the mb on your sweet mac goes out you probably can't even buy it without shipping your computer to Apple. Sound like shit to me.

    32. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gee, I enjoy stealing Powermac g5s from apple stores. that brings my cost down to $0. See, Macs are cheaper! :-)

    33. Re:Who cares? by grahamlee · · Score: 1

      The G5 iMac-replacements had better be headless and Apple had better create a low-budget display alternative - if both of these are fulfilled then I'll place an order for 35 of the headless units ASAP. Unfortunately, I expect iSteve to be all for the "easy enough for my mother to use" route, and make the new Macs all-in-ones again - even though iMac sales are lagging atm.

    34. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1

      I used a $200 case because it's a case that's relatively comparable to the G5 case.

      I did use pricewatch for some things. Yes, you could get OEM CPU's cheaper, but I like the warrantee and I'd need to buy a seperate fan elsewhere.

      I chose the power supply because I want a nice, clean, beefy one to supply the power to the Opterons.

      Most of the parts, you can't get for a whole lot cheaper, other than the CPU's, and that's only if you go OEM

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    35. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1

      Cheapest PC2700 registered DIMMs I could find. Yeah, I could go cheaper if I was going PC2100, but that would be silly.

      The retail CPU's actually have warantees, and come with heat sink/fan units, which you'd have to spend at least $10 each for a good one.

      The case I priced out was comparable to the G5 case. Look it up.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    36. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1

      Opteron has a dual-channel memory controller, so to get optimum memory bandwidth, you need two.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    37. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1

      I did not add software, because I don't care about all that crap, and I assume neither does the parent I replied to.

      I use free software exclusively, with the exception of a couple of games and my video driver. I don't care about the stuff you listed -- I want Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice.org, GNU Emacs, and GCC. For what I do, all other desktop stuff is fluff.

      I was NOT slamming Apple -- I was trying to show that it's not that much more than DIY dual Opterons. Given to the average Joe, the G5 is a better product.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    38. Re:Who cares? by Pfhreak · · Score: 1

      The entire reason the Power Mac G4 still exists in Apple's lineup is that it's the only machine that officially still supports Mac OS 9. As incomprehensible as it is to me, there are still people who want/need the ability to boot natively into 9. If I understand your suggestion to get the G4 down to 700-900 EUR correctly, it would require adding some hardware support into Mac OS 9 to get it to boot natively, and messing with OS 9 at this point is something Apple (understandably) isn't willing to do.

      As for the iMac, it's long overdue for a speedbump. In fact, it's the only model in Apple's lineup that hasn't been refreshed this year. (Except for the Power Mac G4, but I doubt we'll see that get updated, just quietly discontinued once the pressure for a 9 box drops below a certain point.) For the last few months there's been a lot of mounting evidence that Apple was going to refresh the G5 and maybe the iMac at WWDC. The G5s have already been refreshed. If Apple does have a G5 iMac in the works, it would be much more keynote-worthy than a 25% speed increase in the G5 line, so they'd be more likely to wait on that.

      --
      The U.S. Constitution needs to be ammended with a "separation of business and state" clause.
    39. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1

      If they follow my .sig's suggestion, they would also throw out OSX. I'm assuming someone buying a Mac wants to use proprietary software.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    40. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1
      Apple could VERY WELL make a G5 for under a grand without skimping on quality. Here's how:

      Make a new motherboard design that does not have all the traces/silkscreen/extra board space for a second CPU. Zap one or two of the PCI-X slots.

      Have only 2 DIMM slots. Ditch the modem.

      Now that the mobo is physically smaller, make the case significantly smaller. Only have space for 1 hard drive. That cast aluminum has to be expensive.

      Using the new PPC970FX chips clocked down to like 1.5-1.6 Ghz, it shouldn't run as hot as the older models. Now, you don't need an elaborite cooling solution.

      Ship with a combo-drive standard instead of a superdrive.

      Now, are you telling me that the above wouldn't shave $1000 off the price of the Dual 1.8ghz model? And it wouldn't do so without sacrificing quality?

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    41. Re:Who cares? by karstux · · Score: 1

      You're speaking from a power user / developer perspective - I wasn't talking workstations, I was talking desktops. 95% of all users, and that includes gamers, are not power users who could sensibly utilize a dual processor system. For these kinds of users it's mostly cosmetic, when you want a fluid desktop experience under high processor load.

      So I guess while dual processor x86 and Mac systems are price-/value-competitive (as you say, with the Mac maybe even cheaper, which I do not object to) that's irrelevant for the mass market. Single-processor machines rule the mass (read: desktop) market (mostly because they are "good enough"). However, Apple could change that if they overpriced their "low-end" G4 PowerMacs just a bit less.

      I didn't know OS X shipped with an IDE. That's interesting and shows that Apple has more respect towards their customers than Microsoft, i.e. they assume that users might actually want to program their computer. While going a bit offtopic, I think it's a shame that Windows doesn't natively bring any programming tools. Anyway, thanks for bringing this up - I'll educate myself about it.

      --
      Don't whistle while you're pissing.
    42. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 1

      Yes, Mac laptops have been on par with quality PC counterparts, but we were talking about desktops, weren't we?

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    43. Re:Who cares? by Paulrothrock · · Score: 1
      If Apple really wants to sell these things, they should lower the prices by about $500 per machine.

      Translation: If Apple really wants to drive IBM and its customers crazy with insane order numbers and more insane wait times, they should lower prices by about $500 per machine.

      --
      I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
    44. Re:Who cares? by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 1

      Except when there's weather. Let's see how well you take the corners when it's raining. Your chances of crashing are much greater, even if you are very skilled. It's not all about raw speed. Ever hear of traction?

      How much of a load can you carry on your Kawa? One passenger? Lunch? A bedroll? At what point does the load severely affect the balance of the bike, making it more likely you'll crash in extreme situations?

      Still, for pure pleasure, take the bike.

      --
      It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
    45. Re:Who cares? by FatherOfONe · · Score: 1

      Dude you have some serious hardware.

      I envy you.

      --
      The more I learn about science, the more my faith in God increases.
    46. Re:Who cares? by dcarey · · Score: 1
      Now, are you telling me that the above wouldn't shave $1000 off the price of the Dual 1.8ghz model? And it wouldn't do so without sacrificing quality?


      Ok yes this does make me salivate and what a nice affordable machine that would be. But I think the thing here is that the products are marketed to the middle to upper middle class folks, like a BMW. Apple needs revenue to make up for the intense amount of R/D that goes on to make those pretty shiny computers. Having a higher-end machine justifies the higher price regardless of profit margin. To make a lower end machine just doesn't make sense if you have a specific market share, unless you are attempting to foster market share growth over the long term within a specific group with which you've a known affiliation (in other words, the eMac for educational buyers - hoping they'll "grow up" with macs).


      That being said, yup, I'd still buy one of your mentioned machines. But I don't think Apple will sell something like that. They know too well the dangers of product matrix overextension in the past low-cost machines have taken away from profit from higher end machines.


      Ship with a combo-drive standard instead of a superdrive.


      You can custom build to order on this, and by doing so you end up knocking $100 off the price.

      --

      -- (Score:i , Imaginary)

    47. Re:Who cares? by kalidasa · · Score: 1

      Yeah, and if you put a Porsche engine in a Chevy Nova and trick it up with street racing parts, repaint it, and put Michelin tires on it, you'll have a Lamborghini.

    48. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's $1330 versus $0 because I can steal the mac. That's about as honest as using crap parts and building yourself, when PC retailers using good parts and building it for you cost a lot more than building it yourself. That's the problem with you PC users, you just look at some number and start making claims with no idea where the number came from. OMG my AMD processor is so much faster look at the model number its higher than your MHz!

    49. Re:Who cares? by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 1

      The problem is there are occasional patches of gravel even on the straights. As a '78 Firebird driver I can tell you they can really spoil an otherwise nice ride. Just like the gravel MS OSes have to contend with these days.

      --
      - Tjp

      I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

    50. Re:Who cares? by Paladin128 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's why I wouldn't recommend this sort of thing when a new tech first comes out -- but the G5's have been out for a year, already!

      And yes, Apple make money from high-paying customers, but think of what higher volumes could do to thier bottom line?

      And what about businesses? In my company, all the artist-types want Macs, but they get Dells because they're half the cost. One guy who did make a case for a Mac was given a Dell LCD monitor because the Apple ones are too expensive. A sensible model like the one I described would be fantastic if aimed towards businesses, and paired with $400 17" LCD monitors.

      --
      Lex orandi, lex credendi.
    51. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Civilians aren't allowed to buy F-16s you stupid stupid cunt.

    52. Re:Who cares? by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 2, Informative

      I agree with you, but you left out something important: the 10 day "no questions asked here's another one" policy.

      If you buy your Apple product (Mac, iPod, monitor, whatever) at an Apple retail store and you have ANY kind of problem with it at all in the first 10 days, take it back and they're GIVE YOU ANOTHER ONE RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT.

      This has happened to me twice. The first time, I had to send my 17" Studio Display in to have the backlight repaired. I took it to my local Apple Store so they could take care of the logistics of shipping and receiving and all that poop. When it came back 2 days later, it had a scratch right in the middle of the screen. I showed it to the guy at the Genius Bar, and he handed me a brand new Studio Display right there. I took it home.

      The second time, it happened to my girlfriend's PowerBook. She bought it, then after the first week noticed a problem with the graphics card. While she was at work I returned it for her, and came home with a brand new one.

      You don't get that kind of service often.

      --

      I write in my journal
    53. Re:Who cares? by ruiner5000 · · Score: 1

      Why have you ignored the 240, and 242? You also seem to have ignored Newegg, and you have gone with some stupidly high case and power supply combo when you can get a top end case with the same power supply for not much more than $100. $192 for the 240, and 242 for $223. Newegg has free Fedex 3 day shipping. You can easily knock that price down several hundred dollars.

      You see with Apple you get one once choice a year, with the PC you get as many choices as you please. Not only that you get Cool and Quiet, virus protection, 64 bit now, and thousands of more applications. With the Apple however you do get to keep your elitist qualities like you are in Hollywood or something. Long live the elites! And then if you are a gamer, forget about it.

      --
      ignorance is bliss. googlefiberatx.com
    54. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Opterons do require registered ECC memory, there
      is no workaround as the memory controller is embedded in the CPU (Which is a good thing, of course)

    55. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To that you'd have to add the cost of your time to assemble it and install software. I don't know about you, but my consulting rate is high enough that the Mac is already cheaper when assembly time is factored in.

      You must be pretty retarded or VERY expensive, because I could assemble that and have Debian up and running in 20 minutes, easy.

    56. Re:Who cares? by jdbo · · Score: 1

      Pardon, I didn't intend this as a slam - I just wanted to point out the items not included in your listing - which in the case of the Mac is a few hardware pieces (Firewire, WiFI card slot, special cooling system, aesthetics) plus the mentioned software.

      In this case a complete comparison supports your position that Gnu users save $ by going with a BYOB solution, while "average" users save effort with the G5, which is why I posted in the first place.

    57. Re:Who cares? by MoneyT · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not going to happen. And for a reason. It's against apple philosophy.

      When Steve jobs first came back to Apple they had a myriad of different computers with just about everything you could want, and some stuff you didn't. The problem was, you didn't know which one to buy. There were literaly too many choices, too much differentiation.

      Steve came back and wipped the whole thing and said from now on, Apple was going to do things simple, and they would do it by redesigning the line into 4 groups. Entry desktop, entry laptop, pro desktop, pro laptop. And the 4 catagories were born. iBook, iMac, PowerMac, PowerBook. Originaly each one only had 3 options, fast faster and fastest (though that has since been uped to about 4 options) and the idea was that you could just go to the store, and buy exactly what you were looking for in teh range you were looking for it. More advanced users could customize them if they so chose.

      The headless g5 mini would add a whole new catagory that would need a complimenting laptop line to go with it. Further more, it would further complicate the line, as now the line between low end / entry and high end / pro would become even more blury, which is exactly what Apple wants to avoid.

      Provide choices, but make the distinctions between the choices clear. It's a hell of alot easier to explain the differenced between the i series and the power series than it is to explain the differences between say the dell dimensions

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    58. Re:Who cares? by wavedeform · · Score: 1
      I must be challenged, I doubt that I could unpack all the pieces and make sure that they were the right things within 20 minutes, much less assemble everything, format the hard disk and install a Linux distro.

      Hell, it would take me more then ten minutes just to clean off enough space to assemble everything.

      Assuming that you really can do that in 20 minutes, and further assuming that you're the same AC that has an hourly rate less than $100, I question the wisdom of charging that low an hourly rate.

    59. Re:Who cares? by Mikeydude750 · · Score: 0

      He was comparing CPUs with the same clock speeds...and with a dual-processor system such as the one he was talking about, he would need that power supply(the cheapos just don't work as well). The case could be lowered a bit in price, but he wanted to make a comparison to the G5 case(worth more than 200 dollars, IMHO). Plus, you can't forget about the quality of the OS, the time saved by not having to build the G5, as well as having all the extra apps that come with the OS. Sure, those of you who game are not going to want the G5, but if you're buying the PC with the intention of running Linux, it's unlikely you're going to be doing much gaming any time soon(I believe Macs have more games than Linux, with the exception of Wine, which is still glitchier than using Windows for games).

      Add to that the fact that Macs just work out of the box, whereas Linux takes time to setup. Not everyone likes tinkering with their computers. Average Joe would probably buy the G5 if he did some research, as I doubt he wants to deal with setting up Linux.

    60. Re:Who cares? by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      I like Chevy Novas ('68-'72) but I wouldn't stick a Porsche engine in one. That's asinine. An aluminum 454 big block would be just fine, thank you.

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    61. Re:Who cares? by fermion · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Out of the mouth of babes...sometime comes nothing but ignorance.

      The expensive argument comes from the fact that Apple does not make an entire range of commodity machines. They make machines to meet certain markets. They target those markets, and, when they do a good job, the company makes money. They also use the best technology available to meet customer needs. The seldom skimp on technology to meet a price point.

      The first mac was expensive. However, if you did not have skills and were trying to computerize a bussiness, the Mac was worth every peeny. I know this from direct experience.

      The mac continued to be relitively expensive until the commodity market matured and created suitable and reliable products. This took about 5 years of so. At that point Apple could, for example, replace SCSI drives, which were realy elegent devices, with commodity drives. This allowed them, for example, to produce desktops for $1000 in the early 90's and, in the mid 90's, very credible laptop for about that same amount. Like now, there was really nothing else that met it's size, weight, and battery. Of course they also had the really expensive nice laptops for $4000.

      To give you more data points, my early model G4 tower(2000?) was around $1200. I have upgraded it to OS X with 512MB ram and about 100GB HD. It is fast enough. Sure I could have bought a name brand PC for 2/3 as much, but it would have maxed out at 384MB ram and have no room for a second drive.

