Dual-core 3GHz G5s soon?


With the release of CHUD Tools 4.1.0 (Computer Hardware Understanding Development) comes insight on the processors to be used in the next iteration of the PowerMac G5--dual-core G5s. In fact, the options present in this utility indicate that Apple may be planning dual-chip, dual-core machines that provide up to four logical processing units.

The Everything Apple blog offers screen caps of the utility, as well as informed analysis:

With version 4.0.1 [previous release] of the CHUD tools (top), the pane shows only the existing processors, and lists a "Clock Speed". With version 4.1.0 (bottom), the pane has changed to include 4 lines for (up to at least) 4 processor cores, and now lists a "Core Freq."

Additionally, there are references in CHUD Tools 4.1.0 to a 970MP processor.

Another somewhat less-reliable source, MOSR, reports that recent builds of X.3.9 and Tiger show that quad-processor support is being integrated into the OS.

July 2004

Various reports, such as this one from Dark Vision Hardware, last year pegged the initial clock speed of the 970MP, codenamed "Antares," at 3GHz with each core having its own independent 1MB L2 cache, as well as independent 512K L3 caches

Editor's note: Earlier this week, IGM reported information suggesting that IBM 970GX processors may already be in production. Obviously, with this new information takes precedence.

Also, given the public availability of CHUD 4.1.0, perhaps an update of Apple's already long-in-the-tooth PowerMac G5 line isn't far off.

What's your take?