Mac G5 Just Unveiled

Apple Canada presents the world's fastest computer

It's an easy drive to Markham's Apple headquarters. The occasion was the Canadian presentation of what the Cupertino-based company loves to call the world's fastest computer: the G5.
Introduced over a month ago by a beaming Steve Jobs, the G5 began appearing on store shelves just a few days ago, in very limited numbers.
The top model, i.e. the 2-GHz twin-processor, still remains very much elusive, as not even the Markham office had one. The problem is the machine's great success, Apple claims, with schools and universities, e.g. Virginia Tech Institute that placed an order for 1100 units, practically absorbing the whole production.
The heart of the system is the G5 processor, i.e. IBM's new PowerPC 970, derived from the Power4 and integrated with the G4's Velocity Engine (AltiVec), but unlike the previous machine, this new Power Mac has been designed for maximum performance.
The look of the new G5 raised the most disparate reactions. Some find it fascinating and perfectly suited to the professional destination of the new machine, some like it but find that the use of aluminum makes it too cold and austere, and some see it as decidedly ugly, resembling a sort of oversize cheese grater.
The concept is certainly minimalist in all aspects, from the external look to the internal "cleanliness" made possible by the lack of visible cables, well hidden by very well designed hardware. The look somehow reminds us of a project by famous architect Le Corbusier, where the care for details makes observers gape in awe.
A different case was required anyway, as a strong sign marking the introduction of the first 64-bit desktop computer. Apple and IBM worked side by side for several years in order to develop the PPC 970, with results that hold great promise for the future.
As we said, though, this machine contains novelties that go far beyond its processor, making its architecture one of the fastest, thanks to the elimination of several bottlenecks that hampered the previous generation of computers.
The 64-bit processors allow a Power Mac G5 to break the 4GB barrier and support up to 8GB of 400 MHz, 128-bit SDRAM DDR. The ultrahigh bandwidth system architecture of the Power Mac G5 presents a 1 GHz frontside bus - one per each processor - in order to maximize throughput. The point-to point system controller allows data to flow directly between subsystems without compromising processor performance.
The Power Mac G5 is equipped with three PCI-X slots, exploiting the most recent innovations of PCI technology. The PCI-X protocol is perfect for high performance PCI devices, as it raises speed from 33MHz, like in normal PCs, to 133MHz, and throughput from 266MBps to 2GBps. In comparison with an AGP 4X interface, the AGP 8X Pro graphic bus of the Power Mac G5 doubles the top transfer rate and the quantity of data transferred in one cycle of the AGP bus.
That's not all! Other important details: the link between the processor and other components is ensured by one of the world's most powerful ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chips, based on IBM technology (a leader in this field). A peculiar characteristic of this chip is its point-to-point architecture, ensuring maximum data transfer to and from the processor, regardless of type of operation and avoiding negotiation of priorities of data processed; thanks to its full support of system bandwidth, all data can comfortably pass through the various components, thus optimizing the computing power of the G5.
As regards data transit in the subsystems (Serial ATA, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire, USB 2.0, and the audio optical/analog components) Apple made a very important strategic choice that was a bit underestimated: using a series of chips interconnected via the HyperTransport protocol.
This technology, enabling high performance connections between very different chips, is a fruit of AMD research that is now owned by a consortium that has made it royalty-free and implementable in many situations where speed and scalability are paramount (it supports up to a 12.8 GB/s !!). Apple, with Sun, Cisco, Xilinx, Nec, NVidia, AMD, and others, is among the founders of this consortium. Every subsystem is therefore integrated via two 800 MHz bi-directional controller that will not slow down the processor, thus ensuring extremely high performance.
All this is cooled by as many as nine very quiet fans controlled by the OS. As regards external connectivity, one can add an Airport Extreme wireless card and some Bluetooth modules for exchanging data with cell phones, palmhelds or printers. The G5 is also equipped with 800 and 400 FireWire ports, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and a digital audio port.
The machines are currently sold with a modified version of Mac Os X, 10.2.7, waiting for the arrival of Panther (10.3) that will further improve performance thanks to a full rewriting of the code for the 64-bit processor. Applications also need rewriting to exploit IBM's new processor in full, even though their operation is not compromised by the lack of upgrades.
A few doubts still linger about the lack of support for other internal disks, possibly more performing such as SCSI HDs, or the lack of internal space in the front for two internal optical disks at the same time. It remains to be seen whether the air circulation holes in the case will generate dust accumulation.
Clearly, this machine is an opportunity for changing our old desktop computers, in consideration of the kind of performance displayed during the presentation. The G5 is very appealing to creative professionals, e.g. graphic designers, 3D creators, directors, musicians or scientists, but is a powerful machine also for lovers of computer games.
If you belong to none of these categories but feel tempted by the G5 idea, try and get consolation from the thought that even Adam could not resist biting the Apple.

Publication Date: 2003-09-14
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3135