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goMac · Mar 7, 2006, 03:46 PM

(This thread was created in the PM room and a lounge, but both were closed in a freak case of mods closing them because of cross posting, so here is a new one in the lounge!)

Looks like clock for clock it's faster than the Athlon, it's overall faster than the Athlon, and it's %40 faster than the P4 while using %40 less power. It's already been 3rd party benchmarked and Intel is giving access to demo machines at the show.

Anadtech Benchmarks:
http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/...i=2713&p=2
Intel Benchmarks:
http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2712
Announcement:
http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2711

Nail in the coffin for the anti-Intel crowd...

turtle777 · Mar 7, 2006, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Nail in the coffin for the anti-Intel crowd...

I could care less, so I decided to not post in this thread.

-t

Spliffdaddy · Mar 7, 2006, 04:03 PM

Wonder what AMD's answer to this one is gonna be?

Is admitting defeat really an option?

demograph68 · Mar 7, 2006, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

I could care less, so I decided to not post in this thread.

-t

So you posted anyway? What's the matter with you?

I guess this is good news for us. Though then again I'm no expert.

turtle777 · Mar 7, 2006, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by demograph68

So you posted anyway? What's the matter with you?

You gotta be kiddin' me...

-t

Ken_F2 · 03:03 AM

From my post in the earlier thread, which the moderator in the PowerMac forums said belonged in the Lounge:

Today at its bi-annual developer conference (IDF), Intel officially unveiled the details of its next-generation mobile, desktop, and server processors shipping in the second-half of 2006.

The processors included the next-generation version of the Core Duo known as "Merom" -- a processor with identical battery life to the Duo, but with 20% greater performance and support for 64-bit execution. Merom is slated to ship late summer or early fall.

Intel also unveiled two next-generation processors for the desktop to replace the Pentium 4. The first was "Conroe", which will use 40% less power than Intel's current top-of-the-line P4, but offer 40% greater performance. Intel claims "Conroe" will be 20% faster than any chip available from the competition (AMD) in 2006. Conroe is slated to ship early this summer, just in time for the WWDC in August.

The second chip unveiled for the desktop was "Kentsfield", which integrates two Conroes onto a single chip (4-core processor) using less power than some of today's P4 chips. The quad-core "Kentsfield" processor is slated for release in January, 2007. A server version of the chip, dubbed "Clovertown," was also shown in a dual processor configuration (8 cores!) running Guild Wars at ridiculous speeds.

Just how fast will these processors be? The current Intel Core Duo @ 2.167MHz -- the fastest chip available in the new iMac and MacBook Pro -- comes in at 1748 SPECint_base2000 and 1580 SPECfp_base2000. By comparison, the 2.8GHz version of the Conroe is said to come in at 2800 SPECint_base2000 and 2500 SPECfp_base2000 -- a 60+% performance improvement. And this is only the "mid-range" version of the chip.

Vaporware? Not quite. Anandtech ran benchmarks on the new dual-core "Conroe," which you can see here. In Anandtech's tests, the Conroe outperformed the higher-clocked, dual-core Athlon64 by up to 40%, and did it while using substantially less power, according to Intel. Note those benchmarks are only for the mid-range 2.66GHz version. According to Intel, the processor will be available in 2.93Ghz and 3.33GHz versions at release.

Anand's first articles on the conference (still in progress) are here:
General info: http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2711
Benchmarks: http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2712

Why should you care? Apple cared enough to delay WWDC to August 7-11 to announce PowerMacs with these new processors, which are expected for release between July 31 and August 31.

The benchmarks above represent the performance of a mid-range configuration (2.66GHz) of the next PowerMac. The high-end configurations would use a 2.93 or 3.33Ghz version of the processor.

Salty · Mar 7, 2006, 05:03 PM

Yum...

. I can't wait to get one of these chips. What are the laptop versions gonna be like? I bet it'll be able to even emulate photoshop faster than the old G4 PowerBooks haha... dang Adobe hurry your butts up!

greenamp · Mar 7, 2006, 05:04 PM

OMG 8X Faster! ™

mduell · Mar 7, 2006, 05:09 PM

Oh hotness.

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Wonder what AMD's answer to this one is gonna be?

Is admitting defeat really an option?

DDR2 support this year and quad core chips next year.

meelk · Mar 7, 2006, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Wonder what AMD's answer to this one is gonna be?

Is admitting defeat really an option?

