Mac Chips
So far, there have been 8 different chips in Macs. As far as I
know, here's what they are:
| Family | Chip Name | Top Speed | Year first used |
|
68K |
68000 | 16Mhz | 1984 |
| 68020 | 20Mhz | 1986 | |
| 68030 | 33Mhz | 1988 | |
| 68040 | 100Mhz | 1990 | |
|
PPC |
PowerPC 601 | 120Mhz | 1991 |
| PowerPC 603/603e | 300Mhz | 1995 | |
| PowerPC 604/604e | 350Mhz | 1995 | |
| PowerPC 750/G3 | 400Mhz | 1997 |
So far, I only know of two types of PowerPCs that are coming out soon. (I saw this in a early 1997 issue of the late MacUser Magazine (RIP).
| Chip Name | Top Speed | Coming in |
| PowerPC G4 | around 500Mhz | Late 1998/Early 1999 |
| PowerPC K2 | currently 1100Mhz | Late 1999/Early 2000 |
In early 1998, IBM demoed (spelling?) a K2 chip running at over a gigahertz (1024 Megahertz.) This chip will be on the market in about two years. That will probably be early 2000 (because of the name).
What this means is that the PowerPC will be setting the pace for future chips from all chipmakers.