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Big Blue preps 700MHz G3 PowerPC

PPC 750CXe revision ups bus spec. to 133MHz too

IBM has begun sampling a revised PowerPC 750CX, the G3-class processor that ships in two of the latest generation of iMac - or in only one of 'em if you live outside the US (see Apple fobs off non-US iMac buyers with lesser CPU).

The 750CXe primarily adds support for bus speeds of 133MHz. However, it does pave the way for the 700MHz version of the chip, due next May. It also uses copper wiring to reduce the part's power consumption. According to Big Blue, the 400Mz 750CXe draws 3.5W, down from the 400MHz 750CX's 4W.

By then, the 400, 500 and 600MHz parts will be shipping in volume. IBM said it expects to ramp up production in April.

Fabbed at 0.18 micron, the 750CXe incorporates 256KB of on-die L2 cache, which not only improves performance - data and program instructions in the cache can be retrieved at the same speed at which the chip's core runs - but saves Apple the cost of ading an external L2 cache module. A small saving, but not to be dismissed.

The 750CXe is priced at $57, $93.75 and $143.75, for the 400, 500 and 600MHz parts, respectively. That's in batches of 10,000. ®

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