Apple introduces new dual-core Power Mac G5s: Four processing units at high-end

Apple has refreshed its Power Mac G5 series, bringing DDR2 memory, PCI Express, dual-core PowerPC 970 processors, and dramatically upgraded graphics cards to the line-up.

At the top of the line sits a system with two 2.5 GHz dual-core processors, each with 1MB of L2 cache. Apple offers a series of benchmarks to demonstrate the systems' performance in its press release. Notably absent is any comparison to Intel-based systems:

• Final Cut Pro 5 encodes SD video content up to 60 percent faster on the new Power Mac G5 Quad when compared with the Dual Processor 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5
• Adobe Photoshop runs a series of 45 commonly used filters and actions 43 percent faster on the new Power Mac G5 Quad when compared with the Dual Processor 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5;
• Adobe After Effects renders video effects up to 69 percent faster on the new Power Mac G5 Quad when compared with the Dual Processor 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5;

The new systems can handle up to 16GB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM and now feature dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, as well as one FireWire 800 port, two FireWire 400 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 1.1 ports, optical and digital audio input and output, and built-in support for AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR. The new systems also ship with the Mighty Mouse.

As far as graphics go, the new machines ship with either NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE with 128MB of video memory or the NVIDIA GeForce 6660 with 256MB of video memory, both provide support for dual-displays and Apple's 30-inch Cinema HD Display. The NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT with 256MB of video memory and the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 with 512MB of video memory -- which can drive dual 30 inch displays -- are both available as build-to-order options.

Configurations are now as follows:

Power Mac G5 Dual at US$ 1,999:

• dual-core 2.0GHz PowerPC G5 processor;
• 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable up to 16GB;
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE with 128MB of GDDR SDRAM
• three open PCI Express expansion slots: two 4-lane slots and one 8-lane slot;
• dual Gigabit Ethernet ports;
• 16x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• ships with Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The Power Mac G5 Dual at US$ 2,499:

• dual-core 2.3 GHz PowerPC G5 processor;
• 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable up to 16GB;
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• NVIDIA GeForce 6600 with 256MB of GDDR SDRAM
• three open PCI Express expansion slots: two 4-lane slots and one 8-lane slot;
• dual Gigabit Ethernet ports;
• 16x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• ships with Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The Power Mac G5 Quad at US$ 3,299:

• two dual-core 2.5GHz PowerPC G5 processors;
• 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable up to 16GB;
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• NVIDIA GeForce 6600 with 256MB of GDDR SDRAM
• three open PCI Express expansion slots: two 4-lane slots and one 8-lane slot;
• dual Gigabit Ethernet ports;
• 16x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• ships with Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The 2.0 GHz and 2.3 GHz Power Mac G5 Dual are available now and the 2.5 GHz Power Mac G5 Quad will be available in early November

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