      The quality price issue is still very real. A good example of this is firewire. Everyone laughs at firewire now, especially with so-called USB 2.0(now is that regular, hyper, or superduper?), but USB 2.0 is pretty new, isn't it? I certainly paid extra for Firewire, but not only do I have a daisy chain plug and play interface, I also do not have to upgrade my old machines just to achieve the performance that was economically availbe 3 or 4 years ago. The fact that I can keep reliable machines in service greatly decreases my strees level.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    62. Re:Who cares? by fermion · · Score: 1
      I don't know how it is now, but a years ago Apple was the only manufacturer that still had a universal 30 day return policy. This meant that one could return any apple machines the retail outlet for a full refund. I had to fight about this becuase all other computer manufacturers only allowed returns for like one week. After that you had to go through the manufacturers warrenty procedure.

      It is the quality thing again. If you don't need, don't pay for it. If you can afford it, quality is a good thing to spend money on.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    63. Re:Who cares? by wolrahnaes · · Score: 1

      Good comparo. As much as many people flamed your choice of case, I think it was a good pick since it is the closest to the G5 case that us PC people have.

      On the other hand, there is no way to accurately compare a homebrew PC to a Mac. G5s are high end machines, best compared to the likes of Alienware and VoodooPC.

      I built an Alienware Roswell using their customizer tool and compared it to a G5.

      They both have 3 year warranties, the same HD, same amount of RAM, similar clocked 64 bit CPUs, nice cases, and professional construction.

      The PC has a faster DVD writer, registered RAM, and a workstation class video card. A quick check of pricewatch says that the extra cost of these parts is around $650.

      Everybody expecting the G5 to be more expensive, even with the extra parts in the PC?

      WRONG!

      Alienware Roswell 4500: $4768
      Power Mac Dual G5 2.5GHz: $3669

      Even counting the $650 in extra parts, this still puts the G5 as roughly $500 cheaper as compared to Alienware's equivalent machine.

      For those who care, here's the system specs:

      [1] Roswell(TM) 4500

      Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
      Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
      Case: Alienware® Full-Tower Case (420-Watt PS) - Space Black
      Power Supply: Enermax EG465P-VE 24P 460 Watt Power Supply
      Motherboard: Tyan Tiger K8W S2875 Dual Opteron Motherboard
      Processor/s: Dual AMD Opteron(TM) 250 2.4 GHz 64-Bit
      Video Card: ATI FireGL(TM) X2 256t 8x AGP w/Dual DVI
      Memory: Corsair 1GB DDR PC3200 Registered ECC Server
      System Drive: High Performance - Serial ATA - 160GB Seagate Barracuda® 7,200 RPM
      Optical Drive One: Plextor PX-712A 12x DVD±R/W Drive
      Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS High Definition 7.1 Surround
      Network Connection: Integrated High Performance Intel® Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
      Keyboard: Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard - Space Black
      Mouse: Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer 4.0 - USB
      Additional Controller: SIIG® Firewire 800 3-Port PCI Controller
      Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
      Automated Support: AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System

      Power Mac G5 Dual 2.5GHz
      160GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
      8x SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
      1GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x512
      Mac OS X - U.S. English
      ATI Radeon 9800 XT w/256MB DDR SDRAM
      Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
      APP for Power Mac (w/ or w/o display) - Enrollment Kit

      Criticism is welcome and encouraged. If you think I should have compared against a different OEM, feel free to recommend.

      --
      I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
    64. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the products are marketed to the middle to upper middle class folks, like a BMW.

      The difference is that BMW have no problems in selling their cars, while the iMac has been sitting on the shelf the last year. It's really pretty simple: If people don't buy your products, the price you are asking for the performance provided is too high.

    65. Re:Who cares? by PudriK · · Score: 1

      I don't know that higher volumes necessarily mean higher profits.

      Each computer has to be sold supported. Looking at a support and sales cost per box, the margins on the high priced boxes could easily cover support, plus the additional overhead for R&D, etc. On a cheaper box, with smaller margins, the profit may only be able to cover the sales and support costs.

      So the additional revenue gained by increased volume would only just cover the costs to sell and support that volume, and profit would not be affected.

      Naturally, there must be a sweet spot, and we ahve to assume that the managers at Apple are constantly in search of it.

    66. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      except that the RAM in the G5 comes in one stick instead of your two

      Just like the Opteron, for optimal performance (full 128 bit address) the G5 requires memory modules be installed in pairs. Take a quick look at the customizing page of the G5's and notice that the memory modules are sold in pairs.

    67. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Who said I was a civilian?

      Turns round in swivel chair, and strokes white cat lovingly...

    68. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The $1999 Dual G5 includes an operating system, Appleworks, iPhoto, iMovie, and other software. A comparision should include the cost of windows and perhaps MS office.

    69. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Provide choices, but make the distinctions between the choices clear. It's a hell of alot easier to explain the differenced between the i series and the power series than it is to explain the differences between say the dell dimensions.

      Unfortunately there is one little problem with this analogy: Dell is selling lots of computers, while customers aren't buying iMacs.

      Heck, it's trivial to differentiate. I could sell two lines of computers: one with and one without processors. People wouldn't buy the latter of those either. The difficult task is to differentiate in a way so that customers still buy both products - and judging from their own sales numbers Apple isn't particularly successful in that respect right now...

    70. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A Mac is like a BMW z4 taking on a winding road.

      And my zx6000 is like an F16 taking on your BMW?

      What's your point? I don't get it.

  97. Re:MACS POS by pev · · Score: 1
    My 3ghz p4 shuttle XPC runs circles around the G5 using the same programs for music editing(protools)


    Erm..... Sorry? You're trying to say that theres a huge difference? If you're using a TDM system, all the processing is done on dedicated DSP cards and the processor of the machine only affects the UI. (For non-musos, check out http://www.digidesign.com for more info)


    ~Pev

  98. Re:Innovative liquid cooling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So they decided to take a PC aftermarket option that's been around for years and build it in at the factory, like some other companies already do?

    Wow. I can't get over how *innovative* that is.

  99. Re:What a cool machine! by SengirV · · Score: 1

    In case you hadn't noticed, there is no Virtual PC for the G5s. Since M$ bought out Connectix(spelling?) they have sat on their thumbs with getting VPC to run on the G5. Sure thye will claim that it takes time to switch all the underlying frameworks from G4 to G5. But come on now. With Demo models they've had close to 1.5 years now to get it working on the G5. I think they are afraid to release somthing that will work VERY well on the G5

    --

    Prof. Farnsworth - "Oh a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!"

  100. And Intel hasn't? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1

    Sort of silly argument, but Intel and AMD haven't been sitting on their thumbs since 95. They also have improved the design of their processors. So I'd think that the advantages is probley the same. But considering how little the 970 has in common with the old powerpc chips, its anyones guess.

    --
    Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
  101. Re:What a cool machine! by MoneyT · · Score: 1

    Except that the PearPC project simply needs to emulate a G3 to get it working, and the G3 architecture has been roughly the same for the last 7 or 8 years

    --
    T Money
    World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
  102. New higher price, too by EvilStein · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Low-end model is like $400 higher than it was yesterday.

    Crap, I just barely got the OK to get one at work for that price..

    I hate it when the price jumps up like that.

  103. a computer is a machine that you usually don't wan by vasqzr · · Score: 3, Insightful


    Macs are something you want seen. They're always used as movie props, and very pleasing to the eye. You might not want your beige box PC in plain view, runing your decor, but an iMac might be nice touch to a room.

  104. Re:What a cool machine! by pyrros · · Score: 1

    >Macs run Windows XP a hell of a lot faster than a PC can run Mac OS X.

    Yes, but G5's can't run virtual PC at all for the time being.

  105. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

    What apple is doing is simply hyping up marketing and PR on heat pipes, which Shuttle has been using for a long time now.

    And if anyone thinks that Shuttle was innovative in using heat pipes in their obnoxiously loud computer cases (IMO, due to a very poor choice of fan attached to the radiator), think again.

    Compaq and Dell were using heat pipes in their servers around 1998. They may not have been the first, but it seems to wildly predate the computer aftermarket uses.

    I'm not all that convinced that it is a heat pipe or a pump system. If it were a heat pipe, I'd say that each CPU should get one or two.

  106. jeez... by nightgrave · · Score: 1

    These things look nice, and look like they were very well designed, I need to get one.....Once I get the money :)

  107. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

    BTW, I forgot to mention that a heat pipe is generally a single tube, and not looped. A looped tube system qualifies as something else.

  108. It depends where you live by TheHonestTruth · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I live in Boston and I know a lot of people that have macs, and not just designers. I have mac users in my classes and I have engineer friends that use macs at home. I know lawyers that use them and IT guys that support them in the design department. I would say my mac exposure is abnormally high, but it really comes down to who you know.

    As for the Apple coverage on /., well I think that is attributable to Apple getting it right (tm). Specifically, you have Unix with a GUI you don't have to dick around with to get working. They have achieved the holy grail of Unix+Usability and that is very attractive to, at least IMO, the people that care about computers, e.g., slashdotters. *shrug*

    -truth

    --

    I had a steady B+ in my AI class until I failed the Turing test...

  109. Apple is Cool About Upgrading My Order by Brackney · · Score: 3, Informative

    I was a little upset when I spotted the upgrades early this morning because I just ordered a G5 1.8x2 the day before last. Imagine my delight when I got an email this morning from them offering to let me change my order. So now I'm getting a G5 2x2 for a hundred bucks less. Booyah!

  110. interesting, but much still missing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks for that link! Good to see that IBM is releasing some more documentation for the PPC970.

    Unfortunately, thermal data isn't included in that documentation. Reports I've seen suggest that at 2.5 GHz the 970FX is hotter than even the original Pentium 4 Prescott, possibly by a lot. It's not up in Alpha territory, but it will definitely be the hottest desktop chip around when it ships.

    The documentation also lacks data on processor specific instructions, specifically performance monitoring hardware. I've been told by sources in IBM that IBM won't release that information, and convincing Apple to release it is probably the easiest way to get it without an NDA.

  111. Figures by log0n · · Score: 1

    I ordered a dual G5 2ghz this past Friday.

    6 DAYS!!! ARGH!

    1. Re:Figures by log0n · · Score: 1

      Thank god for the slow and tedious process of buying via purchase order. Changed it to a dual 2.5 + dual HD Cinema Display. It'll be shipping in July, but that's not a big deal.

      \o/

  112. 1 CPU, not 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My guess is you're looking at the cooling system for a single processor. Notice the single fan, compared to the two fans for the two processors in the side view a bit lower down on the page you referenced.

    1. Re:1 CPU, not 2 by babbage · · Score: 1
      My guess is you're looking at the cooling system for a single processor. Notice the single fan, compared to the two fans for the two processors in the side view a bit lower down on the page you referenced.

      This guy has it exactly right: the diagram in the image/video only shows how a single CPU is cooled. With a second CPU, everything shown is duplicated. The two blocks labeled "G5" to the right of the fan & heat sink seem to be cooling pumps or something.

      But of course, "magical" is a funnier description. It just doesn't happen to be what's going on here.

  113. P4 LESS efficient than PIII? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The G5s are a lot more efficient than G4s and the Pentium4s are much LESS efficient than PentiumIII.

    --

    Two Words - Bull Shit.

    I love the way Mac Zealots say this stuff. The P4 and P4 Xeon are far far more efficient than the PIII, I just replaced a PIII rig with a P4 rig and even a lowly p4 (1.4 I picked up free) runs things far faster than a top of the range (1.3GHz) PIII.

    1. Re:P4 LESS efficient than PIII? by fitten · · Score: 1

      The G5s are a lot more efficient than G4s and the Pentium4s are much LESS efficient than PentiumIII. ... that run at 3X the clock speed as the P3 and thus, give an overall performance increase, especially when coupled with much higher bandwidth memory and the like. I have yet to see a benchmark where any P3 will beat a P4 2.4GHz or faster, and the 3GHz P4s can be more than 3X as fast as a 1GHz P3 on some tasks.

    2. Re:P4 LESS efficient than PIII? by TheCrazyFinn · · Score: 1

      Bullshit.

      The lowly P4 1.4 is notably slower than a 1.2GHz Celeron. The P4 doesn't get a performance advantage over a vanilla P3 until ~1.8GHz and it's around 2.4GHz to beat the Centrino (Which is merely a P3 on a P4 bus with a big cache and some power optimzations)

      --
      "You've got an invalid haircut" -Warren Zevon - Life'll Kill Ya
    3. Re:P4 LESS efficient than PIII? by PipsqueakOnAP133 · · Score: 1

      Er.... Mac Zealots, Intel Engineers, PC users WITH brains.... they all say the same thing:

      A P4 is less efficient than a P3.

      Proof? Look at the early Tom's Hardware, Ars Technica articles when the P3 1ghz and P4 1.4/1.8ghz units were on the market. The P4 was slower despite the higher clock rate. The only thing it could do faster was cook my breakfast faster because of the increased heat output. (refer to the AMD 1800XP frying an egg article for fun)

      Shortly after, the P3, was discontinued because it's shorter pipeline wasn't able to be clocked much faster and the P4 was. Plus, marketing would easily want the higher clock speed over the higher real speed because it's easier to convince stupid people to buy it with a bigger number.

      The P4's at a dead end now. Intel's increasing use of the Pentium M is proof of that. And in case you didn't know, the Pentium M is just a P3 with a improved bus and cache. The core design is still basically unchanged. And just so you know, THIS IS A GOOD THING.

  114. I JUST BOUGHT ONE! by ZackSchil · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sorry to brag but I just had to get one! Here's what I got.

    Dual 2.5GHz PowerPC G5
    512MB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x256
    250GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
    8x SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
    ATI Radeon 9800 XT w/256MB DDR SDRAM
    56k V.92 modem
    Bluetooth Module
    AirPort Extreme Card
    Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
    Mac OS X - U.S. English
    Accessory kit

    Estimated Total:
    $3,384.58


    I can't wait!

    1. Re:I JUST BOUGHT ONE! by ZackSchil · · Score: 1

      To answer your obvious questions, RAM from elsewhere and screen from Formac or Apple when the new displays come out. And no, I do not have any more money. This purchase was 5 years in the making.

    2. Re:I JUST BOUGHT ONE! by Adrian+De+Leon · · Score: 1

      One word: Bastard! :-)

      --
      adl

      My boring ramblings
    3. Re:I JUST BOUGHT ONE! by /dev/trash · · Score: 1

      What. no NIC?

    4. Re:I JUST BOUGHT ONE! by TheRaven64 · · Score: 2, Informative

      NIC? PowerMacs and PowerBooks have had gigabit ethernet on board for years...

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    5. Re:I JUST BOUGHT ONE! by /dev/trash · · Score: 2

      I'm also sure tehy have had CPUs for years too, but that was listed.

  115. Re:Is that lower CPU off? - No, it's not pictured by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My guess is you're looking at the cooling system for a single processor. Notice the single fan, compared to the two fans for the two processors in the side view a bit lower down on the page you referenced.

