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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    takemehomegrandma
    Posts: 2720 from 2003/2/24
    Quote:


    Velcro_SP wrote:
    Here's the latest marketing on the LimeBook. It's not sold yet


    Well, here is someone trying to sell it to the Amigaworld.net crowd:

    http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=28546&forum=2&start=0&viewmode=flat&order=0

    :roll:
    MorphOS is Amiga done right! :-)
    MorphOS NG will be AROS done right! :-)
  • »08.04.09 - 07:36
    Profile
  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Velcro_SP
    Posts: 929 from 2003/7/13
    From: Universe
    |||

    [ Edited by Velcro_SP 19.04.2011 - 16:34 ]
    Pegasos2 G3, 512 megs RAM
  • »08.04.09 - 11:19
    Profile
  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:


    This offering is the best response of the PPC universe to this new move toward ARM, IMO.



    An underpowered 5121 at ~400Mhz is the best ppc response to a ~1.0Ghz ARM CPU with a NEON SIMD unit? Riiight... I'm -or rather I was- a powerpc advocate myself, but seriously, spec-wise, the Limebook looks like a joke at this moment. Personally, I wouldn't bet my money on it. Face it, powerpc has no future anymore, at least none that would interest desktop users.
  • »08.04.09 - 12:59
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    Neko
    Posts: 301 from 2003/2/24
    From: Genesi
    Quote:

    Yeah, I guess some guy got some prototypes or sth and is selling them on eBay? Have not had a chance to read all that. IMO the OS4 Team is going to grab some glory and a lot of business if they can make a deal with THTF. I think the MorphOS strategic director ;) should multitask from the PPC Mac port for a moment to see if MorphOS can get in on that action. And Genesi ought to let bygones be bygones and get in there too.


    The problem is that the LimePC is broken by design, for all intents and purposes a stolen Genesi product proposal made it come into fruition. Except for overexcitement on the part of one executive, MorphOS was not in their interests at all, and it's no surprise that the department at Freescale that was dealing with THTF no longer exists.

    If they did a deal with Hyperion for OS4 it'd be out of desperation on their part (THTF have nothing to sell right now). I would feel very sorry for Hyperion if they did it... it'd be another Mai Logic style situation all over again. We all know who came out better for that fiasco.. Genesi, who quit while we were ahead and found a better opportunity.

    Quote:

    This offering is the best response of the PPC universe to this new move toward ARM, IMO.


    Please don't latch onto a processor line for no good reason.

    Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 cores are really something special. It may not run MorphOS but if you're looking to make a Netbook or thin client, PowerPC is probably the worst choice in the current market.. it would need significant cooperation from the CPU vendor and other parties to make it work, and that cooperation - because of the complete lack of excitement about the architecture these days - is not forthcoming.

    [ Edited by Neko on 2009/4/8 19:12 ]
    Matt Sealey, Genesi USA, Inc.
    Developer Relations
    Product Development Analyst
  • »08.04.09 - 18:11
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    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Except for overexcitement on the part of one executive, MorphOS was
    > not in their interests at all

    BBRV said on several occasions that the LimePC devices were originally to run mainly MorphOS. How does that fit your statement?
  • »08.04.09 - 22:07
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Velcro_SP
    Posts: 929 from 2003/7/13
    From: Universe
    |||


    [ Edited by Velcro_SP 19.04.2011 - 16:33 ]
    Pegasos2 G3, 512 megs RAM
  • »08.04.09 - 22:47
    Profile
  • Just looking around
    Hammer
    Posts: 15 from 2004/7/24
    @Velcro_SP
    >You signed up for MZ to post that?

    I support ASUS.

    >At least the guy in the test report hooked up a power meter,
    The guy tested a desktop chipset.

    >you just run your mouth.
    You didn't look at the fine details. RMclock tool also shows the power consumption.

    Must I post ASUS W3J with it's mobile 945 chipset wattage?

    "Mobile Intel? 945GSE Express Chipset"

    http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=35553

    Note the "Max TDP 6 Watts"

    Ordering items
    1. 82945GSE Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) FCBGA998 A3 6 Watts
    2. 82801GBM I/O Controller Hub (ICH7M) PBGA652 B1 3.3 Watts
    Total: 9.3Watts

    Take note of "Valid Processor Combinations"
    "Intel? Atom? Processor N270 (512K Cache, 1.60 GHz, 533 MHz FSB)"

    Now for ASUS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC
    Note "Intel 910GML series" and "Intel 945GSE" for ASUS EeePC.

    Try again Velcro_SP.



