Rumor: Apple Tenders PowerPC 970 Motherboard Manufacture


Apple is close to finalizing production of its PowerPC 970-based daughtercards, according to unsourced rumors reported by MacBidouille.

The article says that Cupertino has offered the manufacture of the card for tender to Taiwanese firms. Two firms will reportedly be retained. If accurate, this suggests Apple intend to build very large quantities of the microprocessor card and do not intend to experience supply problems.

Apple has also finalized its blueprints of the PPC970 motherboards, according to the article. MacBidouille says that the 'pro' version of the mobo will be much longer and narrower than the boards we're currently familiar with, which suggests a new case design for the 970-based Macs may be in the works.

Analysis: Credible. Apple has to get Taiwanese manufactuers to pitch for the mobo business sometime. This is usually the kind of thing Taiwan's Digitimes is quick to latch onto, but we haven't seen a report there. Stay tuned.