Apple and IBM Introduce the PowerPC G5 Processor

Apple and IBM together today introduced the world’s first 64-bit desktop processor — the PowerPC G5. Based on IBM’s industry leading POWER architecture, the new PowerPC G5 processor has been optimised for personal computers and is at the heart of Apple’s newly-announced Power Mac G5, the world’s fastest desktop computer.

“The PowerPC G5 changes all the rules. This 64-bit race car is the heart ofour new Power Mac G5, now the world’s fastest desktop computer”, said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “IBM offers the most advanced processor design and manufacturing expertise on earth, and this is just the beginning of a long and productive relationship”.

“Apple and IBM have been working together for over a decade. With thedevelopment of the PowerPC G5 we’ve entered into a much deeper partnership,and Apple now has access to a vast portfolio of IBM’s advanced technologiesused in our high-performance servers and supercomputers”, said John Kelly,senior vice president and group executive, IBM Technology Group. “The PowerMac G5 is the result of Apple’s leadership in innovation coupled with IBM’s unrivalled processor technology. It is also a preview of the type oftechnology innovation that our deeper partnership will continue to deliverto customers in the future”.

The PowerPC G5 represents a breakthrough in microprocessor performance. Madepossible by IBM’s industry-leading, state-of-the-art process technology, the PowerPC G5 provides creative professionals with unrivalled 64-bit computepower, while also running 32-bit applications natively. The PowerPC G5 runsat clock speeds up to 2GHz and can virtually address a mind boggling 18exabytes (18 billion billion bytes) of memory. The next generation PowerPCarchitecture is based on a completely new execution core that featuresmassively parallel computation for an unprecedented 215 in-flightinstructions, full symmetric multi-processing, two double precision floatingpoint units and an optimised Velocity Engine.

IBM builds the PowerPC G5 in its new state-of-the-art, US$3 billion 300mmfabrication facility in East Fishkill, New York, using industry-leadingmanufacturing technologies. IBM packs performance and new features into thisprocessor using ultra-thin 130 nanometre circuitry (nearly 800 times thinnerthan a human hair). The PowerPC G5 has 1,131 feet of copper interconnectsand 58 million transistors based on IBM’s efficient silicon-on-insulator(SOI) technology.

The PowerPC G5 processor incorporates an innovative 1GHz processorinterface to speed information to the G5 system controller. This interface,which can deliver unprecedented bandwidth to the processor at up to 8GBps —fast enough to deliver a typical full-length motion picture in less than onesecond. While supporting 64-bit computing for emerging applications, thePowerPC G5 architecture also provides seamless support for existing 32-bitapplications. The G5 system controller was designed by Apple, and is amongthe fastest application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) in the industry.Specifically designed for optimum system integration, the G5 systemcontroller boasts an industry-leading point-to-point architecture formaximum bandwidth throughout the system. It has a number of very highperformance interfaces — a processor interface at 1GHz, a 128-bit DDRmemory interface running at 400MHz, a HyperTransport interface running at800MHz, and an AGP 8X Pro graphics interface.

IBM is a recognised innovator in the chip industry, having been first withadvances like more power-efficient copper wiring in place of aluminium,faster silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and silicon germanium transistors, andimproved low-k dielectric insulation between chip wires. These and otherinnovations have contributed to IBM’s standing as the number one US patentholder for 10 consecutive years. More information about IBM Microelectronicscan be found at http://www.ibm.com/chips.

IBM Microelectronics is a key contributor to IBM’s role as the world’spremier information technology supplier. It develops, manufactures andmarkets state-of-the-art semiconductor and interconnect technologies,products and services. IBM Microelectronics activities are focused in threemajor areas: custom ASIC chips, PowerPC-based standard chip products andhigh-tech foundry services. Its superior integrated solutions can be foundin many of the world’s best-known electronic brands.

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