    [ Edited by Hammer on 2009/4/9 3:39 ]
  • »09.04.09 - 02:36
    Profile
  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:


    feanor, you need to start experiencing the beauty of resource efficiency. There is more to enjoyable computing than "power PoWeR, POWER!" Smartly written software on a lean OS on a modest processor can beat bloat on an MHz monster running Vista or pick-a-sluggish Linux.



    please, spare me the lecture about resource efficiency. I wrote libfreevec and am expanding it to a full-blown libc. In fact, my work is *exactly* on software optimization, getting old enterprise software and making it orders of magnitude faster and more efficient. I've optimized several algorithms for AltiVec/SSE and working on ARM NEON now. I think I know pretty well what resource efficiency is.

    The fact remains that 5121e being power efficient does not make it usable (esp. by the vast majority of users who are used to Vista or "sluggish" Linux. Btw, Linux can actually be very fast and efficient, you just skip KDE/Gnome.

    But still, you're missing the point. My argument was not about efficiency, it was about using PowerPC and the 5121 in particular. However efficient LimeBook is, it just won't compete with the Atom and even the ARM-based netbooks. Face it, PowerPC is out of the picture.

    [ Edited by feanor on 2009/4/9 11:43 ]
  • »09.04.09 - 07:17
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    Butterfly
    robjoh
    Posts: 79 from 2004/11/25
    From: Sweden
    Intressting topic I must say

    Quote:


    The fact remains that 5121e is power efficient does not make it usable (esp. by the vast majority of users who are used to Vista or "sluggish" Linux. Btw, Linux can actually be very fast and efficient, you just skip KDE/Gnome.



    I agree calling Linux sluggish is not really true, just look at distros such as Damn Small Linux or vectorlinux if you want speed.

    Quote:


    But still, you're missing the point. My argument was not about efficiency, it was about using PowerPC and the 5121 in particular. However efficient LimeBook is, it just won't compete with the Atom and even the ARM-based netbooks. Face it, PowerPC is out of the picture.

    Some questions that I find intressting.
    I not very good at CPUs but is there any other ARM CPU than Freescales i.MX515 that is in the range for a netbook?

    What makes ARM intressting instead of going with Intel Atom?

    Is anyone using ARM in a computer today (as the main CPU?)?

    [ Edited by robjoh on 2009/4/9 9:32 ]
  • »09.04.09 - 08:13
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Velcro_SP
    Posts: 929 from 2003/7/13
    From: Universe
    |||

    [ Edited by Velcro_SP 19.04.2011 - 16:13 ]
    Pegasos2 G3, 512 megs RAM
  • »09.04.09 - 11:38
    Profile
  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Velcro_SP
    Posts: 929 from 2003/7/13
    From: Universe
    |||

    [ Edited by Velcro_SP 19.04.2011 - 16:15 ]
    Pegasos2 G3, 512 megs RAM
  • »09.04.09 - 11:50
    Profile
  • Just looking around
    Hammer
    Posts: 15 from 2004/7/24
    @Velcro_SP

    To quote Neko
    Quote:


    As efficient as the Atom N270 is (at 1.3-1.6Ghz the specs say 2W-4W) it is always coupled with the Intel 945GC/945GM northbridge, which has specs topping 25W in use.

    You cannot use the Atom without that bridge, and Intel are not moving Atom to the "integrated northbridge" model


    Intel "Pineview" is an Atom based SOC i.e. it includes a single-channel DDR2 memory controller and an integrated graphics core.

    Intel Moorestown is comprised of a system on a chip, code-named ?Lincroft?, which integrates the 45nm processor, graphics, memory controller and video encode/decode onto a single chip and an I/O hub codenamed ?Langwell?, which supports a range of I/O ports to connect with wireless, storage, and display components in addition to incorporating several board level functions.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcN_9vZ7j20
    Intel Moorestown based MID demo.

    Quote:


    they are pushing for their new high end quad-core chips (possibly because it would increase the die size way past their target, and die size directly impacts cost).


    Intel has the advantages
    1. economic of scale.
    2. process technology.
    3. large "cash at bank".


    Quote:


    Then of course on any design, you have to add RAM power costs; this can be anything from 3W to 10W depending on how much you have.

    Compare an equivalent PowerPC - the MPC8610 or MPC8640D at the lower clock rates - and you are looking at chips which do all the Atom and 945 combination do, in a single chip package. This makes layout easier, which makes PCBs easier to design and smaller, and of course even the dual-core PowerPC chip uses less power with zero power management than the Atom and 945.

    Of course the MPC5121e does better, but it's nowhere near as good as CherryPal say it is. Not by a long shot.

    To contrast the i.MX515 uses a lot less than the MPC5121e plus it has highly aggressive power management as all ARM chips do.