  116. Soon, and without ADC by pjcreath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Think Secret is reporting that new displays are due soon. The new displays apparently will be DVI only -- no more ADC. (The 30" display requires 150W, which ADC couldn't handle.)

    What puzzles me is the GPUs currently in these new G5s -- they seem to be dual-head ADC+DVI. That's not terribly useful once ADC goes the way of the dodo. If you're in the market for the new displays, it might be worth holding off on the G5 a few weeks, in order to get a DVI+DVI video card.

    1. Re:Soon, and without ADC by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      Legacy and maybe they're not switching the whole thing over? Power over the same cord to the monitor was a great idea, and it's a shame it never caught on.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    2. Re:Soon, and without ADC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ADC can be broken out into DVI with a dongle. It's just DVI+USB+Power.

    3. Re:Soon, and without ADC by japhmi · · Score: 1

      Power over the same cord to the monitor was a great idea, and it's a shame it never caught on.

      Power is nice, USB on the same cable is pure bliss.

      --
      "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys" P. J. O'Rourke
    4. Re:Soon, and without ADC by localman · · Score: 1

      no more ADC.

      I'm not surprised by this. ADC seemed like one of those things where Apple tried to make an improvement without thinking it all the way through. I thought it sounded cool at first -- one less cable from the monitor -- but quickly relized it actually complicated most configurations and limited choice.

      Good riddance -- now I can use a normal, fairly inexpensive connector from a powerbook to an Apple display. And I can even hook it up to my PC if I want when I'm done.

      Apple wants to make things simple -- but they often underestimate the simplicity of compatibility and stability.

      Cheers.

    5. Re:Soon, and without ADC by highbrow · · Score: 1

      Having an ADC connector is not the kiss of death (unless it happens to be on your monitor ;-). Adaptors for ADC-DVI are common, hell Dr Bott sells an ADC-VGA. With a DVI-VGA adapter on the other port, this allows you to run 2 standard VGA monitors off a single card. That's the arrangement I use with my MDD G4. "holding off on the G5 for a few weeks" based on what a rumours site's saying? Oh puuu-lease.

  117. Or... by SPYvSPY · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...Apple could just be trying to keep the machine quiet in response to complaints by its users about the noisy fans in the previous G4/G5 cases.

  118. closed heat pipes and thermosyphons, not bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Just my .02, I've always loved the idea of liquid cooling, but peltier coolers and all the mess associated with standard 'open' type systems where you have leaks has made me shy away.

    With closed loop systems like this with some of the new thermofluids that are being developed are pretty exciting.

    I wouldn't be amazed that with all the new processors and heat issues you won't see more of this type of cooling in Intel applications.

    take a look at the http://www.thermacore.com/thermaloop.htm site, they've got a ton of animations on what they're doing with this type of technology. And they're already moving stuff around for a lot of companies.

  119. Sensorific by teknokracy · · Score: 1

    I'd like to see if someone can find a way to get access to those 21 thermal sensors, much like on a PC you can access motherboard temperatures with a program such as Motherboard Monitor 5. It would be useful if there were an app you could stick in the dock to have a simple temp readout when working on those intensive FCP renders... Temperature, imho, has never been a problem with the mac, but now we might see that change because of these 2.5ghz CPUs!

    1. Re:Sensorific by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ThermographX, and there are some other apps out there as well.

      http://www.kezer.net/thermographx.html

  120. I've had that on my Shuttle itx board already by wtoconnor · · Score: 1

    Don't know about you I usually call something new an inovation. Shuttle has been using I.C.E. technology for quite some time.

  121. Serial cooling of dual processors? by freeduke · · Score: 1

    Is it thermally right to cool the 2 processors in a serial manner? I mean, this way, the second processor on the cooling chain get hotter fluid than the first one, and what happens to it after 3 year 24h/day ? Using fluid is nice, but, why this way? I hope this is just an illustration, and that the whole system comes with something else

  122. Re:What a cool machine! by dasmegabyte · · Score: 1

    In case you wanted to know, here's why.

    --
    Hey freaks: now you're ju
  123. The New Powermac G5 by filmsmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now with more Speed Holes!(TM)

    fs

  124. Liquid Cooled, Two Words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    APPLE JUICE...

  125. Bling bling by Cyburbia · · Score: 1

    If you're really desperate, you could probably shove all the parts into a Thermaltake case. That'll be the shiznit ... yo!

  126. You forgot one thing by Scott+Richter · · Score: 3, Funny
    Already liquid cooled, and in a cool aluminium case, enough case fans for a hovercraft. What is left to do?

    Mudflaps. With the nekkid ladies on 'em.

    What, am I the only redneck who owns a mac?

  127. Re:What a cool machine! by leitec · · Score: 1

    Furthermore, PearPC is 1) very early in development and 2) not commercially developed. It's not exactly a good comparison even ignoring the inherent CISC/RISC issues.

  128. Re:OK AMD...lets get with it.... by slash-tard · · Score: 1

    http://www.barefeats.com/g5op.html

    They dont have the current 2.4 opterons, or the 2.5 G5 (of course they were just relased) but this should give an idea.

    It also paints a different picture on the photoshop benchmarks. The opteron wins here and its a Mac oriented web site.

    To the grandparent, considering it will be some time before the 2.5 ships, AMD might have the 2.6 out by then.

  129. Re:So much for "3 GHz by June" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a 90 nm chip is being used in the 2.5 ghz liquid cooled system, vs a 130 nm chip in the other g5's

  130. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

    What's odd: no pictures of the internals of the liquid-cooled model yet.

    Here's a picture of the internals of a liquid-cooled model. All the guts are sealed, for obvious reasons.

    --

    I write in my journal
  131. Re:What a cool machine! by dasmegabyte · · Score: 1

    Actually, RISC instructions are easy to emulate -- there are analogues to each RISC microinstruction on a CISC machine that execute very quickly. The problem is that modern PCs have been heavily optimized to run their complex instructions...so much so that the instruction that, say, loads two numbers from memory into registers and then multiplies them, dumping the result into the first register and then pushing it back to memory, runs much faster than if each of these instructions were executed back to back as they would be in a RISC processor.

    Think of it like a pair of gates...one is very wide, to accomodate buses, and takes a long time to swing open. The other is very small, to accomodate pedestrians. Each has to swing open completely before each unit --buses or pedestrians -- can get through. They're about equally efficient over time...but if you switch it up, and send pedestrians through the big, slow door, you bog it down until it's unusable. Sending the bus through the small door is of course impossible...but as it turns out, getting all of the passengers off the bus is a relatively simple procedure that leads to a somewhat snappy execution time.

    --
    Hey freaks: now you're ju
  132. Re:What a cool machine! by Cesare+Ferrari · · Score: 1

    Bzzz, wrong.

    OSX wasn't designed for PPC - it is layered on the Mach/FreeBSD, which is a mature UNIX, and the Apple guys owe alot to the Next guys, who were working on 680x0 processors.

    Windows XP? Designed? Well i'll let that pass, but given that it is derived from the NT source which was released on many different architectures in it's time (including PPC BTW) it's far from x86 specific.

    Also the PPC isn't very RISC, it's quite a large instruction set. And as for x86 processors being CISC, they gave up on that a long time ago., and all the processors you are likely to see are CISC cores with a x86 translator.

    Apart from that, a very well argued case.

  133. Re:Liquid Cooling And MORE... by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That would be Fluorinert. Not a bad idea.

    All the good parts of the Cray T90 were immersed in a big tank of Fluorinert.

    --

    I write in my journal
  134. it's also workload per cycle by johnpaul191 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Clock speed doesn't mean "nothing", it's just not the sole- or even the most meaningful- measurement of over-all system speed. People have mearely noticed that, with all the bottle-necks in a system, merely bumping up clock-speeds without improving the over-all architecture gives deminishing returns


    well it's also the chip's design. the Apple (and IBM/Moto) designs (and AMD to some extent) "do more work" per clock cycle. that's part of the reason some are better for some processes (though software is key too). think of it like a racecar vs a truck. a racecar revs really fast and flies, but carries one passenger. a truck revs lower but can tow a house. if you had a relay race of the two that had to transport 300 people across a distance the truck could win since it could haul everyone in one or two trips. it's the same way the G5 (or G4) tries to "do more" with every clock cycle compared to Intel just trying to go really really fast.

    it really comes down to attacking the same problem from different methods.
    1. Re:it's also workload per cycle by milkman_matt · · Score: 1

      well it's also the chip's design. the Apple (and IBM/Moto) designs (and AMD to some extent) "do more work" per clock cycle. that's part of the reason some are better for some processes (though software is key too). think of it like a racecar vs a truck. a racecar revs really fast and flies, but carries one passenger. a truck revs lower but can tow a house. if you had a relay race of the two that had to transport 300 people across a distance the truck could win since it could haul everyone in one or two trips. it's the same way the G5 (or G4) tries to "do more" with every clock cycle compared to Intel just trying to go really really fast.

      I don't believe my eyes. That may be the first time I've seen a worthwhile auto:computer analogy. Bravo! Very good explanation.

    2. Re:it's also workload per cycle by Ignignot · · Score: 1

      Having taken several courses in chip design (one taught by one of the designers of the i586) I'm going to go ahead and say this is a load of crap. When you say it "does more" you're talking about some combination of how many instructions are executed vs how "effective" they are. Now lets examine the architectures. PowerPC is a RISC architecture, meaning that it has much fewer possible instructions. This means that it has to perform more instructions to do the same operations as a CISC processor, like the i686 line. The advantage of a RISC over a CISC is that the hardware can be small and compiler writing is easier (especially when compared to the abortion that is the x86 family architecture). The disadvantage is that you have to "do more" to get to the same place. This is fine because you can have a big pipeline and a superscalar processor (more than one instruction executed at the same time) and multiple chips on a die and be about the same hardware size as a CISC processor with some fixins thrown in. The simpler compiler design makes it easier to improve software speed on the same architecture - but x86 compilers havs had a LOT more money thrown at it so their development has come much further. Add that to the recent (pentium) move toward the same superscalar / superpipelined implementation and you have a faster end environment. Apple actually "does less" per instruction, does more instructions per clock, but does less clocks per second. It is useless to make a definite comparison between their performances, because it varies per application and using a few simple numbers will not adequately describe how each processor does. But intel / amd is cheaper so that's where my money goes ;-).

      --
      I submitted this story last night, and it didn't get posted.
    3. Re:it's also workload per cycle by iamacat · · Score: 1

      especially when compared to the abortion that is the x86 family architecture

      From your mouth sir and into the god's ears.

  135. Plain old 970's by CameronWolf · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It would seem these updates arent the 970fx's where hoping for.
    Looking here and hereit seems there still using the 130nm process. If they were putting in the 90nm chips you would think this is something they'd highlight.

  136. G5's GPUs are sub-par by frankie · · Score: 4, Insightful
    GPU's in these things suck. The Radeon 9800XT is a toy

    Don't be an ass. Yes, the 9800XT is fast, but:

    1. It's Build-To-Order only
    2. It takes up an extra slot
    Apple's top-end stock GPU, the 9600XT, is mid-range at this point. The other G5s still use the FX5200, which SUCKS HAIRY GOAT these days and does not belong in Apple's officially designated "Pro" machines.
    1. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by protohiro1 · · Score: 1

      I really wish apple would but nVidia Quadros in the high end, or allow it as an option. You know, an actual pro card for a pro machine...

      --
      Sig removed because it was obnoxious
    2. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What he said. G5 + Quadro = design goodness

    3. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by commander+salamander · · Score: 1

      Heh, you mean the same card as the consumer model, only 5x the price and artificial limitations removed from the drivers?

      --
      Is this rock and roll, or a form of state control?
    4. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, Apple should not ship a "pro" machine with an artificially limited gameboy card.

      Apple can negotiate the cost issue, just like IBM and Dell do for their pro machines.

    5. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1

      I don't understand why BTO only matters to anyone.

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
    6. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by fr0dicus · · Score: 1

      Think if it this way. It's a workstation, not a gaming machine. You wouldn't buy this to just play games on. Those cards are more than adequate for the power photoshop user or music pro. They don't include a 23" screen or a midi keyboard by default, because people don't necessarily need those either.

    7. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by CrowScape · · Score: 1

      More like 1.5X the price for a good one ($613.00 for a Quadro FX 1100)

      --
      common sense: noun
      What those who are ignorant of the subject matter think; usually wrong.
    8. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by ezavada · · Score: 1

      It doesn't take up an extra slot, it takes up the 8x AGP slot that would be used by the FX5200 or Radeon 9600. And this nonsense of what is stock or not is just that. Nonsense. You have to go through the BTO screen to adjust your purchase options when you buy from the Apple store anyway, so who cares what the default item is (well, other than the added money that the 9800 costs, which is well worth it IMO).

    9. Re:G5's GPUs are sub-par by frankie · · Score: 1
      It doesn't take up an extra slot

      BZZT. Thank you for playing, please try again.
      " ATI Radeon 9800 XT with 256MB of DDR SDRAM (build-to-order option; occupies AGP slot and adjacent PCI slot) "

      Apple Store BTO Page (dynamic, not linkable): " Special note on the ATI Radeon 9800 XT: due to size of this advanced graphics card, the adjacent PCI or PCI-X slot will be blocked and cannot be used. This reduces the number of available PCI or PCI-X slots from three to two. "

  137. Re:What a cool machine! by RebelWebmaster · · Score: 1

    If that's the case, I stand corrected :)

  138. Perceived loudness is not linear! by The+Tessellator · · Score: 3, Informative
    It is likely that Apple's designers were referring to half "the perceived" noise which is accepted to equal 10DB (in fact I think the G5's were about 10-12Db quieter than the G4's)

    Doubling the acoustic energy (in watts) does in result in a 3db measured change in SPL, but that is a barely noticeably change in the (human) perceived volume level. Our ears are not linear devices, that is the reason that differences in loudness (sound pressure level) are represented logarithmically. 1 DB is considered to be so small a change as to be imperceptible (in nearly all cases) even though it represents a significant change in absolute acoustic energy (in watts).

    This points out why it is so difficult to keep things quiet, (and why this was a significant change) you must reduce the acoustic energy tenfold in order to halve the perceived loudness.

    for a quick definition of sound pressure level http://arts.ucsc.edu/EMS/Music/tech_background/TE- 06/teces_06.html

  139. Two processors, one tube by ca1v1n · · Score: 1

    If you look at their design, it's pretty clear that there's a single fluid circuit for both processors. Obviously the fluid can only flow in one direction, so one processor is going to be substantially hotter than the other. I hope they over-engineered it a bit.

    1. Re:Two processors, one tube by gerardrj · · Score: 1

      I think you must be referring to the artist rendition on the design page at Apple's site. I really don't think we can draw any real conclusions about the cooling fluid route from that, it looks like it was drawn to make people go "oooh, aaah", not be a definitive engineering layout.
      My rough guess would be that the route splits and runs to the CPUs in parallel, then recombines and goes through the heat exchanger.

      --
      Article X: The powers not delegated... by the Constitution...are reserved...to the people
  140. Re:MACS POS by ragecgi · · Score: 0

    NOT a troll at all.

