IBM G5 leads AMD, Intel, experts say
updated 11:40 pm EST, Thu March 4, 2004
G5 leads AMD, Intel
Apple's move to G5 processors from IBM is giving the company a clear advantage against manufacturers using chips from Intel or AMD, an industry expert said. "The 970FX" --the chip that powers the Xserve and is thought likely to drive future Power Mac G5s -- "should yield well at 2.5GHz, up from the 2GHz speeds of the 970 used in the original Power Mac G5. This 25 percent increase in clock rate will not soon be matched by Intel or AMD," writes Microprocessor Report editor-in-chief Peter Glaskowsky. Intel's new Prescott chip is described as "struggling to eke out minor clock-rate improvements," he writes.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Need 2.5 GHz to catch up
The problem is that a 2.4-2.5 GHz CPU is needed to catch up in terms of speed. A G5 2.0 is already bested by AMD's and Intel's current offerings.
The one advantage the 970FX has though is performance/Watt.