    The context was;
    1. MX515 is a netbook (processor).
    2. Intel 945GC/945GM northbridge = 25watts
    3. "all the Atom and 945 combination"

    Neko's generalisation would fail for ASUS EeePC i.e. it doesn't use 945GC/945GM and MX515 is a netbook.

    Quote:


    We were talking about watts in net-tops.


    MX515(1) is a netbook (processor) hence ASUS EeePC.

    1. Refer to http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=i.MX515


    [ Edited by Hammer on 2009/4/9 14:33 ]

    [ Edited by Hammer on 2009/4/9 14:36 ]
  • »09.04.09 - 12:34
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  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:

    MX515 is a netbook


    i.MX515 is a CPU. Read the URL you mention first, it's right there in the title.

    "Multimedia Applications Processor"
  • »09.04.09 - 12:53
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  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:


    I don't cling to any processor family really, but neither do I agree with those who think that "Power PC is out of the picture" or others who seem to *want* it gone.



    I seem to have been misunderstood. I used to be *extremely* fond of PowerPC and esp. AltiVec. I really think that it's probably one of the best designed CPUs. But would I advise anyone to spend their money on the CPU now? No, not a chance! Not unless IBM and Freescale decide to actually spend some real money to extend/update/promote the architecture. IBM is not interested in anything but the mainframe (and services), and Freescale is mostly focused in the automotive/embedded industry. AltiVec is pretty much dead, the e600 is also dead, there is no e700 coming, 512x CPUs most probably won't have updates, Cell R&D has stopped (and PS3 will probably be the last PPC-powered Sony console, dunno about Xbox yet), only QorIQ and Power7, which are extremely more expensive than a similarly specced x86 or ARM CPU. So, please tell me again, why should I advise someone to spend $300-400 for a ppc-based limebook, when he could spend less money on an Atom netbook and even less money for an ARM netbook?

    Believe me, I'd *love* a 8610-based netbook, in fact I have such a CPU already and it absolutely rocks! But if the big players decide to ditch the technology -which is theirs- what can we do? It's not really open "hardware" and even it were, how would one produce it without huge pockets? I'm just being realistic here.
  • »09.04.09 - 13:07
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    Hammer
    Posts: 15 from 2004/7/24
    @feanor

    As Intel supports Linux (i.e. Moblin, Intel's mobile linux distro), Microsoft hires more chip engineers.
  • »09.04.09 - 13:19
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Cell R&D has stopped

    Source?

    > only QorIQ and Power7

    I don't paint it quite as black as you do:

    https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?forum=11&topic_id=6268&start=40#62827
  • »09.04.09 - 16:41
    Profile
  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:


    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    > Cell R&D has stopped

    Source?



    Well, it's been all over the net that PS4 will (most likely) use the existing Cell BE cpu (probably scaled down), Google's your friend. I've read in quite a few online financial journals, that with the huge loss Sony suffered from the Cell, it would gladly switch to another cost-saving cpu at an instant, if it could. For this reason it handed production to Toshiba. Toshiba is also in the big red, with big number of layoffs and huge losses. Again, it's trivial to find the articles on google. I read this stuff on a daily basis on a great number of sites, there is no reason to bookmark this. Btw, I tend to provide sources and bibliography when I do real research not casual forum postings. Asking for sources in a casual discussion (which this is, right?) might be taken as both insulting and snobbish. Accept the fact that there may exist people that may know more, because they just care more.

    Btw, IBM's next-gen supercomputer Sequoia, will NOT be based on Cell, guess what that means (hey, here's a source: http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/26599.wss). This is IBM's press release. No word on Cell. A few months back it would be packed with Cell references.

    Ok, perhaps "stopped" is too harsh a word. Perhaps I should have used "has slowed down". Which in technology terms is pretty much the same.

    Quote:


    I don't paint it quite as black as you do:

    https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?forum=11&topic_id=6268&start=40#62827


    The colour doesn't really matter much :) Show me a cheap powerpc-based *available now* with semi-modern specs and I'll buy it and shut up (well, save the PS3, which isn't really a desktop machine nor is it meant for development). For now, the best one can get is a powerstation or a 2nd hand G5. Performance/power wise, these lose greatly to pretty much every modern Intel/AMD cpu, in pretty much every area. Personally, as I said I'd be more than happy with a 8610 or 864xD box at a sane price (even a bit more expensive than competitive products, I wouldn't mind). But that's not happening, and it's not my ship anyway, I'll find sth else to take joy in programming.

