Tag: ibm

IBM’s next PowerPC 970 processor–which Apple uses in its iMac and Power Mac G5–will feature technology that allows it to run multiple operating systems simultaneously, according to Karl Freund, vice president, IBM eServer pSeries. “Doing so allows a computer to handle more jobs at the same time and to be used more efficiently,” reports CNET News.com.

IBM’s microprocessor division is developing a dual-core version of its PowerPC 970 processor (called the PowerPC G5 by Apple), according to eWeek. The new chip, code-named “Antares,” will be designated PowerPC 970MP and will be available for testing purposes later this summer. “The PowerPC 970MP will contain two processing units per chip, with each carrying its own execution core, Level 1 cache and storage subsystems including a Level 2 cache.

IBM’s microchip division is struggling with yield problems at its new manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, New York, where the company produces the PowerPC 970 and 970FX chips used in Apple’s Power Mac G5 and Xserve G5. The problems reportedly have to do with its 90-nanometer process technology for building chips with smaller features than the previous 0.13-micron process generation.

IBM on Tuesday will unveil a new line of blade servers based on the same 64-bit PowerPC 970 processor that Apple uses in its Power Mac G5. “The new system, called the eServer BladeCenter JS20 will be IBM’s first 64-bit blade offering, joining the 32-bit Xeon HS20 systems IBM is already shipping,” Infoworld reports. “The JS20 will come with a lower price tag than its 32-bit Xeon relatives, IBM said.

Bloomberg reports that IBM will lay off 600 workers and furlough 3,000 for one week without pay at its chipmaking business to reduce costs. About 500 of the firings will be made at IBM’s Burlington, Vermont, factory. About 100 people at other chip facilities in cities including Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Rochester, Minnesota; and East Fishkill, New York will lose their jobs. The furloughs will be staggered to avoid a reduction in chip production.

IBM is planning to challenge Pixar, creators of “Monsters Inc.” and “Finding Nemo,” through a partnership with computer-animation company Threshold Digital Research Labs. “We want to be the next-generation Pixar,” Larry Kasanoff, head of Threshold, told USA Today.

IBM’s new US$3 billion microchip factory, which produces the PowerPC G5 for Apple, was “supposed to bring the company efficiency and profit” but is instead giving the company “a headache,” according to Reuters.

IBM’s June 2003 newsletter brings information on the new IBM PowerPC 750GX microprocessor, the successor to the company’s 750FX chip (known as the G3 in current iBooks). Manufactured in IBM’s advanced 0.13-micron copper process with Silicon-on-Insulator technology, the 750GX will be offered at frequencies up to 1.1GHz.

IBM today posted details on its PowerPC Blade, which utilizes the new 64-bit PowerPC 970 processor running at speeds of up to 2.5 GHz. Originally announced in October, the IBM PowerPC 970 offers full symmetrical multi-processing, has a high reliability (with parity L1, ECC L2 and parity checked system bus), is manufactured in the latest 0.13 micrometer Copper/SOI CMOS technology, has onchip 512 KB L2 Cache, and an Altivec Vector/SIMD unit.

IBM on Monday will announce its new 64-bit PowerPC processor with speeds starting at 1.8GHz, reports Reuters. The new chip is based on the company’s Power4 design, and will be able to run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. The processor will be available in the second half of 2003 and will be built in IBM’s East Fishkill, New York plant. IBM declined to comment on which PC makers would use the chip, but Apple is widely expected to adopt it. Read More