Let's go over all the pieces that make our claims worthy of serious attention. As we noted in some others stories (see below) Apple may indeed introduce a G5 server that actually uses G4's too. More likely, Apple will introduce a 4-way or 8-way rackmount server box that is based on the Motorola PowerPC Apollo G4 and utilizes new Northbridge chip called the Tundra Tsi890.

In any case, let's go over the "why" of the market focus first.

Market Focus

We all know that Apple is going to deliver a compelling server (most likely rackmount) today...and they are almost for sure going to deliver something that targets their current and currently new users.

Apple's historical pro users are in video, graphics and publishing. Its new users consist of more highend video, special effects and 3D modeling, rendering and animation folks. We continue to stand by our claims that Apple (and Jobs personally) is seriously courting the Hollywood studios.

Additionally, OS X's UNIX base is turning the Sci/Tech markets on their heads and they are in needof serious power along the lines of the studios.

The QuickTime Market

Let's not forget the new QuickTime 6 technologies, their relationship to Web serving, the Hollywood studios and the video market. All these things gel to form a compelling synergy and business strategy for Apple.

Today Apple will either deliver one or both of these types of servers:

• Rackmount Macintosh Server for - ISP/Router/Mail/Web/QuickTime/WebObjects

• Rackmount Macintosh Server for - RenderFarm, Compute Farm for Science, Video

We suspect that there will also be some new software for these servers which can work with workflow control between server and workstations/clients. We also believe that Apple may introduce news that they are acquiring a major 3D software. Current candidates include Maya from Alias/Wavefront or Softimage by Softimage Co. It should be noted that as of this morning, Softimage's website is now not available. Hmm?

Quick Facts

Here are some FAQ's provided by our knowledgable reader:

What about G4 Desktop systems with RapidIO?

• This summer Apple will probably release a Dual 1.4-1.6Ghz Mac based on the Appolo G4 and the Tsi890 with Apple's Key Largo as the Southbridge and TI's 64bit 66mhz Gigabit Firewire controller chip. Such a machine would have 333mhz DDR SDRAM, 4 IDE/Ultra ATA ports (Builtin IDE Raid 0/1), 4 USB ports, and 6 800Mhz Firewire ports (Builtin FireWire Raid 5+Hotswap).

When will a "True G5" with AltiVec be available?

• Motorola will have a "True G5" based chip late 2002 or early 2003 aimed at the markets where ALTIVEC is needed (Core Routers, DSPs, Printer Controllers, etc). Apple will have a "True G5" system about 3-6 months after Motorola begins volume production.

Will the MPC8540 G5 run 64bit code?

• Yes. The MPC8540 is a Book 'E' CPU and runs both 64bit and 32bit code. All Book 'E' CPUs can execute both 64bit and 32bit code. There is no special "Compatibility" mode like there is with the X86 CPUs. The 64bit versions of all arithmetic instructions are legal on the MPC8540 and cause an unimplemented trap exception on the MPC7455. The 32bit arithmetic operations function on the lower 32bits of the 64bit registers on the MPC8540 and on the full contents of the 32bit registers on the MPC7455.

Related Articles Published on Architosh

Future G5 News: Test boxes, schedules and more... This article talks about a G5 test box. We now believe that Apple is stock piling the new true G5 chips, which will be a cross between the MPC7455 (Apollo G4) and the Book E Architecture -based MPC8540 with RapidIO. When Apple has sufficient supplies of this Book E compliant chip with AltiVec support, it will be possible for them to introduce a G5 Power Mac workstation.

Pro Mac Survey: 3D Mac users overwhelmingly want Quad Macs Articles details what many in the Hollywood studios are looking for from Apple. Quads are a must.

Rumor: Apple developing advanced dual-engine graphics card, Nvidia in the picture? This article discusses a rumor on an upcoming GPU from Apple (or possibly Nividia and Apple).

Editor's Notes

It should also be stated, that Pixar has made it known that they are moving to Mac OS X throughout their pipeline. Additionally, it has come to our attention that Apple's advanced computing group has been doing substantial research in the vector and parallel computing areas and working with science institutes, universities and labs on compute-intensive applications, something that Apple has the ability to address at the hardware level.

We believe the writing is on the wall, that OS X really is starting to chance things for Apple in the higher education market, revitalizing them in the Sci/tech market and opening up great possibilities from them in the Hollywood studios.