    [ Edited by feanor on 2009/4/9 23:21 ]

    [ Edited by feanor on 2009/4/9 23:22 ]
  • »09.04.09 - 20:20
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    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > it's been all over the net that PS4 will (most likely) use the
    > existing Cell BE cpu (probably scaled down)

    With "scaled down", you mean the reported die-shrink from 90 to 45 nm? And the reported addition of 4 SPEs to the already existing ones? And the reported (slight) increase in clock frequency?
    Furthermore, PS4 is a computer system while the Cell is a CPU. We were talking about the Cell CPU itself. PS4 not using a better Cell than PS3 (or even no Cell at all) wouldn't have to mean anything regarding Cell R&D itself. There might be other purposes for a better Cell than a Sony's gaming device. The existing PowerXCell 8i is proof of that.
    Btw, how would PS4 most likely using Cell fit your previous statement that "PS3 will probably be the last PPC-powered Sony console"?

    > Google's your friend.

    It is, indeed, and has always been a good one :-P

    > Sony [...] would gladly switch to another cost-saving cpu at an
    > instant, if it could. For this reason it handed production to Toshiba.

    You say it yourself: Sony is out of the picture regarding Cell R&D (and production). So how exactly does Cell R&D depend on Sony and their PS4 when this task is up to only IBM and Toshiba now?

    > it's trivial to find the articles on google.

    Yes, and I did the day they were published.

    > there is no reason to bookmark this.

    Yes, and I never expected you to. After all, "it's trivial to find the articles on google" for you to provide me with the sources I asked you for.

    > Asking for sources in a casual discussion (which this is, right?)
    > might be taken as both insulting and snobbish.

    Pure nonsense. You claim something, I ask you to back up that claim. That's how discussion works and has alway been. I think nobody is obliged to accept a factual statement about a third party just like that. After all, there must have been something that led you to your perception. Or do you really mean I've to take any statement from yours for real just because it's you stating it?
    Btw, in case you took it down the wrong pipe: I didn't expext you to provide sources right with your statement like you would be obliged to in academics. But you should be able to provide them after being asked for (just what I did) if you want to be taken seriously (by me, at least).

    > Accept the fact that there may exist people that may know more,
    > because they just care more.

    I very much do. And that's very much the reason I may ask them to back up their claims. Because they may know more because they care more.

    > IBM's next-gen supercomputer Sequoia, will NOT be based on Cell,
    > guess what that means [...] A few months back it would be packed
    > with Cell references.

    That's still no proof that "Cell R&D has stopped", rather a mild indication.

    > Ok, perhaps "stopped" is too harsh a word. Perhaps I should have
    > used "has slowed down".

    That's (almost) funny. First you're trying to lecture me like it's obvious that your claim is fact, only to eventually step back and admit it's not.
    So let's be blunt: Contrary to your previous claim which I asked for sources for, there's currently no proof that "Cell R&D has stopped". The sources you afterwards indirectly refered to rather indicate that the PS4's Cell will indeed be a result of further R&D.

    > Show me a cheap powerpc-based *available now* with semi-modern specs

    Why should I? I didn't claim there was such thing.
    1. You and I were talking about Power Architecture CPUs, not systems.
    2. You and I were talking about Power Architecture CPUs in general, not just desktop suiting ones.
    3. You and I were talking about *coming* Power Architecture CPUs, not already available ones.
    Contrary to your claim, QorIQ and POWER7 are *not* the only Power Architecture CPUs supposed to come (see my link to my previous statement).

    > For now [...] one can get [...] a powerstation

    Currently "out of stock" according to Fixstars's website.

    > these lose greatly to pretty much every modern Intel/AMD cpu

    I see no sense in comparing whole systems to bare CPUs. But at least you finally got (almost) on topic again :-P
  • »09.04.09 - 22:59
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    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > is there any other ARM CPU than Freescales i.MX515 that is in the
    > range for a netbook?

    Qualcomm Snapdragon (upcoming):
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapdragon_(processor)
    http://www.qualcomm.com/products_services/chipsets/snapdragon.html
    http://www.qctconnect.com/products/snapdragon.html

    TI OMAP3:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_OMAP#OMAP3
    http://www.ti.com/omap3
    http://www.ti.com/omap35x

    TI OMAP4 (upcoming):
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_OMAP#OMAP4
    http://www.ti.com/omap4

    nVidia Tegra (upcoming):
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_Tegra
    http://www.nvidia.com/tegra

    ST-Ericsson Cortex-A9 implementation (upcoming):
    http://www.google.com/search?q=st-ericsson+cortex-a9
    Edit: It's the NovaThor U8500 (renamed from Nomadik STn8500):
    http://www.stericsson.com/platforms/U8500.jsp

    > Is anyone using ARM in a computer today (as the main CPU?)?