Amd is prepping its DDR2-800 M2 stuff for june launch. Theres not exactly a problem. AMD will also have quad cores out by first quarter 2007. Indicators are that intel will rush its quads out by fall, to beat amd, but they will be horribly mashed together overnight, with little thought to architectural enhancements.

AMD currently rapes Intel across the board. You really think AMD is worried ?

Big Mac · Mar 7, 2006, 05:10 PM

Speed whores.

I have to give credit where it's due to Intel if Merom will truly be 30% faster clock for clock than Yonah without an energy increase. But I'll believe that when I see it. And in any event, my objections about Intel stand regardless of their performance achievements.

greenamp · Mar 7, 2006, 05:12 PM

AMDs answer will be the new AMD Athlon 5200 Vista XP 128bit Penta-Core XT.
It will have 2 cores, 64bit, and run at 2.8ghz.

willed · Mar 7, 2006, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Wonder what AMD's answer to this one is gonna be?

Is admitting defeat really an option?

Yeah I heard they were closing down their chip fab plants and going home.

Kevin · Mar 7, 2006, 05:26 PM

Like the Intel crowd have been saying, Apple choose Intel for FUTURE chips.

And yes, it looks to blow the G5 out of the water.

Big Mac · Mar 7, 2006, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

And yes, it looks to blow the G5 out of the water.

We'll see what the real world performance suggests.

goMac · Mar 7, 2006, 07:07 PM

Something to note. The chips benchmarked today were 2.66 ghz.

The final ones are to be 3.2 ghz.

Kevin · Mar 7, 2006, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Something to note. The chips benchmarked today were 2.66 ghz.

The final ones are to be 3.2 ghz.

Maybe we will finally get that 3ghz tower

greenamp · Mar 7, 2006, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Maybe we will finally get that 3ghz tower

A PowerMac with two dual core intel chips running at over 3ghz, yum. And black brushed aluminum!

[ot]
Don't know that they really need to re design the current Power Mac though. Clear plastic was pretty dated at the time of the last G4 Towers, but current G5 PMs are still pretty cutting edge as far as design goes. Something about a 45lb metal computer case just makes you feel good about it.

moodymonster · Mar 7, 2006, 07:29 PM

if we were still with PPC at its current rate of development when these came out, Apple would be ****ed in the pro markets.

greenamp · Mar 7, 2006, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by moodymonster

if we were still with PPC at its current rate of development when these came out, Apple would be ****ed in the pro markets.

Yeah I'm thinking the next PMs with Intel chips are gonna be beasts.

mduell · Mar 7, 2006, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by greenamp

AMDs answer will be the new AMD Athlon 5200 Vista XP 128bit Penta-Core XT.
It will have 2 cores, 64bit, and run at 2.8ghz.

Uh, that's exactly what Anandtech was benchmarking against.

wdlove · Mar 7, 2006, 08:20 PM

I'm looking forward to the next generation chips. Apple will put them to good use for us.

greenamp · Mar 7, 2006, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Uh, that's exactly what Anandtech was benchmarking against.

demograph68 · Mar 7, 2006, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Maybe we will finally get that 3ghz tower

What about the Mhz myth? Does that no longer matter these days?

Eug Wanker · Mar 7, 2006, 08:54 PM

Who cares about Power Macs? I want a Conroe iMac with 10.5.

In the meantime, I'll continue using my G5 iMac (if I ever get it back from repair).

Weyland-Yutani · Mar 7, 2006, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by demograph68

What about the Mhz myth? Does that no longer matter these days?

Not only that, but integrated graphics are totally awesome now.

cheers

W-Y

demograph68 · Mar 7, 2006, 09:00 PM

Integrated wha?!? How does that work?

Kevin · Mar 7, 2006, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by demograph68

What about the Mhz myth? Does that no longer matter these days?

<---

demograph68 · Mar 7, 2006, 09:15 PM

Oh I thought you winked since that's what Jobs said.

greenamp · Mar 7, 2006, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Weyland-Yutani

Not only that, but integrated graphics are totally awesome now.

cheers

W-Y

Oh and everyone suddenly has a HUGE need to dual boot Windows on their Macs.

goMac · Mar 7, 2006, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by greenamp

Oh and everyone suddenly has a HUGE need to dual boot Windows on their Macs.

...it would let me sell my actual PC...

Eug Wanker · Mar 8, 2006, 08:12 AM

The best part is Merom, which is pin-compatible with Yonah but which has about the same power specs as Yonah, although noticeably faster and 64-bit.

