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I'd love to see ARM compete more directly with x86. Ever since AMD stopped really being able to compete with Intel on tech, x86 has been in need of more healthy

I'd love to see ARM compete more directly with x86. Ever since AMD stopped really being able to compete with Intel on tech, x86 has been in need of more healthy competition (even if, to Intel's credit, it hasn't been resting on its laurels). Anything that makes our chips faster, more power-efficient, and cheaper is very welcome. I wonder if combining ARM with GPGPU could help it push into x86 platforms...

lsc 16y ago
now, ever since Intel copied AMD's hyper transport architecture, people have been saying that it's over for AMD. I don't really get it, as the 12 core AMD systems are extremely impressive, for loads that thread well enough to use that many cores. In recent memory, it seems that Intel has been following AMD technologically, albeit at higher clock speeds. First, they copied the amd64 instruction set, and then they copied the hyper transport architecture. Right now, it looks like Intel occupies the high end of the market, but as far as I can tell, their lead is based as much on superior sales ability than on any technological lead. For loads that thread well, they beat the intel chips both in work done per watt consumed, and they absolutely destroy intel chips on cost to acquire, so I'm not sure why people seem to think that AMD is down for the count.
- Groxx 16y ago
  Less advertisement for AMD gets my vote. Given their purchasing of ATI and as many of the best GPU workers as they could get their hands on, I think they're gearing up for a big blow eventually. But there's definitely more news about Intel's omg-latest-and-greatest, from what I've seen.
wlievens 16y ago
> I wonder if combining ARM with GPGPU could help it push into x86 platforms... OpenCL's the name of the game, but ARM missed that train when it had the chance (and the tech) in-house and got rid of it.
- pavlov 16y ago
  Sounds interesting, can you explain what you're referring to?
  - wlievens 16y ago
    OpenCL is a proposed framework for GPGPU-like computing. I worked at ARM in their Belgian office, and when they announced considering shutting us down, one of the alternative proposals was to redesign the technology we were working on to suit OpenCL. It wouldn't have been trivial but it was certainly possible. ARM never took the proposal under consideration, either because they're not interested in OpenCL or because they have different plans lined up for it.
r0s 16y ago
The way I understand it, AMD was in bad financial shape after purchasing ATI. Then they did the conservative thing by letting Intel release i7 unchallenged, and investing in their process/research for the next big release they do. MaximumPC had a good article on this back in the day.

lsc 16y ago

now, ever since Intel copied AMD's hyper transport architecture, people have been saying that it's over for AMD. I don't really get it, as the 12 core AMD systems are extremely impressive, for loads that thread well enough to use that many cores. In recent memory, it seems that Intel has been following AMD technologically, albeit at higher clock speeds. First, they copied the amd64 instruction set, and then they copied the hyper transport architecture. Right now, it looks like Intel occupies the high end of the market, but as far as I can tell, their lead is based as much on superior sales ability than on any technological lead. For loads that thread well, they beat the intel chips both in work done per watt consumed, and they absolutely destroy intel chips on cost to acquire, so I'm not sure why people seem to think that AMD is down for the count.

Groxx 16y ago
Less advertisement for AMD gets my vote. Given their purchasing of ATI and as many of the best GPU workers as they could get their hands on, I think they're gearing up for a big blow eventually. But there's definitely more news about Intel's omg-latest-and-greatest, from what I've seen.

wlievens 16y ago

> I wonder if combining ARM with GPGPU could help it push into x86 platforms... OpenCL's the name of the game, but ARM missed that train when it had the chance (and the tech) in-house and got rid of it.

pavlov 16y ago
Sounds interesting, can you explain what you're referring to?
- wlievens 16y ago
  OpenCL is a proposed framework for GPGPU-like computing. I worked at ARM in their Belgian office, and when they announced considering shutting us down, one of the alternative proposals was to redesign the technology we were working on to suit OpenCL. It wouldn't have been trivial but it was certainly possible. ARM never took the proposal under consideration, either because they're not interested in OpenCL or because they have different plans lined up for it.

r0s 16y ago

The way I understand it, AMD was in bad financial shape after purchasing ATI. Then they did the conservative thing by letting Intel release i7 unchallenged, and investing in their process/research for the next big release they do. MaximumPC had a good article on this back in the day.