    Castle Technology in the Iyonix PC (until September 2008):
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyonix_PC
    http://www.iyonix.com

    Advantage Six in the A9Home:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A9Home
    http://www.thea9.info
    http://www.advantage6.com/products/A9home.html

    TI and Digi-Key in the Beagle Board:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_Board
    http://beagleboard.org
  • »10.04.09 - 04:20
    Profile
  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:


    With "scaled down", you mean the reported die-shrink from 90 to 45 nm? And the reported addition of 4 SPEs to the already existing ones? And the reported (slight) increase in clock frequency?



    That's all speculation of course. At first they started with a Cell 3 design (which by IBM's word it should have 32 cores) and now we're down to 10, if at all.

    Quote:


    Furthermore, PS4 is a computer system while the Cell is a CPU. We were talking about the Cell CPU itself. PS4 not using a better Cell than PS3 (or even no Cell at all) wouldn't have to mean anything regarding Cell R&D itself. There might be other purposes for a better Cell than a Sony's gaming device. The existing PowerXCell 8i is proof of that.



    How good is a CPU if you can't buy it in a system?

    Quote:


    Btw, how would PS4 most likely using Cell fit your previous statement that "PS3 will probably be the last PPC-powered Sony console"?



    Yes, I realized that after I wrote the post. It was obviously a mistake :)

    Quote:


    You say it yourself: Sony is out of the picture regarding Cell R&D (and production). So how exactly does Cell R&D depend on Sony and their PS4 when this task is up to only IBM and Toshiba now?



    Well, think about it. If your #1 customer (Sony) decides to drop your product and your partner (Toshiba) is in hard financial troubles, what would you (IBM) do with Cell? I never meant R&D on technologies used in Cell, I meant the Cell CPU itself. Would you spend hundreds of million dollars to continue research on a costly product? I don't think so.

    Quote:


    Yes, and I never expected you to. After all, "it's trivial to find the articles on google" for you to provide me with the sources I asked you for.



    Now you're asking me to do it for you. Hilarious.

    Quote:


    Pure nonsense. You claim something, I ask you to back up that claim. That's how discussion works and has alway been.



    Indeed someone is talking nonsense, but it's not me apparently. I almost never ask for sources when I have a casual discussion. If I was to prove something I would provide sources without your asking. In this case, I mentioned something that I can't prove. I merely concluded as much, from what I read and from discussions I had with people that know more, and I believed them without asking for "sources" like you do here. And yes, when people that know more say something I tend to believe it -at least if it's not outright ridiculous. Whethere I do my own research afterwards, that's another topic.

    In fact, we could do a much better conversation if instead of "source?" you said "hey, why do you say that?" or "what makes you say that?" or whatever.

    Quote:


    I think nobody is obliged to accept a factual statement about a third party just like that. After all, there must have been something that led you to your perception. Or do you really mean I've to take any statement from yours for real just because it's you stating it?
    Btw, in case you took it down the wrong pipe: I didn't expext you to provide sources right with your statement like you would be obliged to in academics. But you should be able to provide them after being asked for (just what I did) if you want to be taken seriously (by me, at least).



    I'm sorry, I will not do that work for you. If you don't believe me, be my guest, but it's your decision to go and search google. Btw, posting a huge number of URLs -which seems your habbit- might make you believable, but it still doesn't prove -in the end- what you claim.

    Quote:


    That's still no proof that "Cell R&D has stopped", rather a mild indication.



    "Mild"? :)

    Quote:


    That's (almost) funny. First you're trying to lecture me like it's obvious that your claim is fact, only to eventually step back and admit it's not.



    Well, you are right here. After all, "stopped" is too harsh, and unless I was IBM myself -which I'm not- how could I back this up? But I "can" read the signs here, so do many others. Cell is a money-hole, however good it is.

    Quote:


    So let's be blunt: Contrary to your previous claim which I asked for sources for, there's currently no proof that "Cell R&D has stopped". The sources you afterwards indirectly refered to rather indicate that the PS4's Cell will indeed be a result of further R&D.



    a scaled down Cell with two more cores, is hardly the expected result of 4 years R&D (when PS4 is released, 2012 est.). By that time, who knows what the competition will offer. Perhaps it's not a sign of a stop in R&D, but it definitely is not a sign of continuous R&D.

    Quote:


    Why should I? I didn't claim there was such thing.
    1. You and I were talking about Power Architecture CPUs, not systems.



    eh? What good is a plain CPU? Sure, I probably could order 1k 8610 CPUs myself right now, what good would these do without a system to put on? Btw "You and I" never discussed about anything, my comments were to VelcroSP, and all were focused on 5121/LimeBook vs ARM/Atom. Sorry, I wasn't talking about CPUs, I was talking about CPUs INSIDE Systems.

