Difference between revisions of "Supercomputer on a chip"
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==Description | ==Description== | ||
Not long ago the world had a first glimpse of the new processor by the STI group, which is intended for the upcoming Sony Playstation 3. The processor called “Cell” has been called to have a revolutionary new architecture and given the new architecture it also has astonishing computing power. It is not unusual that the “Cell” processor is also nick named a supercomputer on a chip, because it can deliver 256Gflops at a clock speed of 4 GHz.<br><br> | Not long ago the world had a first glimpse of the new processor by the STI group, which is intended for the upcoming Sony Playstation 3. The processor called “Cell” has been called to have a revolutionary new architecture and given the new architecture it also has astonishing computing power. It is not unusual that the “Cell” processor is also nick named a supercomputer on a chip, because it can deliver 256Gflops at a clock speed of 4 GHz.<br><br> | ||
The need for new and better computing power is not only been a trend in the recent year for the PC industry, but also a lot in the gaming industry. Games have become more power consuming, because the systems have better audio/video possibilities, but also need better security and creating high quality 3D graphics. So the need for faster processors will only increase. | The need for new and better computing power is not only been a trend in the recent year for the PC industry, but also a lot in the gaming industry. Games have become more power consuming, because the systems have better audio/video possibilities, but also need better security and creating high quality 3D graphics. So the need for faster processors will only increase. | ||
==Enablers | ==Enablers== | ||
* Need for more computing power | * Need for more computing power | ||
* High Definition Imagery and Sound | * High Definition Imagery and Sound | ||
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* Complex encryption for security | * Complex encryption for security | ||
==Inhibitors | ==Inhibitors== | ||
* Government regulations | * Government regulations | ||
* Power consumption | * Power consumption | ||
* Competitors | * Competitors | ||
==Paradigms | ==Paradigms== | ||
==Experts | ==Experts== | ||
Blachford, Nicholas (2005) Cell Architecture Explained: Introduction | Blachford, Nicholas (2005) Cell Architecture Explained: Introduction | ||
==Timing | ==Timing== | ||
'''Sega:'''<br> | '''Sega:'''<br> | ||
1985 - Master system: Z80 8-Bit @ 3.6 MHz<br> | 1985 - Master system: Z80 8-Bit @ 3.6 MHz<br> | ||
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As you can see the computing power of the game consoles has increased immensely over time and will only increase more to deliver on the more power consuming games and entertainment consoles. | As you can see the computing power of the game consoles has increased immensely over time and will only increase more to deliver on the more power consuming games and entertainment consoles. | ||
==Web Resources | ==Web Resources== | ||
http://www.blachford.info/computer/Cells/Cell0.html<br> | http://www.blachford.info/computer/Cells/Cell0.html<br> | ||
http://www.apple.com/support/export/<br> | http://www.apple.com/support/export/<br> | ||
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=9707 | http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=9707 | ||
Revision as of 19:01, 16 March 2005
Description
Not long ago the world had a first glimpse of the new processor by the STI group, which is intended for the upcoming Sony Playstation 3. The processor called “Cell” has been called to have a revolutionary new architecture and given the new architecture it also has astonishing computing power. It is not unusual that the “Cell” processor is also nick named a supercomputer on a chip, because it can deliver 256Gflops at a clock speed of 4 GHz.
The need for new and better computing power is not only been a trend in the recent year for the PC industry, but also a lot in the gaming industry. Games have become more power consuming, because the systems have better audio/video possibilities, but also need better security and creating high quality 3D graphics. So the need for faster processors will only increase.
Enablers
- Need for more computing power
- High Definition Imagery and Sound
- Audio/Video decoding
- Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
- Multi-functionality
- Complex encryption for security
Inhibitors
- Government regulations
- Power consumption
- Competitors
Paradigms
Experts
Blachford, Nicholas (2005) Cell Architecture Explained: Introduction
Timing
Sega:
1985 - Master system: Z80 8-Bit @ 3.6 MHz
1989 - Mega Drive: Motorola 68000 16-bit @ 7.61 MHz
1995 - Saturn: Two Hitachi SH2 32-bit RISC @ 28.6MHz
1998 - Dreamcast Hitachi SH-4 RISC 128-bit @ 200 MHz
Nintendo:
1986 - NES: Motorola 6508 8-bit @ 1.79 MHz
1989 - Super Nintendo: Motorola 68000 16-bit @ 7.61MHz
1996 - Nintendo 64: MIPS R4300i 64-bit @ 93.75MHz
2001 - Gamecube: IBM PowerPC "Gekko" @ 485MHz
TBA - Revolution: IBM "Broadway" @ xxxx MHz
Sony:
1995 - Playstation: MIPS R3000A @ 33.86 MHz
2000 - Playstation 2: 2x Toshiba & Sony Emotion Engine @ 294.9MHz
2006 - Playstation 3: IBM Cell processor @ xxxx MHz
Microsoft:
2001 - Xbox: Intel Pentium III @ 733MHz
2006 - Xbox 360: 3x IBM PowerPC-cores @ 3.0GHz
As you can see the computing power of the game consoles has increased immensely over time and will only increase more to deliver on the more power consuming games and entertainment consoles.
Web Resources
http://www.blachford.info/computer/Cells/Cell0.html
http://www.apple.com/support/export/
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=9707