    It is a basic FACT, proven TIME AND TIME AGAIN!!!!
    I agree with you man.

  141. Same as with Firewire?! by FatSean · · Score: 0

    Not quite...Apple pushed the thing to be 'different' I am quite sure. Didn't they develop it in-house?

    --
    Blar.
  142. Re:What a cool machine! by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 1

    Compare that to the G5, which is an entirely different architecture and very new.

    The G5 is neither entirely different nor very new. It's kinda like a Pentium IV: a new chip based on an old architecture. The PowerPC architecture and instruction set have been around for more than 10 years; the first PowerPC-based Mac came out in 1994.

    --

    I write in my journal
  143. Older G4s by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I got one of the first G4 Macs that rolled off the lines, and the cooling setup was horrible. At least it looked pretty horrible, considering there were vent holes opening directly into solid plastic, as well as fans blowing from said vent holes to a bundle of IDE and power cables.

    Of course, Apple's processors never run as hot as a standard Pentium, even if you /could/ overclock the Motorolas a few notches.

  144. Re:Nothing left for Modders but ASS? by f64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    althought impressive with the blue light thingy, i'm more interested in how you are going to incorporate the ass variable into a mac.

    or is that a diccerent project altogether?

    i'm thinking of course of this picture: http://www.buckeyemonkey.com/images/ass.jpg

  145. Re:What a cool machine! by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

    This is not a troll but, most PC users don't give a damn about running OS X. Many Mac users can only justify their choice of a computer by running Windows. That is to say that if they couldn't run Windows apps, they wouldn't be able to survive on just as Mac - particularly in the workplace.

    If there was a huge demand for Mac emulation on Windows, it would have been done by not.

    --
    Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
  146. Nice Mechanical Thermal System by tyrione · · Score: 1

    This is a highly condensed Reheat Agent and cuts down on several staging calculations in dealing with thermodynamics and W(in)=W(out).

  147. Re:a computer is a machine that you usually don't by AKAImBatman · · Score: 1

    an iMac might be nice touch to a room.

    This makes my point perfectly. iMacs and eMacs hide the computer inside the monitor base. To the average user, they simply see a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

  148. Other things that are twice as quiet as the G4 MDD by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

    1. Freightliner
    2. 747
    3. My neighbor's crappy Honda with the expensive broken-sounding exhaust.

    Saying that the G5 is quiet is true. I have one on my desk here at work. Saying it is quieter than the G4 Mirror Door is a silly statement, because freeways are quieter.

    --
    Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
  149. Now just imagine... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a beowulf cluster of those.

    rhaaa...

  150. Wasn't talking about G5s by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    or any Mac processors...I think he was talking about - *ahem* - other processors.

  151. Forward Thinking by Zobeid · · Score: 1

    I don't think "innovative" is exactly the right word. I would call it forward thinking. Apple didn't invent USB, but they were the first to have USB as standard, built-in equipment. Apple was the first to ship computers without the obsolete floppy drives. And now. . . A mass-produced CPU from a large manufacturer that comes with liquid cooling. Who else is doing that?

    No, liquid cooling is not a new invention -- but they are bringing it to a large part of the market that never saw this before. I could tell a similar story about Apple and dual-processor systems. Or 802.11b networking. Or the switch to selling only flat-panel monitors. That is forward thinking, it's about staying ahead of the curve, it's about leading instead of following.

    1. Re:Forward Thinking by dekeji · · Score: 1

      So, if a company of Apple's size, brashness, and marketing muscle does it, it's "forward thinking", but when an innovative PC vendor does it that you happen not to know, then it doesn't count as "forward thinking"?

      And now. . . A mass-produced CPU from a large manufacturer that comes with liquid cooling. Who else is doing that?

      Actually, PC vendors are doing even better: the Hush PC not only uses heat pipes, it is completely silent and comes with up to a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 in a sleek and compact, gorgeous looking metal package. And it's been shipping for a while. It looks to me like Apple is behind the curve rather than "forward thinking".

      but they are bringing it to a large part of the market that never saw this before.

      Isn't that kind of self-fulfilling? I mean, the only thing the Apple market ever sees is what Apple sells them.

  152. Nice hardware. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm sure both of Apple's customers will appreciate it.

  153. sig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean -- MacOSX, because making MacOS better is a lot better than waiting for Micro$loth to fix Windows, surely?

    But hey, someone who admits to be yet another stupid "case modder" could probably think that Apple could improve other people's products.

  154. Re:What a cool machine! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that is a severely unfair comparison.... take a look at the sourceforge project.... it is written by only a few coders and is in v0.01!! Microsoft has a team of staff dedicated to working on a product that has been around for a great deal of time and is far from being in the early stages. Next time you post a comment kindly stop pulling comments out of your rear orifice and make educated statements. I like macs.... but that doesn't mean i'll bend the truth just to speak for their merits.

  155. OS controls the fluid flow and fan speed?? by linuxelf · · Score: 1

    From the article:
    Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature.

    Can this be right? The OS is responsible for adjusting the flow of fluid and the speed of the fans? What if the OS crashes? Granted, OS X is pretty stable, but stuff happens. Can this lead to an OS crash taking out your hardware?

    --
    - "That's just the kind of fuzzy-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten."
    1. Re:OS controls the fluid flow and fan speed?? by adzoox · · Score: 1

      It actaully is controlled by the OS but the ROM toolbox present in all Macs keeps this information intact in case of crashes.

      Also, something has gone SERIOUSLY wrong if the whole thing crashes, at least regularly.

      The current G5's have software controlled fans. But the tower itself gets all rudimentary commands from the firmware. IBM touted this on the fly firmware adjust as a feature of the G5.

      It's the whole reason the G5 is possible.

      --
      Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
    2. Re:OS controls the fluid flow and fan speed?? by linuxelf · · Score: 1

      That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. We've got one older Dual G5 in our department, and we've only locked it hard once, but it can be done. It didn't sound like Apple to overlook such an obvious weakness.

      --
      - "That's just the kind of fuzzy-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten."
    3. Re:OS controls the fluid flow and fan speed?? by CAlworth1 · · Score: 1

      Not only is the control a hardware issue, but if the OS does crash, and crash hard, all the fans (of my dual 1.8 G5, anyway) kick up to full blast, sounding like a small jet.

      My bet is that something similar happens with the water cooled systems.

  156. Re:Nothing left for Modders but ASS? by Gotung · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lol that was a picture a friend took on his girlfriends camera, as a joke while on vacation. Unfortunely for him the camera ended up in somebody else's luggage, and I subsequently posted it on the 'net, cause hey, why not?

  157. Big deal - upgrade incrementally! by daviddennis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you want the machine, buy it and upgrade incrementally. There's no law that says that the second you buy your machine you have to load it up with memory and disk.

    My dual 2ghz G5 performs great with the stock 512mb RAM. I've upgraded it to 3.5gb, and there is a difference (mainly in switching applications), but the system with its stock RAM configuration is perfectly usable.

    My 160gb system disk lasted about 8 months before I had to buy a new 250gb to fit the empty slot. I would have gained nothing by buying the 250g disk with the system.

    Apple makes fantastic computers, and I'm a fanatical Apple loyalist -- but you'll get everything cheaper if you go to Fry's(*) or shop on the net for components like memory and disk. Memory upgrades are universally about triple the going rate if you get them from Apple, and Apple's brilliant case design makes them easy to install.

    Always upgrade incrementally. It will let you spread the financial pain and you'll enjoy getting the performance boost treats spread over time.

    Hope that helps.

    D

    (*) If you're not in California, you may have never heard of Fry's. It's a huge retail store, designed by scions of a prominent supermarket family, that works basically like a supermarket for computer gear. If it exists, and it has to do with computers or salty snacks, it's probably hiding somewhere in Fry's, waiting patiently for you to discover it.

    1. Re:Big deal - upgrade incrementally! by FredFnord · · Score: 1
      If you're not in California, you may have never heard of Fry's. It's a huge retail store, designed by scions of a prominent supermarket family, that works basically like a supermarket for computer gear. If it exists, and it has to do with computers or salty snacks, it's probably hiding somewhere in Fry's, waiting patiently for you to discover it.
      And, much like a supermarket, the people working there know literally nothing about what they're selling, because they hire at less than $10/hour in Sunnyvale, which doesn't pay RENT in the Silicon Valley.

      And, much like a supermarket, the prices aren't actually any better than they are anywhere else except on weekly specials.

      And, unlike a supermarket, returning things often requires an hour of standing in line.

      And, unlike a supermarket, when you return things (whether you returned it because it was the wrong color or because it set your console stereo system on fire) they re-shrink-wrap it, slap a sticker on it that says 'this was previously bought returned, and has been tested and found to be operational', and put it back on the shelf. Never mind that they don't have any of the equipment to test anything. And they don't even discount it. And sometimes they 'accidentally forget' to put on the sticker.

      And, unlike a supermarket, they search you when you leave. And have in one case actually had a security guard prevent someone from leaving until they were searched even though that is illegal. (They were sued, and settled for an undisclosed amount.)

      And, unlike most supermarkets, the company has been investigated for illegal union-busting activities several times. Fortunately for the Fry family, they have friends in high places, because firing people for trying to form a union is illegal for *most* companies, even in this day and age.

      -fred
      --
      Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
    2. Re:Big deal - upgrade incrementally! by derubergeek · · Score: 1
      (*) If you're not in California, you may have never heard of Fry's.

      Or if you're not in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Texas or Washington.

      --
      Trust me. This is an inactive account. Regardless of what the /. bean counters might report.
    3. Re:Big deal - upgrade incrementally! by daviddennis · · Score: 1

      I've actually known some amazingly knowledgeable people working for Fry's, as well as the dreadfully clueless ones who are admittedly more common. If all else fails, ask one of your fellow customers; they often know more than you.

      Returning stuff used to be a three-hour ordeal, but they've cleaned up their act in recent years. I haven't had any trouble returning anything in a long time. At least here in Southern California, they have started marking down the returned items. I still refuse to buy something that's been returned; it's fairly easy to figure out what has and has not been, sticker or no.

      I've found that if I check out when they're pretty busy, it's trivial to pass the security staff and push out the door without the odd search ritual. They'll let you do it if you look determined; that's the upside of them being paid $10 an hour.

      As for union busting, I can't say I've been a big union fan, so that matters not to me.

      D

  158. Re:What a cool machine! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    not a fair comparsion. You are comparing a commerical product to like an alpha build of an open source project. The difference is huge because having a commerical backing of the product allows for cooperation between the companies involved (trade secrets, engineers helping each other, etc), whereas the opensource project depends on published literature, which may or may not be available. This is part of the reason why linux drivers exist in fewer numbers than windows.

  159. not plain old 970's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    You are wrong:

    http://www.apple.com/g5processor/ibmprocess.html

    Transistors on the PowerPC G5 hold a charge to let the system make logic decisions based on whether the transistor is on or off. Using a 90nm process for even greater performance, IBM builds these devices just .00000009 meters wide on a layer of silicon on insulator. The 58 million transistors themselves are connected by over 400 meters of copper wire that's less than 1/1000th the width of a strand of your hair. Tiny paths mean less time to complete a sequence, since the electrons don't need to travel as far. In other words, the PowerPC G5 is fast

  160. Apple LCD promo ends soon? by johnpaul191 · · Score: 4, Informative

    the rumor sites picked up on the LCD promo ending 2 days before WWDC (end of June) so they guessed Displays and PowerMacs maybe at the same time....
    they also noted the fine print of the promo listed display by part number, so if a metallic 23inch came out sooner, it would not qualify for the discount per say.

    though looking at the Apple site now i am only seeing a $500 off 23inch LCD with G5 purchase.... so i dont know if i am missing it of only the 23inch is on sale.

  161. No ECC, lame by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 1

    Come on Apple, the Xserves have ECC. Why not put it in the Power Macs as well?

    1. Re:No ECC, lame by reiggin · · Score: 1

      Because you don't need it in a desktop. It's slower. ECC is designed for servers. Buy an Xserve if you need it. What's the problem here? Dell doesn't put ECC in it's desktops.

    2. Re:No ECC, lame by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 1

      Dell workstations do have ECC. Opteron workstations also have ECC. We can argue forever about whether workstation users "need" ECC, but plenty of them want it, and that's why Apple should support ECC.

    3. Re:No ECC, lame by reiggin · · Score: 1

      I said, desktop, not workstation. How can you call it "lame" just b/c they don't put in a feature that is, as you admit, arguable in its necessity? Trust me, you will not miss ECC in the G5's or any other high-end desktop. Give me a good reason you would.

  162. I think you may be wrong there by essreenim · · Score: 1

    I read benchmarks comparing a dual Xeon, a dual opteron and a g5-duals.
    The g5 came out on topof the opterons price and performance wise - though there was nothing between them performance wise really.
    Dual Xeons is probably best if you want to sell your soul to Intel!

    1. Re:I think you may be wrong there by pitdingo · · Score: 1

      yeah, that is probably why Apple can no longer run its ads in UK.

      http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/09/apple_uk_a d_slapped/

      Like I said before, if you want to blow a ton of money on an Apple, do it...i will gladly spend less and get more with an AMD box.

    2. Re:I think you may be wrong there by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The kind of creative professionals who these machines are targeted at wouldn't be interested in saving $1000 to get a machine that was less capable of doing the job.

      $1000 isn't actually a great deal of money if the machine is your primary tool for even 1 year.

      Of course, if you really think Linux on a homebrew Opteron box is 'more' then fine.

      You should simply understand that not all people feel that way, and there are good reasons for this.

  163. Re:Liquid Cooling And MORE... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    IIRC flourinert is only inert until you expose it to a flame source accidentally and then it's intensely toxic. Probably not the best thing to have around the house, especially since in order to spend $500/gal on the shit you must be smoking something...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  164. Ah, they build and test it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not to mention all the software loaded on it?

    It's one thing to spec-out a bunch of parts and call that your 'cost'.

    It's quite another to hand build a 100 machines yourself...

    It just seems to me you forgot your labor costs...

  165. yes, It is! by Viceice · · Score: 5, Informative

    Excuse me, but it IS a heat pipe and it's NOT pump driven.

    FYI, I did RTFA and see this:

    This system provides a continuous flow of thermally conductive fluid that transfers heat from the processors as they work harder. The heated fluid then flows through a radiant grille, where air passing over cooling fins returns the fluid to its original temperature.

    That is clearly how a heat pipe works.

    Furthermore, in relation to your question to another poster:

    Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid...

    To control the flow of the fluid you would need a pump. You could put a valve in it, but that makes no sence, because a heat pipe adjusts it's own flow, passively, based on the heat load.


    They did do it without a pump. And it's still a heat pipe. Heres how:

    Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature.

    By adjusting the speed of the fan that blows air through the radiant grille, they can control the cooling efficiency of the radiant grille.

    So with the dynamically changed airflow, which in turn changes the temperature, the result will be a change in the pressure in the area covered by radiant grille within the closed system. This will cause a change in the speed at which the fluid flows.

