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TMO Reports - Amazon Posts Specs for 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5

by , 10:25 AM EDT, April 26th, 2005

Amazon has posted the specs for an unreleased 2.7 GHz dual processor Power Mac G5 model on its Web site. Listed as an unreleased product for pre-order, the retailing giant is offering a 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5 with 512 megabytes of RAM, a 250 gigabyte hard drive, and a 16x dual-layer SuperDrive. The list price for the unit is given as US$3,000, with Amazon's price set at $2,994.99. No release date is listed on Amazon's page.

Such a machine is not currently listed at Apple's Web site or the Apple Store, nor has it been announced by Apple. The company is notoriously careful with allowing information on unannounced products to be released, and Amazon's listing is most likely accidental.


A screen shot from Amazon's Web site
(Click the thumbnail for a larger image)

Currently, the fastest Power Mac G5 offered by Apple is a dual processor 2.5 GHz unit at $2,999 on the Apple Store.

While it is available, you can see the 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5 at Amazon's Web site.

Apple's policy is to not comment on unannounced products.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Kinda sad that after all this time we're getting a 0.2GHz speed bump. Ah well. At least I'll be able to get a dual 2GHz for the price of a dual 1.8 soon. And yes I realize there are other changes too like more memory, better graphics card, etc. But nothing amazing or exciting. Well except for the fact that I'll FINALLY be able to order one now that the updates will be out. I guess THAT is exciting!

Close Name:Bookman Posts: 543 Joined: 22 Apr 2002
Subject:

gawd I'll bet Jobs wishes he had just kept his big yapper shut about 3 ghz within a year. He poisoned the well so that any speed increase will be measured against his statement.

Close Name:acdc1174 Posts: 667 Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Subject:

Quote
Bookman wrote:
gawd I'll bet Jobs wishes he had just kept his big yapper shut about 3 ghz within a year. He poisoned the well so that any speed increase will be measured against his statement.


Agreed. A dual 2.7 is an amazing machine (heck, the dual 2.5 is STILL amazing) but will be under-rated and maligned because it isn't a 3.0 ghz...pity. Anyone NOT pleased with theirs can feel free to ship it to me.

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1933 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject:

Does anyone know what the deal with the cooling system is? It's on the current 2.5 machine, right? I know Apple never liked having to use it.

Do we know if any of these new machines are supposed to need it or not? I don't think I've heard anywhere.

View Name:Guest
Subject: don't forget 16X Dual-Layer burning
Close Name:randompro42 Posts: 215 Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Subject:

interesting-- does anyone know if amazon has any more pre orders available for other macs (possibly to be released friday alongside a certain operating system)

also, will apple activate their legal team for releasing specs early to the public (i know TS had shown these specs before)

TRO

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

I don't think the current 2.5's are 970FX right? All the new Powermacs will be and those chips run alot cooler. So I don't think the liquid cooling will be needed anymore. Of course only time will tell.

Close Name:Brutno Posts: 194 Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Subject: Cooling System

From the pics on the Amazon page for the dual 2.7, provided they're not older stock photos, I do not see evidence of liguid cooling. Could this mean dual-cores? I do not have a clue.

Close Name:jimothy Posts: 567 Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Subject: Liquid cooling

Quote
Brutno wrote:
From the pics on the Amazon page for the dual 2.7...I do not see evidence of liquid cooling.

What kind of evidence were you hoping for?

View Name:Guest
Subject: Jobs believed IBM
View Name:Guest
Subject: Any chance this could be the second to best?
Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1933 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject: Don't really need 3.0 myself

Eh, I really don't care about the chip speed so much. I want to see re-designed cases with more space for extra hard drives and different kinds of PCI.

THOSE are the kinds of changes that will get people's attention. I'm glad for these slight upgrades...I'll probably buy one...but they're not a big deal.

Close Name:donovan Posts: 23 Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Subject:

What is it with Amazon?

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

The rumors seem pretty solid at this point. All 3 systems will be dual chip, single core 970FX. They will be 2.0, 2.3 and 2.7. Judging by the Amazon page, the prices will remain unchanged for each "level".

View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: picture
View Name:Guest
Subject: Insides pic
View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: it's funny
Close Name:allanimal Posts: 28 Joined: 18 Apr 2005
Subject: What's the deal with liquid cooling?

