PowerMac G6

Apple has never used PowerX chips, only derivitives ( PPC970 is a derivitive of Power5 ). With the switch to intel processors it seems unlikely that Apple would jump back to a PowerX derivitive, unless IBM has a roadmap far superior to intel. Also it became clear that IBM was not very interested in keeping Apple as a processor client, as the 3.0 GHz PPC970 never came about as was promised more than two years ago.

Higher and higher clock speeds are well into diminishing returns. Multicore is where the future is, and software need to get with the program. Programming , slopily, on the basis that there will always be a faster processor MUST END. Anyone programming without structures for multithreading is doing EVERYONE a disservice.

When??????

Mostly never, Apple switch to Intel last year and I don't see them going back to PowerPC chips! Unless Sonet or other accelerator company release something for this, but you should then ask them!