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Which processor for the new 'headless tower' Mac?

  • Single 'Woodcrest' Intel Xeon Processor

    Votes: 2 7.1%
  • 'Conroe' Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

    Votes: 26 92.9%

  • Total voters
    28

Mac Rules

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 15, 2006
633
666
Europe
Hi guys and girls,

There seems to be quite a bit of specualtionb around the 'headless tower', that most expect Apple to reveal or not, on the 12th.

Heres a question though, which processor would you prefer to see, the Conroe Core 2 Duo processor, or just a single Woodcrest Xeon processor?

I would love to see the Xeon make it, but think that Conroe is more likely...

Cheers
 
Definitely not woodcrest, the high price does not offer any of the advantages (main advantage being SMP, which is not utilised in a single processor system).
 
generik said:
Definitely not woodcrest, the high price does not offer any of the advantages (main advantage being SMP, which is not utilised in a single processor system).

Agreed... should be a Conroe Core2Duo (desktop model, not laptop like iMac). Cheaper, plenty fast, much cheaper RAM and chipset/mobo.

I think, tho with the recent update of the iMac and mini we won't be seeing a headless iMac/mini pro machine. I'd LOVE if there was, and I would totally buy one, but I just don't see it happening.

Apple is likely trying to sell the 24" iMac to the same crowd who wants a mini Pro/headless iMac/Cube2.0. ESPECIALLY if it has a replaceable GPU. We'll see soon, though... I hope I am wrong!
 
mrgreen4242 said:
I think, tho with the recent update of the iMac and mini we won't be seeing a headless iMac/mini pro machine. I'd LOVE if there was, and I would totally buy one, but I just don't see it happening.
I'd agree with you 100% if the mini had gotten Merom, but it only got Yonah. Thus the only headless choices are Yonah with 2.5" drives or the Woodcrest based Mac Pro. :(

B
 
Conroe - cooler and hence quieter than the Woodcrest. Conroe is a desktop processor whilst Woodcrest is really more suited for workstations.

I wouldn't mind seeing:

E6600 2.4GHz
E6700 2.66GHz

With upgrades possible to 2.66GHz on the lower end and the 2.93GHz X6800 Core 2 Extreme on the high end.
 
Actually I kinda like the Mini, with the x300 graphics chip and Core 2 Duo it will be the perfect tiny-form-factor computer for me.. at least even if it is not powerful enough I can think of plenty of uses for a machine that small.
 
Conroe certainly. Maybe Merom though, too, like the iMacs. I never learned why they put Merom on the iMacs - maybe heat issues? If that's the reason, then maybe Merom as well in any potential headless mac.

Though, I do doubt that a headless mac is coming.
 
generik said:
Actually I kinda like the Mini, with the x300 graphics chip and Core 2 Duo it will be the perfect tiny-form-factor computer for me.. at least even if it is not powerful enough I can think of plenty of uses for a machine that small.
:confused: Did I miss something? I though this week's mini is Core Duo (not 2) with GMA950.

B
 
It would have to be Conroe. AFAIK the main advantage of Woodcrest is that it is suitable for use in multiprocessor systems. If you're just having one processor you use a Conroe.

I think currently Apple is staying away from the consumer headless tower option because it would find it very hard to compete. There are endless comparable generic PC boxes out there that will always be a fraction of the price Apple can charge. So, while there's a chance Apple might go for the mainstream, I'd imagine they'll use the Intel range of processors to produce more innovative designs for areas of the market that demand a premium, such as ultraportable computing devices and, perhaps, media centres (though lets face it, Front Row is hardly going to suffice).
 
There are the Xeon 3000 Series codenamed "Garlow" that are identical in every aspect to the Intel Core 2 Duo "Conroe" and are even priced the same as well. These should be formally introduced this month.
 
A single Woodcrest is pointless (and expensive). A Conroe is a far better candidate and fits better into the market that such a machine would enter.
 
I want to see the return of the cube, it was just so beautiful so elegant, and such eye candy to have on your desk, And don't any of you tell me the Mini is the cube that thing is hardly beautiful, or elegant for that matter, And I' haven't heard any Rumours of a midrange tower computer to be released on the 12th
 
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