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Scooterboy · Apr 13, 2003, 03:06 PM

Will the new 15" PowerBook run on an IBM 970 PowerPC processor? What are the chances? I'm waiting to upgrade from my iBook, but I'm waiting on this new IBM chip.

seanyepez · Apr 13, 2003, 03:10 PM

No. It won't. It will probably use a 1.2-gigahertz Motorola PowerPC G4 7457 when it is released in July.

Currently, a 1.8-gigahertz IBM PowerPC 970 creates twice as much heat as a 1-gigahertz G4.

RooneyX · Apr 13, 2003, 04:06 PM

I was remembering that chart someone posted here awhile ago regarding the performance of all the top CPUs. The 970 was quite powerful (it was a dual core version) compared to a PIV. But when I think about it, stripped down to a single core CPU the 970 isn't that much more impressive than the Centrino/Pentium-M. Perhaps about equal. That doesn't bode well because by the time a mobile 970 even comes out the Centrino will be running well over 2Ghz. And does a 64bit CPU really make a difference when the OS and software tend to bloat anyway (this applies to Wintel 64bit strategy too).

Patcarla · Apr 14, 2003, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by Scooterboy:
Will the new 15" PowerBook run on an IBM 970 PowerPC processor? What are the chances? I'm waiting to upgrade from my iBook, but I'm waiting on this new IBM chip.

There has been quite a lot of contradictory rumors lately about it..macwhispers said that it's likely whereas macbidouille said not untill 2004 (more likely)...So, for sure we'll see a 970 in the powerbook at some point but IMHO you gonna have to be patient..

mcs37 · Apr 14, 2003, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by seanyepez:
Currently, a 1.8-gigahertz IBM PowerPC 970 creates twice as much heat as a 1-gigahertz G4.

I thought the 1.2 GHz IBM PPC 970 generates nearly half the heat of the 1.25 GHz G4?

eddiecatflap · Apr 14, 2003, 02:02 PM

..who cares?

..my sis bought her new laptop today..

..a 15" pb sd at harrods..

VERY nice..

..the 12" in my view was pretty rubbish in comparison..so much for the hinge and as for the supposed paint problems.. i couldn't see any..

..was VERY nippy two !

..now i want one too !

cowerd · Apr 14, 2003, 03:03 PM

The 970 was quite powerful (it was a dual core version) compared to a PIV

There is no dual core 970, at least not in current rumordom. The story goes that a 1.2GHZ 970 dissapates 19w,but there is no context to this, i.e. we don't know if its peak power or some weighted average. Until the chip is actually released we won't know.

troymurray · Apr 14, 2003, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by seanyepez:
probably use a 1.2-gigahertz Motorola PowerPC G4 7457 when it is released

Is the current PowerBook line powered by a Motorola PowerPC G4 7457 chip?

seanyepez · Apr 14, 2003, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by troymurray:
Is the current PowerBook line powered by a Motorola PowerPC G4 7457 chip?

No. It's powered by an AC adapter.

The 15-inch PowerBook's processor is currently a Motorola PowerPC G4 7455. The PowerPC 7457 consumes less power and is able to reach higher clock speeds.

seanyepez · Apr 14, 2003, 09:40 PM

Apple will announce the PowerPC 970 at WWDC in June, but it won't actually be available to the public until September.

troymurray · Apr 14, 2003, 10:09 PM

Originally posted by seanyepez:
No. It's powered by an AC adapter.

Funny guy. So you really think the new 7457 will be in the PowerBook by the end of July? I was thinking that they would jsut intro the 15" in July to "even out" the PB line-up, then bump everyone more around November to 1.2GHz and the new chip. Hope I'm wrong though.

David Hagan · Apr 14, 2003, 10:17 PM

So Sean, you don't expect a PowerBook 15-inch update at the end of the month?

seanyepez · Apr 14, 2003, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by David Hagan:
So Sean, you don't expect a PowerBook 15-inch update at the end of the month?

No, I don't expect it to be updated at the end of the month. Apple is in an interesting situation. Making the 15-inch PowerBook faster would require them to update the 17-inch PowerBook as well, but Apple only started to fulfill 17-inch PowerBook orders last month. Updating the 15-inch PowerBook now would negatively impact 17-inch PowerBook sales, and the GeForce FX Go won't be ready for another month. Apple will wait until July.

mrmister · Apr 14, 2003, 10:43 PM

Either way, it will bump both the 15 and 17 at the same time, to avoi making the 17 look bad...and I agree they will probably wait till July.

I *never* thought my 1Ghz TiBook would have remained top of the Mac performance chart for this long.

RooneyX · Apr 15, 2003, 02:24 AM

I don't think the 17inch Alu is going to be updated in July. Most people haven't even got theirs yet so there would be a lot of pissed consumers.

The real speed increase should come after September. But a new CPU in a Powerbook won't come until way after the Power Macss have them.

Patcarla · Apr 15, 2003, 06:11 AM

Originally posted by mrmister:
Either way, it will bump both the 15 and 17 at the same time, to avoi making the 17 look bad...and I agree they will probably wait till July.

I *never* thought my 1Ghz TiBook would have remained top of the Mac performance chart for this long.

Yep.. me either.