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IBM Officially Unveils Dual-core PowerPC Chips

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the roll-out dept.

PM4RK5 writes "Today at the Power Everywhere Forum in Japan, IBM officially unveiled its rumored dual-core PowerPC line of chips, the 970MP. Code-named Antares, these chips have been rumored to be under development since 2004. It is believed that Apple has been working with prototypes and is likely to use them in forthcoming updates to the PowerMac G5 line. The press release is in Japanese; as of this writing, IBM has not released an English version. Some of the slides from the presentation given by IBM are available. The processors pack some impressive specs, ranging from 1.4 to 2.5 GHz and including 1MB L2 cache per core; the chips also include the ability to power down the extra core when it is not needed. Alongside the 970MP, IBM also announced its low-power 970FX chips, ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 GHz, with power consumption ranging from 13 to 16 Watts, respectively."

4 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Apple? by karvind · · Score: 5, Informative
    Now that Apple has ditched PowerPC for Intel, where is this line of chips going?

    IBMs own server products and embedded processors. IBM's blue gene used the core from earlier PowerPC series.

  2. Re:PowerPC by Laurance · · Score: 5, Informative

    Because they are most likely going to use Intel chips to replace the old G4 chips long before they replace the G5s. And they are not going to totally over to Intel till 2007. So, their needs to be updates between now and then.

  3. IBM application note on PPC 970 MP by karvind · · Score: 5, Informative
    IBM posted an application note in direct reference to a dual 64-bit core PowerPC970MP and how to use thermal diodes in the chip long ago. (not available on IBM website anymore). Mac rumors has a copy of it here

    From the notes:

    The dual 64-bit core PowerPC970MP(TM) (970MP) is the next evolutionary step in the PowerPC 970 family of microprocessors. The higher frequency grade versions of the 970MP consume higher amounts of power than earlier IBM microprocessors do, and that can cause temperature issues. Each 970MP processor core contains a thermal diode used to monitor its operating temperature. The thermal diode must be monitored to ensure that the maximum operating temperature of the 970MP is not exceeded.

  4. English Press Release by PM4RK5 · · Score: 5, Informative

    IBM has since released an English press release, available here.

    This should be significantly more informative than the earlier available Japanese documents.