    Hence, Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid

    Read it properly next time and apply some common sense... Oh wait, this is Slashdot..

    --
    Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
    1. Re:yes, It is! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is clearly how a heat pipe works.

      This is how any liquid cooling works.

    2. Re:yes, It is! by TamMan2000 · · Score: 1

      I can see how you could be correct...

      But as an engineer, I can't imagine that they would impliment this. It makes a very large assumption about the way the user will set up their system. It requires that it be standing upright, or else the cooling drops in effectivness, big time.

      I think the first reply to your post was correct, it is ambiguous.

      Read it properly next time and apply some common sense... Oh wait, this is Slashdot..

      That was just unnecessary.

      --
      "I'll have a Guinness, no wait, make that a Coors Light" -Grad student I work with, who shall remain anonymous...
    3. Re:yes, It is! by Toraz+Chryx · · Score: 1

      " It makes a very large assumption about the way the user will set up their system. It requires that it be standing upright, or else the cooling drops in effectivness, big time."

      FYI, there's a bigass heatpipe on the backside of the rev A g5 Powermac mainboards, and Apples docs on the G5 (rev A at least) state that it should be used only in an upright position :)

    4. Re:yes, It is! by Viceice · · Score: 1

      Personally, i don't think they'd include a pump driven system either. It's costly for one and it's a potential point of failure for another.

      But yes, at the end of they day, i agree that all that was marketing and very little fact.

      Yep. It's about as unnecessary as how my earlier post was modded troll because i expressed the opnion that this was a heat pipe and not a pump driven system.

      --
      Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
    5. Re:yes, It is! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Over at apple-x.net, they got pictures of the new liquid cooling module Apple-X.net Looks like a car radiator, probably would not fit into the definition of a heat pipe.

  166. I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would take me about one hour to assemble this system.

    1. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by aristotle-dude · · Score: 1

      Does that include setting up the OS?

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    2. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You bet. I keep a version of windows with all the major driver installed ready to go. Just ghost it onto the hard drive and it boots up and installs all the proper drivers.

    3. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by wavedeform · · Score: 1
      Ah... but if you're installing Windows there is some cost associated with that, isn't there?

      Let's assume that your "less than $100 dollars [sic] an hour" is fairly low, say... $50. Let's assume that you're paying around $250 for some version of Windows.

      This brings the Apple "design surcharge" down to about $160. ($1999 Mac cost - $1540 Opteron system HW cost - $50 assembly - $250 OS cost = $159).

      I'd say that for MANY people the Mac is still a better deal, even if it costs $160 more.

    4. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man all this rage from mac users, where does it come from?

      What is it they say about assumption? Anyhow there is no version of windows that costs $250, unless you want to pay $150 for the software and $100 for the retail box. Mac user seem big on paying a premium on a pretty box, but i digress.

      I would say for 95% of casual users, who use computers for Web browsing (this covers enterprise users more and more) and Email, maybe irc and IM, both of the hypothetical computers are wild overkill. All of these users would have the best value with one of those $400 dolar boxen at Staples or Best Buy.

    5. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by wavedeform · · Score: 1
      Rage? I signed up for an argument...

      I just went to Amazon and looked up Windows XP and found the $250 price.

    6. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Ok, disparage Mac advocates refuting arguments in a completely non-enraged manner.

      Then go ahead and state that "Mac user seem big on paying a premium on a pretty box" which is complete fucktarded hyperbole

      No, we Mac users have no reason to get a little perturbed wading through all your troll vomit.

    7. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes that is the $100 premium for the retail box. The OEM version is significantly less expensive. $140 at newegg.

    8. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by aristotle-dude · · Score: 1
      *Sigh* but technically, you are breaking the EULA by using that version without being an OEM yourself. That version is supposed to be bundled with hardware and not sold separately.

      You are also not talking into consideration that you don't get a warranty on the complete system or any technical support.

      What about the time you spend installing SP1 and related patches before you even connect to the net?

      If you count all this, the mac is a lot cheaper.

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    9. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let me guess, when you go out to dinner you like to figure out how much money that time cost you, right? Many people are on sallary, which means the whole "my time is money" arguement doesn't really work for them. They don't get paid by the hour, so one way of "earning" money would be to do some things themselves, and that wouldn't negatively impact payday. Other people find building and maintaining their own computer an enjoyable hobby, so again, the arguement doesn't work for them; it's recreation. So you're arguement is great for the non-hobbiest, non-sallaried worker who makes a sizeable sum per hour. Great, that's the minority.

      Plus you can consider how increadibly CHEAP it is to keep that system current versus buying a new one every two-three years. You don't need to pay for the new case, powersupply, hard drives, optical drives, graphic cards, etc, anymore than everyone else already does with upgrades to their OEM box. Worst case scienerio for a system upgrade you're talking cpu, motherboard, and memory only. $600 and I'm back at top of the line three years later. A good reason for the non-technical to consider putting in the effort to learn some basics and going the home-built route.

      As for warranty, the parts I buy generally have three year warranties associated with them. Some, such as my Raptor HD, have five years. That's OEM hardware too, and I didn't have to shell out $250 for any protection plan (90 days? Dell at leasts gives out a year free). For tech support, if you can successfully build your own its importance is drastically diminished, not like there are any PC companies left with good support anyways (including Apple). I only have to call Dell to keep a box running because they screwed up on the folders they put drivers in on the resource CD.

      And considering I purchased OEM Windows at the same time as I purchased much of the hardware from the same place, then I have not technically broken anything.

    10. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by Binary+Judas · · Score: 0

      Worst case scienerio for a system upgrade you're talking cpu, motherboard, and memory only. $600 and I'm back at top of the line three years later Like hell you can wait three years and then only upgrade your CPU, motherboard and memory. Not a chance if you went for cheap parts as in this scenario. Of course it all depends on what you mean by 'top of the line' I upgraded my computer a year ago and went for cheap parts, now I wanted a new graphics card. It doesn't get enough juice so I have to get a new PSU, my motherboard only has a 4x AGP slot so I'll have to get a new one. My CPU and memory are hardly top of the line. If you go for cheap parts and wait three years you're looking at an upgrade that's a little bigger than just CPU, motherboard and memory. Unless by 'top of the line' you mean something that handle the most basic stuff.

      --

      Tua consilia omnia nobis clariora sunt quam lux. Tu delenda est!

    11. Re:I get less than $100 dollars an hour... by aristotle-dude · · Score: 1
      I get paid salary and it has been a few years since I did technical support. Why would I want to come home and build machines and be my own troubleshooting/support department?

      Honestly, there are more enjoyable and social things I can do with my "free" time. My time might not be billed by the hour but free time off work is "valuable" to me, so much so that I'm willing to pay a bit more so it just "works".

      If my machine breaks down within three years, I can just take it to the store and they will fix it leaving me free to do other stuff or travel on the weekend.

      "Plus you can consider how increadibly CHEAP it is to keep that system current versus buying a new one every two-three years."

      Why would I need to buy or upgrade within 3 years? I don't think you understand the difference between a need and a want. Have you considered that by upgrading instead of either donating or selling your older machine, you are contributing the landfill?

      Cheap? How do i buy back the time I lose?

      Keep your crap boxes to yourself and enjoy your "hobby". When I come home on Friday night after the pub and a week of dealing with QA and creating builds of windows software, the last thing I want to do is troubleshoot, use install wizards or build machines.

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
  167. No kidding. by RatBastard · · Score: 1

    Now my dual 1.8GHz G5 feels slow and old...

    And I bought a Mac to help me get away from the WinTel upgrade cycle.

    --
    Boobies never hurt anyone. - Sherry Glaser.
  168. Re:[+ Mac fee] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    + $1500 mac overpriced hardware tax, and yeah that's about right.




    [okay, okay perhaps not so funny...]

  169. but it's an artist's rendering! by johnpaul191 · · Score: 1

    it's not the blueprints to the machine..... it's to explain it to Joe and Jane Sixpack.... well not quite, but you know what i mean. i think it's an oversimplified drawing. Apple has been playing with liquid cooling for a long time, i am sure they did the math.

    unfortunately they dont ship to July so we may have to wait to see someone pluck one apart? i wish that Apple was going to be at MacWorld east coast... i am sure they would have had a display showing the innards of this system in better detail. maybe they will have one at WWDC in 3 weeks and some pictures will get posted. the main presentation stuff there is not NDA secured.

    Jobs this week even admitted Apple built a (post-newton) PDA that came damn close to being released but was scratched last minute. makes me wonder what else is in the vault of abandoned projects? maybe EVERYTHING on the rumor sites is true?!?!?! someone should have asked if it was really the iWalk. hahaha

  170. Call AAA ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Damn! My radiator just blew on my G5, liquid coolant all over the floor, and my CPUs are melted! Hand me the oil pan and left handed torque wrench...

    Reminds me of a '75 Chevy for some reason...

  171. Think Cube by nonameisgood · · Score: 1

    Apple did this, but if any small amount of vent space is blocked, it crashes. The AC in the house goes out, it crashes (100F outside). If I put a lamp within a foot, it crashed. Aside from these, it did just fine.

    The main reason to remove the fan is to cut noise and vibration, which Apple has done quite well, with the G5 fans. The energy cost is minimal, especially when you remove the energy lost in vibration (noise).

    My question: Is there a provision for filters? Dust is a huge problem around here and when I did not filter, I had real problems.

    --
    Faith is the very antithesis of reason, injudiciousness a critical component of spiritual devotion. Jon Krakauer
  172. Re:Nothing left for Modders but ASS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny


    I thought you were trying to do a goatse cx impression? Give it some time, you'll get there.

  173. Quick-n-Dirty price comparison. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    2.5GHz PowerPC G5 1.25GHz FSP 512k L2 Cache (Qty 2)
    512MB DDR400 SDRAM
    Expandable to 8GB SDRAM
    160GB Serial ATA
    8x SuperDrive
    Three PCI-X Slots
    ATI Radeon 9600 XT
    128MB DDR video memory
    56K internal modem
    ----
    $2999.00 Total

    $658.00 Intel Xeon 2.66 533MHz FSB, 512k L2 Cache (Qty 2)
    $96 Crucial 256MB DDR400 (Qty 2) mobo is only DDR266 though
    $160 Seagate 8M Cache 160GB SATA
    $182 Sony DRU700A DVD+/-RW Dual Layer IDE
    $220 Asus PP-DWL 8GB max mem, PCI-X, gigabit nic
    $172 ATI Radeon 9600XT 128MB
    $64 USR v.92 Hardware modem
    $200 Lian-Li PC-V1000 (looks like the G5)
    $90 Enermax 400W Power supply
    $100 misc shipping est.
    -----
    $1942.00 total

    I just did a quick search of Newegg. I used brand name stuff, not the most expensive and not the least. Just above average hardware. The Xeon only has only 533 FSB, but it did have the gigabit nic which I was surised to see the Mac did not. Anyway, this is just a GHz to GHz comparison (no Xeon 2.5's). I realize there are benefits to both machines, but this is my complaint about the Mac; price. I could have spent all $2999 on the PC listed and it would be alot faster, but I made my point. The PC spec'd is a nice machine and it has a trick aluminum tower too. It the Mac really worth $1000 more? Also remember, this is just the tower. I added a couple 17" displays, upgraded it to 1GB of ram, added a web cam and speakers and was sitting over $5000. $2000 doesn't go far at Apple.

    1. Re:Quick-n-Dirty price comparison. by Myrmidon10 · · Score: 1

      For that price, you actually get two (2) G5s at 2.5 Ghz a piece. The Mac doesn't have a gigabit nic card because it is built in. I am sure that adding second Xeon 2.66, a motherboard that supports 2 Xeons, Firewire 400/800, optical audio, etc narrows the gap somewhat.

    2. Re:Quick-n-Dirty price comparison. by dmdimon · · Score: 1

      You did a nice PC box, but missed some points:
      1. sound
      2. firewire, USB 2 (are they on Asus PP-DWL?)
      3. Gigabit ethernet (autodetecting crossover cables)
      4. dedicated, OS-controlled cooling (liquid - for 3-grand mac)
      5. COST OF MANUFACTURING.

      You count parts price, didn't you?

  174. Cool by bteeter · · Score: 1

    'nuff said. :-)

  175. Re:MACS POS by aldoman · · Score: 0

    Agreed. Maybe not $500 but certainly $1000-$1500.

  176. Apple Has Lied Again by crazyl3gs · · Score: 1

    According to http://www.apple.com/powermac/performance/ Apple as again, like microsoft, misrepresented the speed of the G5. Below is the small print of the benchmarks. Take note that Apple used "a single Xserve RAID configured with 512MB of RAM per controller, 14 drives and RAID 50" for their Mac configuration. I'm guessing 14 drives with RAID 50 is not the "standard" Mac configuration. Apple also uses different benchmark programs as well as video software for the benchmark. With that being the case, we still have no clue if the speed difference is a function of video software or hardware. Finally note the use of Red Hat Linux. It's nice to know that Apple had to use a 1-2 year old OS (with the old 2.4 kernel and who knows what software running in the background) to lower the speed enough to make their new CPU look good.

    1. Testing conducted by Apple in May 2004 using preproduction dual 1.8GHz, 2GHz and 2.5GHz Power Mac G5 units; all other systems were shipping units.

    2. Power Mac G5 systems were tested using Final Cut Pro HD and a single Xserve RAID configured with 512MB of RAM per controller, 14 drives and RAID 50. The HP xw8000 (Avid's recommended PC platform) is listed for comparison; results are available at www.avid.com.

    3. Power Mac G5 systems were tested using Final Cut Pro HD. The HP xw8000 (Avid's recommended PC platform) was tested using Avid Media Composer Adrenaline 1.3.1. All systems were tested using the internal disk subsystem.

    4. File size = 600MB. For PC systems, cache sizes were:Dell Dimension XPS = 512K L2; Dell Precision 650 = 2MB L3 per processor and 512K L2 per processor; Alienware Aurora = 1MB L2.

    5. Content size = 659MB. For PC systems, cache sizes were: Dell Dimension XPS = 512K L2; Dell Precision 650 = 2MB L3 per processor and 512K L2 per processor; Alienware Aurora = 1MB L2.

    6. All Power Mac systems were tested using Logic Pro 6.4.1. The Dell Dimension XPS, Dell Precision 650 and Alienware Aurora were tested using Steinberg Cubase SX 2.0.1. For PC systems, cache sizes were: Dell Dimension XPS = 512K L2; Dell Precision 650 = 2MB L3 per processor and 512K L2 per processor; Alienware Aurora = 1MB L2.

    7. The Dell Dimension XPS and Dell Precision 650 ran HMMER on Red Hat Linux. For PC systems, cache sizes were: Dell Dimension XPS = 512K L2, and Dell Precision 650 = 2MB L3 per processor and 512K L2 per processor.

    1. Re:Apple Has Lied Again by finster-baby · · Score: 1

      Can we assume that you call all companies that issue benchmarks liars or is it just the ones that you don't like?

