AppleInsider StaffApple is hoping to net the better part of Intel's high-end Penryn-based Xeon microprocessor when they launch next month, according to questionable reports based out of Japan.
The 45-nanometer chips, code-named "Harpertown," are indeed amongst the successors to those used in the existing Mac Pro. Pricing leaked out of Intel in August would have them fetching well over $1000 each, however, making for some pricey Apple desktops given that each Mac Pro would require two of these chips. It would also require that Apple update the Mac Pro's underlying architecture to accommodate a 1600MHz front-side bus.
Apple's modern day equivalent to such a system would be its custom-configuded 8-Core Mac Pro, which employs two 3.0GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Clovertown" processors running on a 1333MHz front-side bus and retailing for $4000. The report suggests that Apple anticipates selling so many of these niche machines, that other PC manufacturers like Dell and HP would barely have enough supply of the 3.2GHz chips to announce availability of rival offerings.
Where the Inquirer's report really becomes suspect  is in its further claim that Apple is also craving tons of Intel's upcoming Yorkfield Extreme chips for its "mainstream boxes." Unfortunately, Apple's mainstream boxes are its iMacs, which are based on mobile chips, and Yorkfield is the successor to the Core 2 Quad (Kentsfield), which is based on a chip family Apple has never used. Â
That being said, Intel earlier this year confirmed that it was supplying Apple with exclusive allotments of the aforementioned 3GHz quad-core "Clovertown" chips for the Mac Pro several months ahead of other system builders. Therefore, the claims regarding "Harpertown" cannot be completely ruled out.
According to the "Harpertown" related information accidentally leaked by Intel in August, the chips are slated to launch November 11th.
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
Mike Wuerthele
109 Comments
a mac pro with 2 $1,172 cpus and FB-dimms apples price $4000 - $5000 1gb of ram?
At lest they are statring to use DESKTOP CPUS for there other macs.
I hope this means that Apple will start looking at actually using desktop chips in their desktops. Intel's mainstream desktop line has nice bang for the buck, and Apple hasn't taken advantage of it yet.
If someone mentions xMac I will figuratively hurt them
If someone mentions xMac I will figuratively hurt them
Is it bad that I'm tempted to say it just to find out what the heck you have in mind?
a mac pro with 2 $1,172 cpus and FB-dimms apples price $4000 - $5000 1gb of ram?
That sounds like more of the same, that sounds like that's the price of the Clovertowns when they were released.
That's from this unconfirmed report, right? I think that's quite a dubious report unless they are very low power desktop, because the new, thinner iMacs are need very low power chips to stay cool. Now, there is a chance that there is a new machine coming whose informal code name shall not be repeated, that would be cool, but I'm not counting on it yet.