    Quote:


    2. You and I were talking about Power Architecture CPUs in general, not just desktop suiting ones.



    Again, no, read above. the discussion started from 5121, which was quite a specific model/market. I just merely pointed that while other platforms have a plethora of choices and furious development happening, PowerPC has stagnated to just 2 CPU lines (Power7 and QorIQ).

    Quote:


    3. You and I were talking about *coming* Power Architecture CPUs, not already available ones.
    Contrary to your claim, QorIQ and POWER7 are *not* the only Power Architecture CPUs supposed to come (see my link to my previous statement).



    Sorry, I'll believe Titan when it's actually released.

    Quote:


    Currently "out of stock" according to Fixstars's website.



    Indeed. In fact, I know that there is some kind of a clearance going on in FixStars, some Cell blades are being sold quite cheap (for Cell blades that is).

    > these lose greatly to pretty much every modern Intel/AMD cpu

    Quote:


    I see no sense in comparing whole systems to bare CPUs. But at least you finally got (almost) on topic again :-P


    I *meant* that these systems, lose greatly when compared to pretty much every modern Intel/AMD-based *system*. Better?
  • »10.04.09 - 09:23
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    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > That's all speculation of course.

    That's the prospect of the sources you refered to, isn't it? You were (mis)taking them for fact that "Cell R&D" has stopped", and when I tell you what these sources *really* were prospecting, it's suddenly "all speculation". Smells like double standard...

    > At first they started with a Cell 3 design

    Source?

    > which by IBM's word it should have 32 cores

    Yes, 2 PPEs plus 32 SPEs for the PowerXCell 32ii and 4 PPEs plus 32 SPEs for the PowerXCell 32iv.

    > and now we're down to 10, if at all.

    8 plus 4 sums up to 12 in my book.

    >> PS4 not using a better Cell than PS3 (or even no Cell at all)
    >> wouldn't have to mean anything regarding Cell R&D itself. There
    >> might be other purposes for a better Cell than a Sony's gaming
    >> device. The existing PowerXCell 8i is proof of that.

    > How good is a CPU if you can't buy it in a system?

    No future Cell in a PS4 equals to no future Cell in any system? Your logic is twisted. Look at the mentioned PowerXCell 8i. It's not in a Sony's gaming device and probably never will be, but it's existing nonetheless and there are PowerXCell 8i systems out there which you can buy, e.g. from the vendor of the PowerStation you refered to.

    > If your #1 customer (Sony) decides to drop your product and your
    > partner (Toshiba) is in hard financial troubles, what would you
    > (IBM) do with Cell?

    As we very well know, Sony is *not* going to drop the Cell for PS4. So tell me, what do you think IBM is going to do with Cell then? And what about Sony's ZEGO? Is it cancelled?
    Furthermore, the PowerXCell 8i got R&D'd (and produced) without any connection to any prospected Sony product, and so will be the PowerXCell 32ii and the PowerXCell 32iv according to IBM's roadmap.

    >> "it's trivial to find the articles on google" for you to provide
    >> me with the sources I asked you for.

    > Now you're asking me to do it for you. Hilarious.

    I really tried hard but couldn't come up with any search results backing up your original claim that "Cell R&D has stopped". So what else could I do than asking you to provide me with the source(s)?

    >> Pure nonsense. You claim something, I ask you to back up that
    >> claim. That's how discussion works and has alway been.

    > Indeed someone is talking nonsense, but it's not me apparently.

    You are, trust me.

    > I almost never ask for sources when I have a casual discussion.

    So you naively believe everything that is thrown at you? Even if it initially creates a cognitive dissonance for you (which your statement did for me)? Then you're definitely a bad exemption, fortunately.
    (That's really nothing to do with casual or not, rather than the inner workings of a human's mind.)

    > If I was to prove something I would provide sources without your asking.

    Your twisted logic again. How could you know you are to prove something *before* someone contests or challenges your claim by asking? If you decide to *not* provide sources right along your claim, then nobody is allowed to ask you for them for not having to rely on your words alone?

    > In this case, I mentioned something that I can't prove.

    Then don't put it as fact. Simple as that. How could one conclude that "Cell R&D has stopped" is only your *personal* perception rather than a fact you read somewhere or concluded (as in "not just guessed") from other facts?

    > I merely concluded as much, from what I read and from discussions I
    > had with people that know more

    And these knowing people told you the PowerXCell 32ii and PowerXCell 32iv were cancelled? Or how did you "conclude" this?

    > I believed them without asking for "sources" like you do here.

    There's a difference: These people might be affiliated with IBM or Toshiba (if not, you could as well believe anybody, but even then it would be just you), and I know you are not. That's why I called your claim a "factual statement about a third party".