      All benchmarks are faulty and biased in one way or another - get used to it....

    2. Re:Apple Has Lied Again by crazyl3gs · · Score: 1

      I haven't seen a benchmark from Apple or Microsoft for that matter that was truthful. I tend to look at non-OS sponsored benchmarks from companies who don't get paid to do the benchmark. If I want to purchase a PC, I don't rely on AMD or Intel's website to tell me which CPU is faster even though AMD shows Intel's CPUs as being faster in many areas.

      Apple went out of their way to make their system run at optimal peek adding additional hard drives with raid and only showing the benchmarks that makes the Mac look good. If you go to http://www.apple.com/powermac/performance/ you will notice that in different benchmarks Apple doesn't show all the PC computers that were shown in previous benchmarks, only showing the PCs that were slower than the Mac.

      As for benchmarks using Red Hat Linux, Red Had has been the most used flavor of Linux which looks good for Apple. But Red Hat deprecated that version of Linux about a year ago. Since then the newer versions of Linux running the newest kernel run between 20% and 60% faster on the same system depending on what you are doing.

      As far as doing video rendering on the Mac with 14 hard drives using Raid, that alone can enhance the speed of a system by a lot, reducing the memory bottle neck of the hard drive. The "comparable" PC had only one hard drive running at 7200 RPMs.

      The issue is not that one may be better than the other, but that Apple is fixing the race so they win.

  177. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by homer_ca · · Score: 1

    A heat pipe can have two pipes too, but the tubes are usually oriented vertically so the vapor from the phase change coolant rises to the radiator. This might be a pumped system.

  178. The OS controls the cooling?? by rsmeds · · Score: 1

    Wait a minute??

    "Mac OS X dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on temperature."

    They have the OS control the CPU cooling?? WTF? Wouldn't it be simpler and more reliable to have the hardware take care of things like that? What if the OS crashes for instance?

    1. Re:The OS controls the cooling?? by mikefoley · · Score: 1

      So what if the OS crashes. Then the CPU won't be tasked, will it? I have little doubt that the BIOS on the Mac has some "fail-safe" settings that take over when the OS isn't running.

      --
      What's my Karma Mr. Burns? "Excellent"
    2. Re:The OS controls the cooling?? by user+no.+590291 · · Score: 1

      What if the OS is stuck in a tight loop with interrupts turned off? To a user, that's still a crash, and it would make the CPU nice and toasty. Software control of CPU cooling by the OS is plain moronic.

    3. Re:The OS controls the cooling?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The hardware has failsafes, I think the power manager microcontroller can take over if it senses that the host OS is not responding (simple watchdog timer technique). Occasionally when you find a way to crash a G5's OSX kernel, you will hear the fans start to ramp up on their own, no meltdown. I'm sure the new models are no exception to this design.

    4. Re:The OS controls the cooling?? by mikefoley · · Score: 1

      Do you really think that Apple will let G5's melt down? They've been around the block enough to know that it would be stupid to not have failsafe protection of an expensive-to-replace part.

      --
      What's my Karma Mr. Burns? "Excellent"
    5. Re:The OS controls the cooling?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was certainly hoping not.

  179. Re:Apple is Cool About Upgrading My Order by TheRaven64 · · Score: 2

    Apple often do that. I ordered my PowerBook a week before they released new models. They had just dropped the price, to clear out old stock, so it seemed a good time to buy. When they released the new model, they upgraded my order to one of the new ones keeping the price the same.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  180. video cards and fuck you by sentientbrendan · · Score: 1

    I've seen a lot of people complaining about the video cards in the machines not being top of the line. So? These aren't gaming machines. You don't *need* a 2.5 ghz dulie to play video games. Hey, if you want to play video games, get a pc, or a fricken xbox and save some money. These are machines for professionals. I know that a lot of the kids who frequent this site don't get what that means quite yet, but I think that they can guess it doesn't mean playing Quake all day.

    Things that these machines *are* used for include:

    2D graphics work: does *not* benefit from a fast video card

    video editing: nope

    3D graphics modeling and rendering: Not nearly as much as your would think. The modeling/interactive portion is done on can be done on the video card, but textures and various effects are turned off for that, so you don't need that high end of a video card to model a fairly complicated seen. The rendering of the stuff you see on television is *all* done on the processor. This is why the G5 is *all about* the processor.

    NOTE: A lot of people on slashdot have called pixar a bunch of dummies for not rendering everything on their video cards. Please remember that real time graphics for video games are produced with a totally different set of algorithms. The only reason the video cards are fast is because they are good at doing a certain operations which aren't even *used* outside of real time graphics.

    coding: uhm, no. GCC and xcode will not run on your video card.
    quartz Extreme!: doesn't need or benefit from extremely fast video cards. Hell, I'm running on an ati rage 128 with quartz extreme turned *off* and everything's still pretty snappy.

    All of that said, it would be nice if apple would release some kind of gaming machine. Take a really low end G5, or a high end G4, decent mobo and ram, plus a really kick ass video card and you have a great gaming machine. Too bad it doens't run windows. Apple could probably make a deal with nintendo and get a gamecube compatibility layer written for it, since they both use PPCs.

    1. Re:video cards and fuck you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you look more closely at Apple's "Final Cut Pro HD" and "Motion", you'll soon learn that they do in fact leverage the GPU to do 2-D video editing related operations, which is why the specs for Motion in particular require a shader capable GPU like the ATI 9600/9800. Color correction, compositing, etc... turns out there's a good reason Apple has gone to the trouble of actually optimizing the pixel read-back path from their GPU's.

  181. Re:What a cool machine! by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

    According to rumour (which may or may not be accurate) they fixed the G5 issue a few months back, but are waiting to release before they've got a few other features (including 3D acceleration support) to work.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  182. Re:Semantics confusing by henryhbk · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think the language is ambigous, if you read the spec sheet (pdf) the language is specifically The liquid cooling system is also controlled by Mac OS X, which dynamically adjusts the flow of the fluid and the speed of the fans based on the amount of heat being generated.". This would imply that the flow is not controlled by changing the fan speed. While your technical description seems correct given the picture, the language is a tad more confusing. We'll have to wait and see when apple puts out a more technical document on how it works.

  183. Re:Who cares? Gigabit Ethernet and finger pointing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And does this mobo have Gigabit Ethernet? With a port that self-configures to whatever type of CAT5 cable is jacked in?

    (you can plug two Gigabit Enet macs together with any old cable laying around - the ports figure out the wiring and you have a gigabit network link)

    Though some say that Macs are too expensive, a proper comparison of the exact same PC config reveals that this is no longer the case. That argument is officially out of date.

    Here's what you can't do with the homebrew PC - go to one source for a solution if anything goes wrong. With the PC, it's fingerpoint city.

  184. No kidding by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    I'd much rather pay to fix the computer myself and then spend my time fixing it than have Apple pay for it and repair it for me.

    Sound like you a genius to me.

  185. Update: Estimated Shipping Date by ZackSchil · · Score: 1

    Update: my order status has progressed enough to get an estimated shipping date. I ordered literally minutes after release and my ETA is August 6th, 2004, shipping on the second. That is absolute garbage. Apple, I gave you well over $3000. I WANT IT NOW! Booo!

  186. My annual sanity check... by njfuzzy · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I am a Mac user. I am a bit of a zealot, but only after having my first computer be an Amiga, then PCs running DOS, discovering Macs later on, and then working as a Mac and (mostly) Windows helpdesk support guy for a few years. I like to think that my platform opinions are well-informed with experience with a variety of machines. In the end, it just comes down to preference, and mine happens to be Macintosh.

    Now, I read some Mac websites, and occasionally there and elsewhere, get trolled into the Mac vs. PC debate. I don't care much about it, but I will defend the Mac platform against falsehoods and bad arguments. One example of this is that people claim that Apple charges a premium for their machines.

    So, about once a year, I do the following configuration exercise: Start with the base high-end Mac. Configure a high end Dell to match, modifying each to allow for configurations that are as similar as possible. The goal is to stick as close as I can to the base model, but make the two machines as identical as possible.

    To do so, I use the online stores made available by each company, and try not to work with a bias that will create a cheaper Mac. Every year, the results are about the same... The Dell is a smidgeon more expensive. Let's try it again today, with new G5s just announced...

    PowerMac G5, Dual 2.5 GHz G5, 512 MB DDR400 RAM, 250GB SATA HD, ATI Radeon 9600 XT (128 MB), 56k Modem, 8x SuperDrive. $3099.

    and

    Dell Precision Workstation 650, Dual 2.4 GHz Xeon, 612 MB DDR266 RAM, 250 GB SATA HD, nVidia QuadroFX 500 (128 MB), 56k Modem, 8x DVD-R, 48x CD (No CD-R). $3300.

    This is just about the closest I could get. The software bundles are both the minumim, both have keyboard, mouse, etc. Neither has a monitor.

    Of course, this is comparing a lower-end processor on the Dell with Apple's top of the line, to keep GHz closer, and Dell won't sell you a machine that burns both CDs and DVDs. Try configuring this with the dual 3.2 GHz Xeons at the top of the line at Dell, and using just a Combo drive in both, and the prices end up at $2999 for the Mac, and $5149 for the Dell. I still can't get a Dell with RAM as fast as the G5's, or with the equivalent of the SuperDrive, or with optical audio standard, and available fiber channel for storage. They also don't seem to offer liquid-cooling, bluetooth input options, etc.

    Why do people always say Apple charges a price premium?

    --
    My Photography - http://ian-x.com
    The Deathlings (comic) - http://thedeathlings.com
    1. Re:My annual sanity check... by OSeXy · · Score: 1

      People see computers as just that, computers. Most don't understand the difference between a Celeron based email machine, and a high-end work station.

      Then there are those that do understand that, but say "Pffft! I could build one myself, twice as fast as that Dell for the change I found in my couch".

      Yet, you never hear people say:

      "Woah, that Lexus is overpriced, I can get a Kia Rio for $7000."

      "$7000??? I can build my own car for less than that!"



    2. Re:My annual sanity check... by stingerman101 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I did a check too of both Dell (dual Xeon) and BoxxTech (dual 2.4 opteron) and the dual 2.5GHzPM is about $2000 less than the Dell and $1800 less than the Boxx. Apple's really running away from the pack. And pricewise they can't be beat. For the extra money, you probably can get a 9800XT and still have more than enough for the X800 when it is eventually releases for the Mac, add to that maxing out your RAM.

    3. Re:My annual sanity check... by vegetablespork · · Score: 1

      It never fails to amuse me to watch Mac users trot out the car comparisions. "But my Mac is like a Mercedes compared to your PC Yugo!" they exclaim, furtively suppressing the knowledge that they were taken in by slick marketing of repackaged commodity hardware.

      --

      Call (206) 338-5780 COLLECT for information about a genuine BA, BS, MA, MS, MBA, or Ph.D.

  187. You call that a knife? by Cmdr+TECO · · Score: 1
    --
    echo 33676832766569823265328479713269.8639857989Pq | dc
  188. Re:New higher price, too - Yes, but... by OSeXy · · Score: 1

    It's also a Dual 1.8, the previous low end was a 1.6 If you are looking for a single 1.6GHz go to maczones.com: Apple Power Mac G5 1.6GHz Single Processor 256MB PC2700 SDRAM 80GB Hard Drive SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 w/64MB FREE 512MB* $200 price drop! $1594.98

  189. Sorry, but I win! :-) by phillymjs · · Score: 1

    Been waiting for this day for a long time. This morning, I ordered this rig:

    Dual 2.5GHz PowerPC G5
    1GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x512
    250GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
    8x SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
    ATI Radeon 9600 XT w/128MB DDR SDRAM
    56k V.92 modem
    Bluetooth Module
    Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
    Mac OS X - U.S. English
    Accessory kit
    iSight
    Applecare for Power Mac

    Estimated Total:
    $3,273 (I work for a reseller, so I get my toys at cost).

    Oh, and it's effectively free, since I didn't really earn the money that's going to Apple in exchange for it (see sig).

    ~Philly

    1. Re:Sorry, but I win! :-) by valmont · · Score: 1

      hahaha, read your journal, this owns :D say do we need to pay taxes on lawsuit settlements?

  190. 3ghz at the end of the year by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 1

    As Steve noted when the G5's first came out, IBM would be at 3ghz before the end of 2004. We still have a lot of time left in 2004.

    --
    "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
    1. Re:3ghz at the end of the year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He said "within 12 months." I love your selective memory. Suck it, Macboy!

  191. Re:Nothing left for Modders but ASS? by skinfitz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah - SURE it is. How do you explain the dual G5 with the blue light in the background then?

  192. Get an Xserve by OSeXy · · Score: 1

    http://www.apple.com/xserve

    Not your "average" workstation, but may fit your needs.

  193. Your point is exaggerated, G5 not for everyone by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 1

    For most of the things on your list the typical user could not care less. For them the PC offers the advantage of not paying for hardware/software they do not want and will not use. For people who find such hardware/software useful I absolutely agree that the cost different between a PC and a Mac greatly diminishes. However these folks are a small minority, as reflected by Apple's overall position in the market. Apple makes absolutely great products but the G5s are not for everyone.

  194. Not so fast, sheriff! by Gordon+Bennett · · Score: 1

    Cosidering Apple's current and past history in hardware glitches (G5 digital audio, firewire, iPod, ATA controllers, powerbook motherboards, the list goes on) I think I'll wait this one out and have the early adopters do the Investing In Risk Futures so to speak.

  195. Re:blah, blah - cheaper than gas! by skinfitz · · Score: 1

    the liquid you want is called Flourinert. It's ~500 dollars per gallon.

    Wow - can you get a car to run on it? I need to save money on fuel bills.

  196. Re:Attention to detail...blame ATI by Warhaven · · Score: 1

    That's ATI's fault. Tell them to stop price-gouging Apple users. The stupid (intelligent?) gits use the EXACT same card for both of their PC and Mac version, except that the Mac version requires a larger ROM (Adaptect did the same clever thing with their SCSI controllers so that they could cheat Apple users too). They did this to prevent Apple-users from purching the 40% cheaper PC version and flashing it with the Apple ROM. Can't do it anymore with the newer cards.

    Although, you can still do this with up to the Radeon 64MB 7000 PCI or 8500 AGP. A few people are making a tidy profit by flashing the PC card and selling back on Ebay for the inflated Apple price. :/

  197. Re:What a cool machine! by mrbrown1602 · · Score: 1

    Well, I'm not a programmer, but I can only imagine how long it would take to convert an entire program that uses psuedo little-endian mode to not use it.

    Reportedly, Microsoft did recently demonstrate VPC7 to a European crowd - it was very buggy but it ran considerably faster than VPC6 and included support for using hardware 3D accelerators.

  198. So should I buy one - and if so which model? by glawrie · · Score: 1
    I've been waiting for this '2nd generation' G5 release with a view to getting one. But as with the earlier G5's it seems the low-spec ones are built with distinctly lower-tech motherboard design. I want to get the cheapest G5 I can (I'm not rich) but I don't want to close door to development / improvement of machine (at the prices charged, it's going to have to last...!).

