3 ms·
Why would Facebook build a CPU or a GPU? Custom routers generally use off the shelf switching fabric chips with custom software stacks, but it's board-level har
by Scaevolus 8y ago
Why would Facebook build a CPU or a GPU? Custom routers generally use off the shelf switching fabric chips with custom software stacks, but it's board-level hardware design, not ASIC design.
Machine learning consumes a huge amount of compute, and GPUs waste a lot of power executing the workloads. Specialized accelerators for it pay back their investments quickly.
- tyingq 8y agoAmazon is using a custom ASIC in their network gear: https://www.geekwire.com/2017/amazon-web-services-secret-weapon-custom-made-hardware-network https://www.geekwire.com/2017/amazon-web-services-secret-wea...
- phire 8y agoFacebook is a large company with many projects going on. While I admit that machine learning accelerators is a likely candidate, there are a huge number of possibilities for potential ASIC projects. Facebook owns Oculus, I could easily see Oculus needing a custom ASIC, maybe a low-latency display driver. Or a high-powered SoC if they decide to do an untethered Rift. This is also where I could see them potentially making a GPU. Making a whole SoC is hard, why not take an off the shelf one and attach it to a custom mobile GPU chip. It's also possible that Facebook might have a smartphone project on the go (again). A custom SoC could be useful for that. Or facebook might be considering post smartphone devices. There are lots of places where a SoC could be useful. Facebook has been making their own open servers (and switches) for a while. But they still built around "backdoored" intel CPUs. I could easily Facebook wanting a high-performance server grade open CPUs (probably RiscV based).