"Earlier today Justin Rattner mentioned that Merom platforms would offer more than a 20% increase in performance relative to the current Core Duo T2600 (2.16GHz) processors with no impact on power consumption. During a separate briefing, Intel's Mooly Eden showed a benchmark pitting a Dell Core Duo system against the same system with a Merom processor (Eden literally swapped out the Core Duo CPU and stuck in a Merom processor, partly to showcase its backwards comptability). The benchmark was a custom Quake 4 timedemo, with the Core Duo system scoring 106.6 fps while the Merom system scored 134 fps: advantage Merom by just over 25%."

Originally Posted by greenamp

Oh and everyone suddenly has a HUGE need to dual boot Windows on their Macs.

If I could dual boot, I could stop using Virtual PC.

euchomai · Mar 8, 2006, 10:14 AM

oops

euchomai · Mar 8, 2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

I could care less, so I decided to not post in this thread.

-t

me too.

turtle777 · Mar 8, 2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by euchomai

me too.

Ne prepared to justify your non-post

-t

euchomai · Mar 8, 2006, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

Ne prepared to justify your non-post

-t

I was posting out of rage because of my stance on not posting in this thread. I shall now again, not post here today.

turtle777 · Mar 8, 2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by euchomai

I shall now again, not post here today.

Me, too. Seconded. Awesome.

-t

olePigeon · Mar 8, 2006, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

The best part is Merom, which is pin-compatible with Yonah but which has about the same power specs as Yonah, although noticeably faster and 64-bit.

So I guess iMac users can go to Fry's and upgrade to the new processor. This'll be another Mac first since the Beige G3.

If I could dual boot, I could stop using Virtual PC.

I wouldn't. If VPC/VM ran at native speeds without the need of dual booting, I wouldn't even bother with dual booting (or tripple boot.) I'd just have whatever OS I need as a nifty img/iso and just run it. VPC has the convenience of drag-n-drop between OSes and a shared clipboard, so you can copy/paste between the two. I think that'd be handy for any sort of development and testing. Some VMs allow you to even set hardware specifics such as virtual sound cards and other things.

Not only that, but most VMs and VPC have the "saved state" option where you can have your Windows be exactly where you left off. I guess it saves the memory contents to a scratch file.

mduell · Mar 8, 2006, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

The best part is Merom, which is pin-compatible with Yonah but which has about the same power specs as Yonah, although noticeably faster and 64-bit.

"Earlier today Justin Rattner mentioned that Merom platforms would offer more than a 20% increase in performance relative to the current Core Duo T2600 (2.16GHz) processors with no impact on power consumption. During a separate briefing, Intel's Mooly Eden showed a benchmark pitting a Dell Core Duo system against the same system with a Merom processor (Eden literally swapped out the Core Duo CPU and stuck in a Merom processor, partly to showcase its backwards comptability). The benchmark was a custom Quake 4 timedemo, with the Core Duo system scoring 106.6 fps while the Merom system scored 134 fps: advantage Merom by just over 25%."

If I could dual boot, I could stop using Virtual PC.

That has been known for a while... Merom will launch ~6 months before Santa Rosa, so it has to work with the existing Napa chipsets. The only questions that remain are if it will work with the current firmware and if it won't if Apple will provide an updated firmware.

Dual booting? Pfft, simultaneous dual booting is where it's at. Merom should support VT (Vanderpool).

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 8, 2006, 05:20 PM

As long as it is 64 bit and faster than the G5 at EVERYTHING by a large margin I am happy.

Power be damned.

Eug Wanker · Mar 8, 2006, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

So I guess iMac users can go to Fry's and upgrade to the new processor. This'll be another Mac first since the Beige G3.

Unlikely, since it'd probably require a firmware upgrade, and I doubt Apple would release one for the existing iMacs.

I wouldn't. If VPC/VM ran at native speeds without the need of dual booting, I wouldn't even bother with dual booting (or tripple boot.)

Me too, but we don't have that option either (yet).

Originally Posted by I Bent My Wookiee

As long as it is 64 bit and faster than the G5 at EVERYTHING by a large margin I am happy.

Power be damned.

Well, you might want to get a quad, considering you already have a dual G5 2.0.

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 8, 2006, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Well, you might want to get a quad, considering you already have a dual G5 2.0.

Trust me I will. I have no urge to upgrade though. mid to end of next year earliest.

Perhaps a new 15" laptop though but not till photoshop is native.