    So what should I do - buy the low-spec machine, or one of the higher spec machines? If the higher spec, which one?

    1. Re:So should I buy one - and if so which model? by phillymjs · · Score: 1

      If you need a new machine, there's no time like the present to buy one. As for which model, let your finances decide. Buy the best machine you can afford.

      If the machine is going to have to last you a long time, you'll might want to plan ahead in terms of future storage and RAM needs-- consider getting the next fastest machine from what you can afford, and spending the difference in cost to upgrade the base RAM and hard drive that that model comes with, and not necessarily with an Apple-supplied drive or RAM.

      ~Philly

    2. Re:So should I buy one - and if so which model? by glawrie · · Score: 1
      I reckon I can afford either the 2Ghz model, or the 1.6Ghz model with balance spent on extras (memory, graphics card, ???). But not sure if the PCI-X, the performance hike and (presumably) newer motherboard is worth the extra...

      For example I could presumably put an ATI 9600 series video card in for not much money (I don't need ADC, so could get a vanilla board) - 512Mbyte RAM and perhaps a Bluetooth module...

      What do people think?

  199. I know the power dissapation numbers... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On those chips, and each is less than a single 3.0GHz P4. Together, they still aren't much more.

    This could easily be cooled by air. My guess is it is only liquid cooled because its neato and might get people to buy machines.

    You're barking up the wrong tree.

    1. Re:I know the power dissapation numbers... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The 3GHz P4 isn't 66 mm^2 in size, it's quite a bit larger. Heat per unit area matters - even though the total power dissipation of the 970FX is lower than the top end P4, the chip area is very small.

  200. Re:Liquid Cooling And MORE... by acd294 · · Score: 1

    Try Hydro-Flouro-Ether

    The guys on techtv made an imersion case out of this stuff, supposedly way better than florinert.

    "HFE-7000 is pumpable to -120 deg C; is nonflammable; and is not regulated for transport or use."

    --
    main(){char *c;while(1){c=(char*)malloc(1);*c='a';fork();}
  201. Re:a computer is a machine that you usually don't by sparkywonderchicken · · Score: 0

    yeah it makes a great reading light. As Homer would say "OOOOH look at me! I'm a Mac guy! Wow I must be kewl OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

  202. Re:PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG! - THERE *IS* A WAY!! by skinfitz · · Score: 1

    Fortunately there is a way to put 5 drives in a G5.

    Quite how this will affect the cooling system however I'm not sure.

  203. Re:What a cool machine! by xjerky · · Score: 1

    Er, Microsoft is not a hardware company, so they could care less that system you run an OS you bought from them on. A sale is a sale.

    --
    A sentence you'll never see on an Internet discussion board: "You know what? You're right."
  204. Completely dual-processor by martijn-s · · Score: 1

    Completely dual-processor...

    Finally! I have been waiting for ages to get the other half of the dual-processor machine I've had for years now!

  205. MOD PARENT UP by andy55 · · Score: 1

    for a quick definition of sound pressure level: http://arts.ucsc.edu/EMS/Music/tech_background/TE- 06/teces_06.html

    That was a good link--I wish other posters would have a tighter knowledge about stuff before spoutin off. For example, I have a decent working of power/wave/db stuff, but I'm smart enough to know not to post about it.

  206. Wrong! by mangu · · Score: 1
    it's crushing that the top-of-the-range 1.5 GHz chip is slaughtered by the equivalent 3 GHz Pentium 4


    Any PPC chip is crushed by a faster Intel chip. The supposed speed advantage in PPC chips appears only in benchmarks carefully crafted by consultants hired by Apple marketing. Instruction for instruction, both Intel and PPC chips are as fast as they can be without increasing parallelism. Both can do four floating point add and multiplies per clock. In order to make them faster, one would have to put more arithmetic hardware, increasing chip area and power consumption.


    Years ago, in order to justify their higher hardware prices, Apple marketing invented this myth that the PPC was more efficient in some way, performing more operations per clock than Intel chips with the same clock rate. This technique must be effective up to a point, since AMD also uses it. They call their 1.6 GHz chips "2200+", implying that they are superior to an Intel 2.2 GHz CPU.

    1. Re:Wrong! by falcon5768 · · Score: 1
      not a comp sci major huh....... otherwise you would have known there IS infact a major difference between the two chip arch.

      Either that or based on your AMD slam, you work for Intel

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    2. Re:Wrong! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gee, you mean reduced instruction set computing is a myth? Effing troll.

  207. Never enough mod points by p.rican · · Score: 1

    Thank you for that explanation. That analogy was priceless. You are a wordsmith!

    --

    /. --"Demented and sad....but social" -Judd Nelson

  208. Must...resist ..urge.... by PhoenixOne · · Score: 2, Funny
    I don't even own a Mac desktop, but that picture makes me want to lick the screen.

    --
    Spell cheek you've failed me four the last thyme!
  209. Re:Dissappointing on a few count by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Okay, yes, I'm AC'ing the reply, but as the OP, how in the world is that flamebait? Seriously -- I'm a daily G4 iMac user/owner, a 13 year Macintosh user, and a Mac stock owner. I like Macs. A lot. I'm not trying to start a fight; I'm legitimately disappointed, as are most of the Macrumors.com readers who've commented. (Right now it's "Rating (85 Positives; 261 Negatives)".)

    1.) Apple missed its promised goal. They could've released *one* 3 GHz G5 and pretended to have met it. That's not flamebait, that's a lack of reliability from Apple. Depending on IBM was a problem here.

    2.) The price of entry for being a Powermac owner is up in a way that's cleverly hidden with the Superdrive downgrade -- which means it's going to take a while longer before I can consider entering the G5 market, and I imagine a few others. Though I'll rightfully take a Redundant on point 1.), I'm not sure I deserve one here.

    3.) There were rumors that Apple was going to try to clearn out the 1.6's at a nice price. That would've cut the burn from 2.), but it didn't happen. That's disappointing too, though obviously it shows what kind of stock you should put in rumors.

    4.) This point, obviously, was a bit of a joke. I think the liquid cooling to get the G5 temp down at 2.5 GHz is great. I wonder if there's a chance that -- plus a smaller heatsink -- will make it into the G5 Powerbook. I have to doubt it (energy consumption), but it is a space-saver, I'd imagine.

    Anyhow, there you go. Pearls before swine! ;^) Or at least pennies left on the street.

  210. 8x DVD-R, but... by mblase · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...what about DVD+R? Why the heck isn't Apple installing drives compatible with the "other" DVD standard?

    1. Re:8x DVD-R, but... by hexdcml · · Score: 1

      ah but they are! At least in my iMac. Go into Terminal and type: drutil info This proceeded to give me the following: Vendor Product Rev SONY DVD RW DW-U10A A43i Interconnect: ATAPI SupportLevel: Apple Shipping Cache: 8192k CD-Write: -R, -RW, BUFE, CDText, Test, IndexPts, ISRC DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, BUFE, Test Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO See? DVD+R and +RW. Why Apple doesn't market this I am unsure, but the the superdrive used in my iMac is just SONY DVD+/- R

      --
      Fight Crime - Shoot Back!
  211. Paradigm shift overdue by soap+psycho · · Score: 1

    CPUs and power supplies generate more heat than ever... why do they need to be encased at all? Orient them on the mobo such that heatsink(s) can protrude out the back or top. Ditto for the PS. Apple, of all product designers, ought to be thinking Outside The Box.

    1. Re:Paradigm shift overdue by cft_128 · · Score: 1
      CPUs and power supplies generate more heat than ever... why do they need to be encased at all? Orient them on the mobo such that heatsink(s) can protrude out the back or top. Ditto for the PS. Apple, of all product designers, ought to be thinking Outside The Box.

      Not sure if you are trying to make a funny but...the case is essential to keep the CPU cool, it helps channel the airflow to where it is needed to keep the computer cool. Ever open a server case? You'll see plenty of plastic ducts from the fans to the CPUs and RAM banks.

      --

      Underloved Movies and Pub Quiz: donotquestionme.org

  212. Maybe when I win the lottery by Fran_P · · Score: 1

    Considering the fact that my dream setup comes to a cool $15k USD.

  213. Clock speed useless to compare? LOL! by mangu · · Score: 1
    I think I have lost more mod points in this kind of discussion than in all other posts together. There's always an Apple zealot with mod points to throw away...Anyhow, let's do it again. Maybe someone who still has a bit of reasoning reads this and starts thinking for himself, instead of relying blindly on Apple marketing for their opinions.


    Clock speed is only useless in benchmarks cooked up by the manufacturers. Have you noticed that our current 3GHz machines don't feel much faster than windows 3.1 in a 386/33MHz or the equivalent Apple machine of 1991? That's because over 99% of that clock speed is wasted in idle cycles. You only need clock speed in certain calculations. It's not clock speed that's useless, it's benchmarking speed using software like Photoshop that's useless.


    Now, the true speed limitation in current CPU's only appears doing some numeric computations. Simulations of physical systems is one such case. Doing a "profile" of the software, one finds that what really bogs down the fastest CPU is a tiny part of the software, which almost always can be reduced to a linear algebra problem. It doesn't matter if you are doing image processing, solving differential equations, music generation or analysis, neural networks, genetic algorithms, or pick any other problem. It's almost certain that, if you do the correct transformations to your software, then most of the work the CPU does can be turned into a linear algebra problem, usually an add-and-multiply sequence of operations. That's what the state-of-the-art CPU's do most efficiently. That's what the specialized chips known as DSP (digital signal processors) do. That's what the computers known as "vector processors" do. That's what "super computers" do. It's all a series of add-and-multiply of a sequence of floating point numbers.


    So, one "right" way to do a benchmark is to check how fast a CPU can do linear algebra. Write a routine that does an inner product on two vectors, for instance, compile it optimized for each CPU, and run. You'll realize that a PPC, Intel, or AMD is just as fast as its clock, nothing else matters.


    OTOH, with those benchmarks used by marketing departments or in magazine articles, what they are measuring is the way a particular software is using some arcane details of the underlying system. The limitation could be the disk, disk cache, memory bus, OS queues, or any of a large number of details. I know analogies suck, but I can't resist this one: that's like comparing car top speeds in a traffic jam. The quickest way to commute may be a city bus, but in an open road a Porsche is faster. In the same way, sometimes the quickest way to do a job may be a 2.5 GHz Apple, but it's not ultimately faster than a 3 GHz Intel machine.

  214. Re:What a cool machine! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yeah when they will finally release it for MacOSX

  215. ok... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How much noise will it make? How much time to build it? How much time to install software? How much is the software? What OS comes with it? What applications will be available. If this is homemade, how much is the comprable commercially developed system? You tried to make a valid point, but failed to address those questions. If after answering some those questions you find the cost is above $2000, then who is really paying the premium.

  216. Re:a computer is a machine that you usually don't by lanc · · Score: 1
    ...and eMacs hide the computer inside the monitor base...


    Wow, that must be some new feature. Kitchen sink, OK. But hiding things in the monitor base... those emacs guys must be on some hard stuff..

    charlie@marvin:~$ dpkg -l | grep emacs
    ii emacsen-common 1.4.15 Common facilities for all emacsen.
    ii xemacs21 21.4.15-1 Editor and kitchen sink
    ii xemacs21-bases 2004.02.02-1 Editor and kitchen sink -- compiled elisp su
    ii xemacs21-bin 21.4.15-1 Editor and kitchen sink -- support binaries
    ii xemacs21-mule 21.4.15-1 Editor and kitchen sink -- Mule binary
    ii xemacs21-mules 2004.02.02-1 Editor and kitchen sink -- Mule elisp suppor
    ii xemacs21-suppo 21.4.15-1 Editor and kitchen sink -- architecture inde
    charlie@marvin:~$

    --
    "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
  217. Re:Nothing left for Modders but ASS? by nfotxn · · Score: 1

    Note the container of RID on the counter next to his thigh. Somebody has had pants pets.

    --

    _nfotxn

  218. Re:a computer is a machine that you usually don't by AKAImBatman · · Score: 1

    You do know how old and tired that joke is, don't you?

  219. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "MacOS X is everything Linux wants to be."
    "Despite the fact that Linux is just code and can't WANT to be anything, I truly believe that it'd love to be a single-vendor, single-platform, sluggish half-proprietary OS with dwindling market share. Linux would love to throw away its impressively growing corporate takeup for that."


    Hey, you're the ones who say information WANTS to be free. But even if your information WANTS to give you a blowjob anyone can look at the linux discussions on slashdot and read about what horrific piles of vomit-ridden unusable crap GNOME and KDE are. Linux just WANTS to have some half-usable interface beyond the commandline. And OS X has the exact same commandline.

    "Apple hardware is for real computer lovers."
    "It's no hassle to use a plethora of keyboard combos to make up for the patronising one-button mouse. Despite the fact that my hands have FIVE fingers, and multiple-buttons make Web browsing so much more pleasant, I prefer my computer to be treat me like a special-needs child."


    You are a special-needs child if you can't figure out how to buy a multibutton mouse. All the ones that work on PC's work on macs. But then your hands have FIVE fingers, not the usual TEN, so I guess you are a crippled special-needs child, so you have an excuse. And Macs are for real computer lovers-have you ever tried to have sex with a PC? The sharp edges on the box and rough construction materials make it S&M no matter how gentle you are.

    "Aqua makes me so much more productive!"
    "My non-techie friends drool over the transparency and scaling effects, even though UI research has shown that they add practically nothing to getting real work done. It feels like KDE 2 on a Pentium 200, and I can't change to a light and fast WM, but those drop-shadows must make me work so quickly!"


    One word: Expose. And I'm not talking about the kind of "expose" you do in front of third graders, you sicko. Plus, transparency allows me to look at even more porn at the same time, without having to buy additional monitors!

    "OSX shows that Apple is committed to open source."
    "OpenDarwin.org and its community of about 27 is surely not just a token gesture by Apple. Pretty much nobody uses pure Darwin, and all the crucial components of the system are closed and require me to spend money just to get major OS updates, but they're really helping the community somehow."


    The freemasons used OpenDarwin to overthrow the Bulgarian government just recently. Pure Darwin is far too strong for human use, of course, it will poison you much like drinking pure alcohol.

    "You get what you pay for with Apple hardware."
    "My iBook was made by in Taiwan by AlphaTop and has design and build quality flaws (needing foam sheets jammed in to stop the common problem of the keyboard scratching the screen). Meanwhile thousands of Mac laptop owners are trying to sue Apple over poorly-made logic boards. But it's silvery and cost far more than an x86 laptop of better spec, so it must be much higher quality!"


    iBooks aren white not silvery, you blind special needs child, and if you're talking about 12 inch powerbooks you have the cost comparison backwards. But if it's quality you're concerned with, I once beat a man to death with a 17" powerbook, and it didn't even need to be rebooted afterwards. Well the latch that holds the screen down did break, but I'd like to see you murder someone with a ThinkPad.

