Cell CPU as the next thing?

[blakespot]

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Cell or the PowerPC in the Xbox 360 --- and what goes into design decisions that make those processors right for game machines (but not for general purpose computers).

http://wraltechwire.com/business/tech_wire/venture/story/4497770/



bp

[Crumb]

OpenCL, as in 0wn3d by Apple for use with closed hardware like Nvidia?

OpenCL*is an open standard, initally developed by Apple but supported by AMD, Intel, nVidia and IBM. nVidia uses his propietary CUDA.

The power of Amiga comes from powerful auxillary chips?

Agnus, Denise and Paula were powerful auxiliary chips that assisted the cpu. OpenCL and GPUs are the 2010's version of that. Cell also supports OpenCL.

[vox]

@polyp2000, ferrellsl

In the spirit of this: What I think is long overdue by now, is a discussion about Power 7! I mean, just imagine if "A-eon and the guys over at Varisys" would create a $10,000+ "AmigaOne X2000" desktop system for OS4 based on Power 7? Oh, wait... :rolleyes:

Blah Blah Blah. Playstation 3 with suitable Linux is great and cheap LinuxBox - great OS. All but firts PPEs can be used in similar fashion as multicore x64 by OS as well as I believe they can be programmed independently, all but first that is locked to Sony OS. Its great hardware, and it can be used exactly as DSP in Falcon used to - PPE can simulate or process anything so it is a great and usable design with some software that would use it.

But PPE support might come in OS 5.0 :-)

[blakespot]

Blah Blah Blah. Playstation 3 with suitable Linux is great and cheap LinuxBox - great OS. All but firts PPEs can be used in similar fashion as multicore x64 by OS as well as I believe they can be programmed independently, all but first that is locked to Sony OS. Its great hardware, and it can be used exactly as DSP in Falcon used to - PPE can simulate or process anything so it is a great and usable design with some software that would use it.

But PPE support might come in OS 5.0 :-)

For nearly all scenarios of use, a cheap Intel or AMD box would destroy a PS3 under Linux. The Cell's single PPC core can't even do out-of-order execution. In the scenarios where they would not, the SPU's would be put to use with specific Cell code -- something you do not find as part of the Linux OS. Sure there are a few apps that do it, but they are rare.


bp

[dammy]

For nearly all scenarios of use, a cheap Intel or AMD box would destroy a PS3 under Linux. The Cell's single PPC core can't even do out-of-order execution. In the scenarios where they would not, the SPU's would be put to use with specific Cell code -- something you do not find as part of the Linux OS. Sure there are a few apps that do it, but they are rare.


bp

Did Sony back track on not allowing alt  OSs installed on the PS3?

[CritAnime]

I think it's something that requires a modified ps3 system.

[Iggy]

How did this old thread get dug up again?
 
To heck with the Cell (or its PS4 replacement).
 
How do we get WiiU processors?

[Linde]

I don't get the point of using an obscure, weird architecture processor if it's still utterly incompatible with existing Amiga software. If starting from square 1, why not something like ARM that's neat, clean and fast? Or just whatever processor that could emulate 68020 really fast.

[Linde]

Blah Blah Blah. Playstation 3 with suitable Linux is great and cheap LinuxBox - great OS.

If I didn't mind the idea of being stuck with 256 M RAM, I'd go ahead and agree with you.

bUt I dO!!!!!!

[Iggy]

If I didn't mind the idea of being stuck with 256 M RAM, I'd go ahead and agree with you.
 
bUt I dO!!!!!!

 
And you can expand an Amiga to how much (mem)?

[vox]

For nearly all scenarios of use, a cheap Intel or AMD box would destroy a PS3 under Linux. The Cell's single PPC core can't even do out-of-order execution. In the scenarios where they would not, the SPU's would be put to use with specific Cell code -- something you do not find as part of the Linux OS. Sure there are a few apps that do it, but they are rare.

bp

Dont expect ARM CPU`s or even AMD CPUs to come near Intel performance, but that is easy once you have gross market share to invest in R&D.

To me, CPU that can run HTML5 broswer, 720 dpi video and other daily productivity apps and good OS is enough for 90% of people.

And Cell offers MORE PROGRAMMIBILITY then those high performant CPUs that can just share thread overload with bloated software (Win) that doesnt even use it properly.

[vox]

If I didn't mind the idea of being stuck with 256 M RAM, I'd go ahead and agree with you.

bUt I dO!!!!!!

The GPU is clocked at 550 MHz and makes use of 256 MB GDDR3 RAM clocked at 700 MHz with an effective transmission rate of 1.4 GHz

Its more VRAM and then RAM, but its designers choice.

With some virtual RAM just as backup, well optimized Linux can do a lot in 256MB fast RAM.

[vox]

And you can expand an Amiga to how much (mem)?

2GB DDR or DDR2 (less for older AmigaOne and SAM boards, 1GB or so)

Console designs are not ment to be much expanded.

[Linde]

Its more VRAM and then RAM, but its designers choice.

With some virtual RAM just as backup, well optimized Linux can do a lot in 256MB fast RAM.

I'm not arguing the choice, I'm just saying that for general desktop use, nothing with 256m RAM will be a great Linux box. I was stuck using a 256M RAM laptop for a while, and just thinking about for example multi-tabbed browsing made my head hurt.

[Iggy]

Dont expect ARM CPU`s or even AMD CPUs to come near Intel performance, but that is easy once you have gross market share to invest in R&D.

A Phenom II X4 or X6 does come pretty close.
And on the low end, ARM and some of AMDs new embedded processor do a competant job when compared to the Intel Atom.
 

To me, CPU that can run HTML5 broswer, 720 dpi video and other daily productivity apps and good OS is enough for 90% of people.

That's interesting as my MorphOS system will do that.
 

And Cell offers MORE PROGRAMMIBILITY then those high performant CPUs that can just share thread overload with bloated software (Win) that doesnt even use it properly.

Actually, spes resemble GPU logic, so a comarison to OpenCL is valid.

[Iggy]

2GB DDR or DDR2 (less for older AmigaOne and SAM boards, 1GB or so)
 
Console designs are not ment to be much expanded.

 
Not fair Vox, I easn't refering to NG PPC system.
My own MorphOS system has 1.5 GB.
 
But I actually gree with you that 256MB is too little.
At one time, IBM was open to tthe idea of selling the Cell to third parties (which could have brought us a board with more memory).
 
However, these days it would be difficult to get them to qualify that application and approve sales.