Apple 8: The Most Powerful Machine on the Market

Apple has just released the new most powerful computer on the market: the 8 Core Mac Pro. Taking the idea of multiple core processors to the extreme, the Mac Pro comes with either four dual core processors or dual quad core processors, each from 2 to 3 GHz. Combined with the option of having as much as 3 TB of storage space, (3,000 GB) 16 GB RAM, and two optical drives, it offers about as much power as anyone could want. Starting at $2,500 and going all the way up to $12,500, it seems to be targeted at people looking to do fancy video work.

The original idea of a dual core processor was really quite a brilliant one. Processors had gotten faster and faster as time went on, until manufacturers began to come up against walls. Massive engineering challenges stood between them and 5 GHz processors, and new super high speed processors demanded lots of power and generated too much heat. A different solution was needed, or else computers would have stopped getting faster. The solution was a simple but ingenious one-just put in two processors instead of one. Two 2 GHz processors proved to be much better than one 4 GHz processor, being faster and better carrying out multiple processes at once. And, of course, the two processor chip didn't require nearly as much power as a 4 GHz chip would have, making it much better for laptops. It also didn't have the overheating problem.

So, the logical next step would be to expand out from dual core processors. More is better, and as long as it is a desktop, and is not relying on a battery for power, there is really no limit. Of course, eight processors may be far more than the average user would need, but for those editing high definition video, this new computer would be a nice setup. Just throw on a couple of 20-inch monitors, and off you go!

We will see what is in store with laptops. As more and more processors are piled on, developers will once again run into the power problem. Although a double core processor might not use as much power as one processor that is twice as fast would, half a dozen double core processors would quickly get you into trouble. Will we see higher efficiency processors? Better batteries? It remains to be seen. For now, though, movie editors can rejoice.

Sources:

http://www.apple.com

http://www.zdnet.com