Quote
Biff wrote:
I don't think the current 2.5's are 970FX right? All the new Powermacs will be and those chips run alot cooler. So I don't think the liquid cooling will be needed anymore. Of course only time will tell.


I have heard several comments since the 2.5 GHz Pmac came out that were down on the whole liquid cooling thing. Why is that? Is there some problem with it? I owuld think it would be quieter than fans. (just a guess). And more efficient. But what are the drawbacks?

Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1933 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: What's the deal with liquid cooling?

Quote
allanimal wrote:

I have heard several comments since the 2.5 GHz Pmac came out that were down on the whole liquid cooling thing. Why is that? Is there some problem with it? I owuld think it would be quieter than fans. (just a guess). And more efficient. But what are the drawbacks?


Besides the fact that it costs more to make (I'm sure) I think there was a lot of concern that a pipe could spring a leak and ruin the entire computer.

Whether or not Apple could be held liable for this could be debated, but it would surely be bad publicity. A lot of computer defects can simply be fixed by replacing the part. If your entire computer gets fried, however, it may be a bit bigger problem.

I don't think that ever happened, but it's a problem they'd prefer to avoid altogether, I bet.

Close Name:Mav Posts: 1089 Joined: 17 Oct 2003
Subject:

As for Amazon: Oops. I guess we'll know whether the product really exists within a day or so.

Quote
Bookman wrote:
gawd I'll bet Jobs wishes he had just kept his big yapper shut about 3 ghz within a year. He poisoned the well so that any speed increase will be measured against his statement.


Ah, he was just a bit too trusting of the IBM folks who gave him those apparently-way-too-optimistic assurances. I doubt Jobs will ever make that mistake again.

I'm not exactly thrilled by a 200 MHz boost after all this time between updates either, but given AMD's and Intel's troubles ramping up clock speed (AMD hasn't crossed 3.0 GHz yet either, AFAIK), it's not a terribly big thing, just the 90nm wall/end of Moore's Law. Even Intel's only managed a 200MHz boost (to 3.8GHz). On the bright side, the FSB's almost certainly been boosted to 1.35GHz. Toss in a $2799 or lower price tag, nicer onboard equipment, etc. and it'll be a nice, perfectly performance-competitive high-end system.

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Quote
allanimal wrote:
I have heard several comments since the 2.5 GHz Pmac came out that were down on the whole liquid cooling thing. Why is that? Is there some problem with it? I owuld think it would be quieter than fans. (just a guess). And more efficient. But what are the drawbacks?
Well as already stated they are more expensive. And more complex. More likey to break, leak, etc. Also remember that the liquid cooling has fans too! The liquid just helps to get the heat off the chips and distributed to the radiators faster. But then fans are still needed to cool the radiators. Man those 2.5GHz chips be hot! The new computers will be running the 970FX chips which run MUCH cooler. So with that much less heat to disperse, not only will a liquid cooling system no longer be needed, but the fans being used to cool them might even be able to run quieter than the fans needed to cool the radiator on the current 2.5GHz monters. And since the 970FX uses alot less power, your electric bill will be lower! Awe yeah!

Close Name:JimWCB Posts: 301 Joined: 29 Aug 2002
Subject: Info is gone from Amazon

The pictures and the page is still there, but all the info has been removed.

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

They have to keep up the illusion of a "mistake" and "accidentally" letting the info "leak". Hehe. At least we know exactly what to expect tomorrow. I wonder when the new iMacs and eMacs will be announced. Tiger ships Friday and the current models ship with 256MB RAM! Maybe Apple will unveil a new memory upgrade promotion on iMacs and eMacs.

View Name:Guest
Subject: .2 GHz within .... two years ;-(
View Name:Guest
Subject: Looks like 2.0 to 2.7 GHz/dual core (?) after two years
Close Name:Bookman Posts: 543 Joined: 22 Apr 2002
Subject:

Maybe that Cell processor in a Mac isn't such a bad idea after all

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2001 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Going, Going, ... GONE!

Amazon has taken the specs off the page. It now says, "Product Coming Soon" and "Availability: This item is currently not available."

View Name:Guest
Subject: milking the power mac for what its worth
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: Don't really need 3.0 myself
Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject:

Oh boy oh boy! It's Wednesday! Come on, new product announcements!

Sorry. I've been waiting a long time to get a Powermac.

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