    > when people that know more say something I tend to believe it -at
    > least if it's not outright ridiculous.

    From my own perspective you don't count as someone who knows more, that's why I asked you for source(s), e.g. from people who (from my perspective) might know more.
    Or should I really have believed you for no reason? Then I would have taken your non-factual claim for fact, as we now know. "Cell R&D has stopped" very much sounds "outright ridiculous" to me btw.

    > we could do a much better conversation if instead of "source?" you
    > said "hey, why do you say that?" or "what makes you say that?" or
    > whatever.

    So it's really about semantics? You're being a sissy now.

    >> I didn't expext you to provide sources right with your statement
    >> [...] But you should be able to provide them after being asked for
    >> (just what I did) if you want to be taken seriously (by me, at least).

    > I'm sorry, I will not do that work for you.

    Yes, and we even know the reason by now: There simply are no sources backing up you claim that "Cell R&D has stopped".

    > If you don't believe me, be my guest,

    I didn't. And it has been the right decision, as proven by the outcome of our discussion.

    > but it's your decision to go and search google.

    As I already told you, I did.

    > posting a huge number of URLs -which seems your habbit- might make
    > you believable, but it still doesn't prove -in the end- what you
    > claim.

    At least it would prove that I didn't just pull my claim out of thin air. And if I claimed "according to [or concluding from] X, Cell R&D has stopped", then an URL to (the statement from) X would indeed prove - in the end - what I claim (presumed my conclusion is not just wild guessing, that is).

    >> That's still no proof that "Cell R&D has stopped", rather a mild
    >> indication.

    > "Mild"? :)

    Yes, very mild. Do you really think that Sequoia not having Cell processors to be a strong indication that PowerXCell 32ii and PowerXCell 32iv have been cancelled?

    > unless I was IBM myself -which I'm not- how could I back this up?

    By referencing appropriate statements from IBM or Toshiba (affiliates), for instance. To do so, such statements have to exist in the first place, of course. If they don't, you cannot state your claim as fact.

    > But I "can" read the signs here

    ..signs you (mis)read as "Cell R&D has stopped" originally. Fine that you put your glasses on after I questioned your way of reading :-P

    > a scaled down Cell with two more cores

    It's supposed to be 4 more, not 2.

    > is hardly the expected result of 4 years R&D (when PS4 is released,
    > 2012 est.).

    But a 3.8 GHz PowerXCell 32iv with 4 PPEs and 32 SPEs would be, wouldn't it? That wouldn't have anything to do with PS4, as I already outlined, but that's surely no requirement for a CPU to be a Cell processor.
    And still, in regard to PS4's Cell, even very slow R&D is R&D, whereas a stopped R&D would mean no further R&D at all.

    >> You and I were talking about Power Architecture CPUs, not systems.

    > eh? What good is a plain CPU?

    Ask that to yourself. After all, you were the one claiming the (Power Architecture) future will bring "only QorIQ and Power7", which are plain CPUs, not systems. So it was obviously your intention to talk about CPUs.

    > I probably could order 1k 8610 CPUs myself right now, what good
    > would these do without a system to put on?

    Don't ask me. I merely answered your statements about some of the CPUs you mentioned.

    > Btw "You and I" never discussed about anything

    You talked about CPUs and I answered you, talking about CPUs as well. That very well classifies as "you and I were talking about" CPUs in my book.

    > my comments were to VelcroSP

    This is a public board. Private discussions do not exist in the public board area by definition. For such purpose there's a PM function implemented. No matter to whom you answer in a public board, everybody is authorized to answer your posting.

    > all were focused on 5121/LimeBook vs ARM/Atom.

    Your memory seems broken:

    "AltiVec is pretty much dead, the e600 is also dead, there is no e700 coming, [...] Cell R&D has stopped (and PS3 will probably be the last PPC-powered Sony console, dunno about Xbox yet), only QorIQ and Power7"

    ...is definitely not about "5121/LimeBook vs ARM/Atom", but rather about e600, e700, Cell, QorIQ and POWER7.

    > I wasn't talking about CPUs

    Now you're being funny (again?).

    > I was talking about CPUs INSIDE Systems.

    As was I. After all, all (future) Power Architecture CPUs I mentioned in my posting I pointed you to are supposed to be built into systems, of course.

    >> You and I were talking about Power Architecture CPUs in general,
    >> not just desktop suiting ones.

    > Again, no

    Let's see: You mentioned QorIQ and POWER7. QorIQ is (according to Freescale) supposed to be a communications processor, POWER7 is supposed to be a server processor.
    Do you really stand by the claim that you were not talking about Power Architecture CPUs in general, but only desktop suiting ones?

    > the discussion started from 5121, which was quite a specific
    > model/market.

