Author: Robert Hyatt
Date: 19:09:29 08/09/01
Go up one level in this thread
On August 09, 2001 at 20:41:30, Vincent Diepeveen wrote: >On August 08, 2001 at 12:50:07, Graham Laight wrote: > >>I don't think that xx86 --> Pentium range makes a good choice for computers with >>(very) large numbers of processors. IMO, large numbers of processors represents >>the best future option for increasing computer power in a cost-effective way. > >Have to disagree directly. No one can afford so many processors, >so much transport costs, so many risks, such a big power bill. > >Easier is a single processor being way faster and pressed cheaply The math doesn't work. For any single processor you build, I will take two of 'em and make a dual for less than 2x the cost. And I will be twice as fast for that <2x cost. Ask intel what it will cost you today if you want them to build you a 4ghz processor. Hint: You won't get it for 2x the cost of a 2ghz processor. You won't get it for 10X. You won't even get it for 100X. SMP is here to stay, from an economics point of view. > >>How a good multiprocessor chip can become a new industry standard right now is >>difficult to see. >> >>One way it could possibly happen is if ordinary people stopped buying power >>machines and went for cheap ones (a sensible choice IMO) - but server purchasers >>decided that something other than Wintel represented a better option for >>servers. >> >>Then, something industry standard (and hence cheap) might emerge - which could >>then be used in a home PC for people who want to play GM level chess (or have >>high reolution virtual reality, or whatever). >> >>For many people, the best option for chess will be to rent time on a >>supercomputer (via the internet), rather than buy their own supercomputer just >>for the odd game - when a cheap computer meets all their other needs (calendar + >>word processor in most cases!). > >Just started a job with Sun Micro systems or the new development team >from intel? Not everybody does word processing. There are _plenty_ of horrendously complex calculations being done every day. AutoCad. Simulations. Data Mining. Etc. > >>-g
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