Freescale To Launch Smaller, Faster G4 Processor || The Mac Observer

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Freescale To Launch Smaller, Faster G4 Processor

Freescale To Launch Smaller, Faster G4 Processor

by , 5:15 PM EDT, September 28th, 2004

Tony Smith of The Register (UK) has published a look at Freescale's upcoming smaller, faster G4 processor. Freescale is the name of Motorola's spun-off semiconductor division that now makes PowerPC processors.

According to the article, the processor will be the first 90 NN G4 processor, making it smaller and cooler than the current generation G4 processors that power Apple's PowerBooks, iBooks, and eMacs. The processors are also expected to be faster, coming in faster than 1.5 GHz. From the article:

The new chip is Freescale's first 90nm G4 and is based on the company's e600 core, the foundation for Freescale's upcoming line of dual-core chips. The 7448, however, contains just one core, clocked to beyond 1.5GHz. It contains 32KB of L1 cache and 1MB of L2, double the 512KB of L2 found in the MPC7447A currently driving Apple's PowerBook G4 and iBook G4 notebooks.

Indeed, the 7448 is likely to provide Apple with its next notebook speed bump, as the company struggles to fit the hot-running PowerPC 970FX - aka the G5 - into a laptop.

However, it will have to wait: the 7448 is not expected to sample until H1 2005, Freescale said.

There's much more detail on the new processor in the full story at The Register.

The Register Article

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments

Close Name:AFCdtLoeb Posts: 2533 Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:34 pm Subject:

::::Imagines getting a G4 PB with one....::::

Reply | Quote

Close Name:jacrav Posts: 268 Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:09 pm Subject:

1.8 GHz 12â€, 60 GB HD, DVDÂ±R, 512 MB Memory
2.0 GHz 15â€, 80 GB HD, DVDÂ±R, 512 MB Memory
2.25 GHz 17â€, 100 GB HD, DVDÂ±R, 1 GB Memory

Letâ€™s dream â€¦ ??????

Reply | Quote

Close Name:AFCdtLoeb Posts: 2533 Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:51 pm Subject:

They'll go G5 first. They wont do anything with the PB until they can keep heat and amperage exactly as they are.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Guest
Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:24 pm Subject: emac then PB

Apple wants to keep all the lines as similar as possible. It is possible to put the G5 into an emac and keep the price the same.

It would be embarrassing to be able to buy a G5 in an emac but not in a PB.

Once IBM can lower the heat and energy requirements of the G5, it will make it into the PB.

There might be an intermediate G4 for the PB.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:23 am Subject:

Yeah if it takes another year to get a G5 chip that can run in a laptop, I don't think Apple is going to wait that long before making ANY updates to their laptops. A nice speedy, dual-core G4 would be the perfect intermediate speed bump.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1960 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:29 am Subject:

Quote
Biff wrote:
Yeah if it takes another year to get a G5 chip that can run in a laptop, I don't think Apple is going to wait that long before making ANY updates to their laptops. A nice speedy, dual-core G4 would be the perfect intermediate speed bump.

Exactly.

They're pretty proud of their Powerbooks as "Pro" machines. I don't imagine we'll see G5 laptops before 2006, myself. There's no WAY they could keep selling the current machines for that long and have them retain their status.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:17 am Subject: Biff

Maybe they can use some of those 2.3GHz G5's. Oh wait those are only for Virginia Tech.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:AFCdtLoeb Posts: 2533 Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:28 pm Subject:

Apple wont go dual core. Remember the MDD G4? 2x G4's would suck down a battery and pump out just as much heat as a single G5.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Guest
Fri Oct 08, 2004 5:46 pm Subject:

Quote
AFCdtLoeb wrote:
They'll go G5 first. They wont do anything with the PB until they can keep heat and amperage exactly as they are.

the processor box in the power mac is too big... so a g5 processor is hard to put in a soo slim notebook.... maybe they'll make a special g5 mobile....

Reply | Quote

Comment on this Article

Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top Page 1 of 1

You cannot edit your comments. You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.

Recent Headlines - Updated February 12th

Sat, 4:11 PM: MacOS KenDensed - MacOS KenDensed: iPad 3 Frenzy, Big-time Apple & Steve Jobs, G-Man
Fri, 8:10 PM: News - Apple Sues Motorola Mobility in California Over German Case
7:54 PM: Free on iTunes - OnLive Desktop: Windows & Office on Your iPad
7:43 PM: Product News - Apple Rolls Out MacBook Air Configurations for Education
6:35 PM: Just a Peek - Battle Pocket Bulge With The Hint for iPhone
6:01 PM: Rumor - Apple Reportedly Bringing MacBook Air Styling to Pro Line
4:50 PM: Particle Debris - The Hidden Gotchas of Browser Security
3:56 PM: Apple Stock Watch - Analyst: Paying a Dividend Makes Sense for Apple
2:58 PM: Deal Brothers - iMac 27-inch 2.93GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 processor: $1,999
2:45 PM: In-Depth Review - Theodolite App for iOS is Breathtaking
12:52 PM: Apple Stock Watch - Mizuho Securities Starts Apple Coverage with $635 Target
11:35 AM: Hot Forum Topic - Forum Poll: Are You Planning on Buying a New iPad?

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.
Mac RAM Upgrades: MacBook Pro 16GB kits $475, 8GB Kits for $119.99! iMac 16GB RAM Kits (4x 4GB) for $229.99! Mac Pro Memory 32GB Kit for $399.99, 64GB Kit for $889.99! Mac Hard Drives 2TB Seagate SATA II for $249.99! Click Here!
If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Online Poker Mac. This mac poker and online casino mac site actually does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!