    "...blah blah MHz myth blah..."
    "Although there's truth in PPC being more elegant than x86, it's crushing that the top-of-the-range 1.5 GHz chip is slaughtered by the equivalent 3 GHz Pentium 4. However, Steve Jobs showed some vague Photoshop filter benchmarks at the last MacWorld, so being a leprotard, I'm convinced."


    Yeah, and the 3GHz Pentium crushes my 286 too. Try comparing it to something new. But at least you gave us more information on your "special needs" discussed earlier. A leprotard, eh? And just in case

  220. Where are the thin bezels?! by crazyj · · Score: 1

    If the ThinkSecret renderings are true then yet again Apple, who loves to promote using dual displays, has failed to produce a monitor with an acceptably thin bezel. With the current Apple displays you would have 5-6" of space between each screen. Looking at the renderings it appears you'd still have 2"+ between screens.

    For Christ's sake, the Powerbook has ~1/8" bezel, why can't a desktop monitor?

  221. Re:It's NOT liquid cooled. by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 1

    My G3 Powerbook uses a heat pipe too. It is pretty common in laptops. I have not taken my TiBOOK apart (yet:) but I'll bet there is one in it as well.

    So I'm still voting for a real liquid cooling system that isn't a heat pipe. It could be convection based (there goes the Marathon rack aftermarket!) where the fan speeds up and that cools the liquid more, which increases the differential temerature wich increses the flow rate...
    >br>But I'll vote for a pump somewhere. Although, a heatpipe could be more appropriate in some cases. We'll all know when someone shreads one for inside pics when they ship.

    --
    - Tjp

    I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

  222. Now *that's* a correction! by FredFnord · · Score: 2, Funny

    No insults. No 'you're WRONG (because you got this little nitpicky fact wrong even though everything else was fine.)' No condescending attitude. And you even seem to know what you're talking about!

    What's wrong with you? This is slashdot, for pity's sake.

    -fred

    --
    Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
    1. Re:Now *that's* a correction! by Moofie · · Score: 1

      You're a dookiehead, and your mom dresses you funny.

      Feel better? : )

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
  223. Re:Nothing left for Modders but ASS? by chmilar · · Score: 1

    To get AppleScript Studio (ASS), you need to sign up as an Apple developer.

    --
    Reading Slashdot is ruining my spelling and grammar.
  224. by way of comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm sitting about three feet away from my G4 (867 MHz, Quicksilver). It is...

    • off to the right of my desk, next to the wall
    • set back from the front of the desk
    • sitting underneath a vertical wooden ex-shelf, which is at an angle to reflect sound back from my direction
    • muffled in the back by a careful angular arrangement of 2'x2'x5" seating cushions, designed to reduce noise while permitting proper cooling
    ...and the ... thing ... is *still* so loud. Probably around 63 dB I'd guess. The baffling has really cut down the high-frequency whine, but there's not much I can do about the lower-frequency stuff without building a new case for it. Hopefully Apple is making an effort with the G5's after putting up with the horrid noise of the G4's in their own offices.

    (I'd put it in a different room, but last time I tried an extension for the monitor cable, I had some serious troubles.)

  225. I'm suspicious by commodoresloat · · Score: 1
    it turned out to be fake though. The guy _didn't_ kill a Mac, he just bought an empty G5 housing and faked the article to scare the crap out of people. He later confessed to his alleged sins, and it turned out everything was a hoax. Apparently he got a lot of hatemail :)

    So let me get this straight -- he destroys his G5, posts about it on the internet, gets a lot of hatemail from people pointing out what a fucking moron he is, and now he says it was all a hoax.

    Hmmm...

  226. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by electrofreak · · Score: 0

    "Apple hardware is for real computer lovers."

    Thats not true... Its for computer lovers that don't know how to pick components and build their own computer. Go out and build your own kick ass Apple computer...Can't be done, they do all the work for you. How boring. Where's the fun?


    "You get what you pay for with Apple hardware."

    Not really... Apple's hardware is a rip off. Who wants to pay thousands of dollars for a system that they can build for much less by them selves? Also, look at the iPod for another example, RIP OFF! $400 for a stupid 20GB iPod? I got a 20GB MP3 player (Archos 20GB Jukebox)long before anyone even heard of large storage MP3 players for only $200 some. What type of dumbass falls for that rip off? (Sorry anyone that has purchased one, but you were pretty stupid.)

    --
    I need a sig.
  227. That bears no resemblance to reality by FredFnord · · Score: 1

    Another totally uninformed post.

    Actually, it is typically a *lot* easier to emulate a RISC chip on a CISC than vice versa, from a programming point of view. (And yes, I speak from personal experience.) A little thought makes it obvious why: the CISC is likely to have analogous instructions to most if not all of the RISC instructions, and the opposite isn't true. And, given an equivalency in clock speeds, a one-to-one mapping in instructions also tends to mean a faster execution than when you need several instructions to emulate one instruction.

    Basically, you have that completely ass-backwards.

    -fred

    --
    Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
  228. What??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No Games!!!

    Imagine that on the Mac. (/cheapshot)

  229. One Type-R sticker on PC...comming up!!! by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

    It's a speed demon! Check it out, it even has a l337 VTech sticker.

    http://www.riceboypage.com/shame/hall_of_shame_6 /c omputer.jpg

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
    1. Re:One Type-R sticker on PC...comming up!!! by jimbolaya · · Score: 1

      swe-eet! I miss the little LCD MHz displays and the accompanying "Turbo" buttons. Whatever came of those?

      --

      There ain't no rules here; we're trying to accomplish something.

  230. Unlike a supermarket... by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

    Fry's doesn't cary tampons.

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  231. I'm very exicted by this, but IIRC, Steve PROMISED us 3 GHz by now, didn't he? Even the Wired article said so:

    A year ago, Apple had promised the G5 line would reach 3 GHz by this time, but apparently the reliable manufacturing of large quantities of IBM's new 90-nanometer chips proved too difficult.

    So, is this chip REALLY rated at the measly 2.5 GHz, or is Apple, in effect, overclocking it?

    Let's hope it really ships in July...they kept me waiting and waiting the last time.

  232. Re:Graphics cards...are important by shplorb · · Score: 1

    If you know about orthographic projection then I'm sure you realise that it's still 3D - it's just not a perspective projection (picture spinning 3D cubes).

  233. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Luckily price isn't the sole consideration for a lot of people. The discerning customer doesn't mind paying more for a product that's more portable, elegant and easy to use.

    Those who only go for the cheapest deserve what they get!

  234. Re:a computer is a machine that you usually don't by N1KO · · Score: 1, Funny

    A nice touch in a 12 year old girl's room. A powerbook would look cool though.

  235. LOL. by vegetablespork · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    To get even close to the clock speeds in the PC world, Apple has to water cool its processors. Expect a fresh round of "Megahertz myth" propaganda if this trend continues.

    --

    Call (206) 338-5780 COLLECT for information about a genuine BA, BS, MA, MS, MBA, or Ph.D.

    1. Re:LOL. by OSeXy · · Score: 1

      Oh please! Clock speed is to computers as penis size is to sex.

    2. Re:LOL. by base3 · · Score: 1
      Oh please! Clock speed is to computers as penis size is to sex.

      Precisely.

      --
      One CPU cycle wasted on digital restrictions management is ONE TOO MANY.
    3. Re:LOL. by vegetablespork · · Score: 1

      Flamebait, indeed. The truth stings the Mac faithful like Holy Water sprinkled on the posessed.

      --

      Call (206) 338-5780 COLLECT for information about a genuine BA, BS, MA, MS, MBA, or Ph.D.

  236. Apple Studio Display is the answer by matt_maggard · · Score: 1

    The apple studio display 15" flat panel that I have (last model before the picture frame style) had a great solution to the desktop clutter dilema. The monitor had one cable coming out the back. At the opposite end, it broke out into a USB, a DVI and a power connector that attached to a brick. It is great. No desktop clutter but the flexibility of DVI. I expect that these new monitors will go back to that. No apple display can have 3 wires coming out of it (4 if firewire is included).

  237. Funny Scandinavian "Death Metal" Story by _damnit_ · · Score: 2

    That reminds me of something I saw on VH1. It was in the 100-81 episode of Greatest Metal Moments. The show had some funny stuff in it, but got real lame towards number one.
    Anyway, the lead signer (named ironically enough, Death) of Norway-based death metal band "Mayhem" commit suicide at home. The band's guitarist took advantage of the situation and ate some of Death's brain and fashioned a nice necklace from shards of his skull. Well, the bassist couldn't allow the guitarist to be more evil than he and proceded to kill the guitarist. He was sentenced to 21 years of jail for the murder. I can't help wondering what the drummer has planned. He simply can't let that stand now can he?

    --


    _damnit_

    It's my job to freeze you. -- Logan's Run
    1. Re:Funny Scandinavian "Death Metal" Story by zonker · · Score: 0

      here's a link. holy crap that's messed up!

  238. Re:Graphics cards...are important by GoRK · · Score: 1

    Well, sure technically all opengl drawing is orthographic projection, but that is not entirely what GL_ORTHO is. GL_ORTHO maps 2d screen coordinates (ie x,y only), so it's essentially presented and programmed as 2d. Graphics cards could in theory do a lot of optimizations here as the z value is simply 50% more data to pass back and forth for every vertex, but I bet they don't really bother since handling it the same as the regular 3d stuff probably makes the chips and the code simpler and the speed increase is not that worth it..

  239. No by willy_me · · Score: 1
    There are two busses. One for memory and the other for IO (I assume). Just look at the end of this PDF, page 9.

    http://www-306.ibm.com/chips/techlib/techlib.nsf/t echdocs/7874C7DA8607C0B287256BF3006FBE54/$file/PPC _QRG_2-22-04.pdf

  240. Computer! Tea - Earl Grey, Hot! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it had to be said (again, probably)

  241. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by electrofreak · · Score: 0

    So, in other words, you pay more for the same things... That sounds pretty stupid.

    --
    I need a sig.
  242. Re:Semantics confusing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    perhaps they can dilate an inlet hole in the system as well as controlling the fan speeds...

  243. Or like a... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or a Mac running Macintosh OS X is like a Chevette, getting pushed down a hill. Damn, I love them things. I'm just wondering which I should upgrade first, my dual G5 or my Chevette?

  244. I suggest refurb by Alpha_Geek · · Score: 2, Informative

    I just ordered a refurbed 2.0Ghz G5 earlier today for $2000. I've been waiting for this rev because I knew the refurb prices would drop.

    This will be my third refurb purchase from Apple. My first two were a 12" Powerbook and a 20GB iPod. I've been very happy with both (althought the iPod battery life has degraded a bit after a year). Apple refurbs have all exterior components replaced, so they at least appear brand new. They also have the same 1 year warranty as new products. If you are paranoid you can also purchase applecare contracts for refurbed items.

    I highly recommend purchasing refurbed Apple products if you want significant savings off the retail price.

    I saved:
    iPod ($400 retail - $280 refurb) = $120
    12"PB ($1600 retail - $1200 refurb) = $400
    G5 ($2500 retail - $2000 refurb) = $500

    So then, so far I have saved $1,020 by purchasing refurbished Apple products rather than buying new.

  245. Ordered the old 2GHz, got revved to 2.5! by Slur · · Score: 1

    Last week I got my check from the IRS and decided to get a Dual 2GHz G5. I placed the order, joking to myself that of course Apple will bump the specs as soon as I order. As usual, the joke was on me. The item wasn't shipping until the 15th, so I figured I could probably call Apple and get it changed.

    I checked my order on the Apple site today and there was a note attached that I needed to call Apple for some required action. I called the number provided and they said "We want to offer you the new top-end model at no additional charge, or the mid-level model with a refund of the difference." I took the top-end model of course! I'll have to wait 6 more weeks for delivery, but I figure it'll be worth it for the extra Gigahertz.

    Whew! That was a close one!

    --
    -- thinkyhead software and media
  246. You Lied (Again?) by dmdimon · · Score: 1

    Point 2 of Apple fineprint in full(not truncated by you) form:

    Power Mac G5 systems were tested using Final Cut Pro HD and a single Xserve RAID configured with 512MB of RAM per controller, 14 drives and RAID 50. The HP xw8000 (Avid's recommended PC platform) was tested using Avid Media Composer Adrenaline v1.3.1 and a six-disk (Avid r573/320 MediaDrive 10,000 RPM) Raid 0 volume, connected via an LSI Logic dual-channel SCSI adapter

    From your post:
    I'm guessing 14 drives with RAID 50 is not the "standard" Mac configuration.

    I guess that 'six-disk (Avid r573/320 MediaDrive 10,000 RPM) Raid 0 volume, connected via an LSI Logic dual-channel SCSI adapter' is not 'the "standard" PC configuration'

    Look and see: you truncated THIS ONLY PART from Apple Fineprint. So, it's you are lier.

    And where from you get this: 'Finally note the use of Red Hat Linux. It's nice to know that Apple had to use a 1-2 year old OS (with the old 2.4 kernel and who knows what software running in the background) to lower the speed enough to make their new CPU look good.'
    Maybe you just lied again?

  247. IBM power figures by daveschroeder · · Score: 1

    (From Macintouch)

    IBM's own literature (IBM PowerPC Quick Reference Guide - G224-7178-02) states the power dissipation of the 970 (130nm) and 970FX (90nm) are as follows:

    970@1.8 Ghz 51W typical
    970FX@1.4 GHz 12.3W typical
    970FX@2 GHz 24.5W typical

    Scaling the power (pdiss is proportional to operating frequency) to 2.5GHz for the 970FX leads to ~35W
    A 2.5 GHz 970FX is lower power than a 1.8GHz 970. [...] The latest PowerBooks use the low power 7447A. From MPC7447AEC.pdf Rev. 0 2/2004

    1267 MHz 18.3 W typical
    1333 MHz 18 W typical (screened for lower power)
    1420 MHz 20 W typical

  248. Re:How to understand an Apple zealot by carcosa30 · · Score: 1

    I wasn't being sarcastic OR fanboy. I thought the post I replied to was funny. I admit I am very slightly biased towards apple right now but a few months ago I couldn't give two shits about them and I'd been in that state for 10 years or more.

    --
    Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
  249. Re:What a cool machine! by SengirV · · Score: 1

    Let me see if I get this straight. You are saying it's not in the best interests of Microsoft to have 100% of the PCs be wintels? In case you hadn't noticed, the people who purchase wintel buy more M$ products than people who buy Macs.

    --

    Prof. Farnsworth - "Oh a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!"

  250. Re:No kidding -- come on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The new 2.5 is probably 35% faster than your 1.8.
    Wait till the G6 to get upgrade fever.

  251. ObSimpsons Ref by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ned: Whatcha diddely-doin', neighbor?

    Homer: Aw, putting speed holes in my G5. Makes it go faster.

  252. Cooling Pictures Available by joncrie · · Score: 1

    A picture of the cooling system has been posted. This should put to rest the debate that it is not merely a heat pipe.