IBM details new PowerPC chips

IBM has released details about two new PowerPC chips designed for entry-level servers and PCs.

The PowerPC 970MP is a dual-core version of the PowerPC 970FX, which is commonly found in Macintosh computers running G5 processors. IBM also said it will release a low-power version of the PowerPC 970FX.

Prices were not disclosed, and it wasn't immediately clear when the two new chips would be available, but executives described the processors at a company event in Tokyo on Thursday.

What's novel about the PowerPC 970MP's design is that each of the two 64-bit cores has its own dedicated 1MB of level-two cache memory. That means that either side of the chip can be powered down to a state IBM calls "doze" while the other core continues to work. The technique helps save power and extends the life of the computer, IBM said.

The chip will be available in speeds ranging from 1.4GHz to 2.5GHz.

A representative for Apple Computer, maker of the Mac, declined to comment on whether the company would use--or had considered using--the PowerPC 970MP in any of its products. Apple said recently that it's ending its manufacturing partnership with IBM in favor of future development with Intel.

The low-power version of its PowerPC 970FX is meant for use in printers and digital video recorders. The processor is designed to run at speeds of up to 2.7GHz, yet operate at less than 20 watts.

IBM said it plans to offer the new processors in a variety of ways: in clusters of servers such as its Blue Gene/L super computer, for example, as well as in high-performance storage devices, single-board computers and networking products.

Both processor announcements are tied to IBM's promotion of its Power Architecture technology, which the company has been trying to position as an alternative to x86-based systems made by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.

With that in mind, IBM also announced the launch of its OpenPower Project, an online forum for IT professionals and developers within the Linux community that will get access to tools and other reference software from IBM.

Developers and enthusiasts that sign up will be able to test their software on Power5-based OpenPower servers, IBM said.

[bcsaxman]

Apple May Have Jumped The Gun

Dual cores and a low power version running 2.7Ghz at less than
20 watts? Wonder what that does to Steve Jobs' 'units of
computing per watt' equations.

I suspected that Apple going to x86 was a mistake for them,
even when the story they were basing it on (that IBM couldn't
deliver the goods for them) was somewhat plausible. Now that
this report apparently makes that story fiction, I'm becoming
convinced it was a bad idea. Here's the G5 Powerbook folks, and
probably in time for Christmas - expect that Apple will never
build it now, since it will force direct comparisons with whatever
Pentium M based versions they come out with a few months
later.

Unless Intel is going to start producing limited run CPUs just for
Apple - ones that are really going to push x86 design in some
way, or incorporate Altivec or something - I think they're going
to find head-to-head comparisons with Windows tougher to win,
at least in terms of which OS can do what task faster than the
other. I expect they'll maintain their usabilty and stability
advantages over Longhorne, but there's really no garauntee of
that. And how badly would it suck for some Linux developer to
come up with a usuable interface, and then have PPC based
Linux boxes spanking both Windows and Mac in terms of both
usability AND now performance?

>shiver<

Admittedly, that's a bit of prognosticating ... still, His Steveness
might have hitched the 'ol Apple cart to the wrong horse this
time.

[NeverFade]

You didn't think Apple knew...

You didn't think Apple knew about the new versions that were
coming down the pike from IBM way before being announced to the
public?? You think that this is the first time Steve Jobs has heard
of these processors? IBM does not keep their vendors waiting in
anticpation like everyone else. Steve J and crew has known about
these units, and looked over different offerings besides just Intel,
but desided to go w/Intel because of their future outlook.

I think that they know what they are doing...

[Earl Benser]

Low power, maybe....

... but the PowerPC chips are still sloooooowwwww. IBM failed to
meet their promises before, and now, they still have. Can't get
excited over consistant failures, when Intel is smoking the field.
These processor are old news to Apple, and are also inadequate. So
nothing is missed by dumping IBM.

[lowter]

Why??

I strongly believe that Apple knew about this improvements on the PowerPC chip, so why would they switch to Intel? I really don't like Intel, and prefer AMD and IBM fro chips.

I wish that Apple wouldn't have switched to Intel, especially with the update to the chip they said - didn't have enough development.

[EmbSysPro]

Market Side Economics

The PowerPC architecture is akin to a Navy SEAL, for shear strength, efficiency, power and endurance it is on a cycle for cycle basis the best heavy lifter out there.

I design and develop systems based on the MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures, so I like to think that I am not too biased toward PowerPC.

Intels designs are really amazing, they are pushing their own technological ideology to impressive levels, but the same can also be said for IBM and AMD, for that matter.

Now that Ive had a chance to recover from the shock and awe of Apples seeming rejection of all that they had previously held near and dear to their hearts, I am slowly beginning to understand the market economics side of the story.

Today, Intel offers a better value proposition for Apple. Apple can lower its hardware system prices to better compete in the marketplace and emphasize its legendary prowess in developing software.