Think Secret: New crop of G3s coming


I've never seen a "Gobi" before, but I'm sure I'll like it when I do because that's the code name of an upcoming PowerPC processor from IBM, according to a report on ThinkSecret.

The irascible Mssr. de Plume states that although much of the recent attention has been given to IBM's forthcoming PowerPC 970, Think Secret has learned that the mothership has taken delivery of an order of faster G3 chips. These higher-speed chips are the latest addition to Big Blue's PowerPC 750fx family.

Further, some time off in the not-to-distant future IBM reportedly will begin production of a new generation of G3s, perhaps still in the 7xx lineage, that will boast higher clock speeds and Rapid IO technology, which is a point-to-point method of linking processing elements so that they can communicate directly with each other without the need for intervening bridges or host controllers.

Apple's current iBooks use 750fx processors and CRT iMacs use 750cx CPUs, which are an earlier less powerful version of the G3.

News of a burnished G3 processor line would seem to lay to rest rumors of G4-powered consumer portables. Moreover, IBM's announced and rumored development plans also add weight to the argument that Apple will continue using cheap, plentiful chips from Big Blue for the foreseeable future.

Editor's note: A Christmas treat for the faithful! Though not the news of 3+ GHz Pentium killers that we all yearn for, it's still a welcome addition to an already bountiful (ahem!) holiday hardware feast from the mothership's horn-o-plenty.

Should Apple forgo IBM's latest offerings and go with G4s in its consumer portable line?