    I don't care wherefrom the discussion may have started when my intention is solely to hint you to a correction of a false factual statement of yours.

    > I just merely pointed that [...] PowerPC has stagnated to just
    > 2 CPU lines (Power7 and QorIQ).

    It's true that you claimed this. But that doesn't render your claim true. I already pointed you to my posting where you can read up that your claim is false.

    >> Contrary to your claim, QorIQ and POWER7 are *not* the only Power
    >> Architecture CPUs supposed to come (see my link to my previous
    >> statement).

    > I'll believe Titan when it's actually released.

    That would make exactly one less. What about the other ones I mentioned? Will you continue to deny that these CPUs and CPU lines are to be further developed?

    > I *meant* that these systems, lose greatly when compared to pretty
    > much every modern Intel/AMD-based *system*. Better?

    Quite much :-)
  • »10.04.09 - 16:19
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  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
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    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    I'll admit, I'm too bored to reply each and everyone of your statements, I'll just say a few things, take it as you like; I had private discussions with Freescale guys, where they *explicitly* told me that e600 + altivec was considered dead inside the company, LONG before it became publicly known elsewhere. Have you seen such an announcement from Freescale? No and you won't because it's bad publicity for such a company because they still sell this stuff.

    I also had private discussions with financial folks (they see things in a different light than us geeks, it doesn't matter if a technology is cool, if it doesn't make money it will die), where they said that with the current situation with Sony/Toshiba, Cell's future is unclear. I'm definitely not going to provide "references of appropriate statements" from any such private discussion. Oh and, sure, go ahead and nitpick my choice of words (most of your replies are around this anyway), forest vs tree anyone?

    Cell's absence in Sequoia also adds more to the rumours. As for the PowerXCell 32, dunno if you've ever seen the Cell roadmap (used to be found here, but not anymore, surprise?), it should be around available at 2010 (the roadmap was from 2006), but the PS4 is due out in 2012? 2 years delay, when PS3/original Cell release was almost simultaneous? Strange? Anyway, actually I'll be happy if I see the PowerXCell 32, I like my PS3 and the Cell and it would be fun to play with something more powerful, but I somehow think it will take quite longer than expected, if at all.

    Also, in regard to the other CPUs you mentioned, I actually don't see anything other than embedded CPUs. They're great really for their purpose - I love my efika and the beagleboard is really fun to play with-, but they're not much use for a desktop or even a netbook. If you read my first mail again, I stated (amongst other) that e600 (the de-facto desktop-oriented CPU line, at least so far) is dead, and we're left with just server and embedded lines (QorIQ is just the most powerful, I don't really care for the rest, which are many, because they're embedded-only and too low-power).

    So, what *new* CPU (-based system, ok) could an average powerpc fan choose? None. Which was *exactly* my original point, which you still seem to miss. It doesn't matter the model, fact is that PowerPC has not much to offer for this market (well there are plenty of existing CPUs for the job, but no commitment from the companies). Unless some bold investor decides to pick up, say the e600 core and revive the 86xx line, I don't see any product that would satisfy the average powerpc fan (and I mean desktop user/developer basically, not server/embedded they have no problem).

    [ Edited by feanor on 2009/4/10 21:41 ]
  • »10.04.09 - 18:40
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    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > I had private discussions with Freescale guys, where they *explicitly*
    > told me that e600 + altivec was considered dead inside the company,
    > LONG before it became publicly known elsewhere. Have you seen such
    > an announcement from Freescale? No and you won't because it's bad
    > publicity for such a company because they still sell this stuff.

    Fine, but where exactly is the analogy to you claims about Cell R&D? Did you have private discussions with IBM or Toshiba guys, where they *explicitly* told you that Cell was considered dead inside the companies? If so, then be frank about that. I won't dispute that. Giving private discussions with people who should know as source of your claims is better than giving no source at all, like you did with your Cell claim.

    > I also had private discussions with financial folks [...], where
    > they said that with the current situation with Sony/Toshiba, Cell's
    > future is unclear.

    I guess these financial folks are from outside IBM and Toshiba, so it's just opinion by their side. And "unclear future" isn't exactly the same as "stopped R&D". So it's obvious where your claim did *not* come from, at least.

    > I'm definitely not going to provide "references of appropriate
    > statements" from any such private discussion.

    You referenced private discussion. That's sufficient. I didn't ask for more. You made very well clear that they never told you that "Cell R&D has stopped".

    > go ahead and nitpick my choice of words (most of your replies are
    > around this anyway)

    ...says the one who argued that "we could do a much better conversation if instead of "source?" [I] said "hey, why do you say that?" or "what makes you say that?" or whatever". Very funny.
    My replies are not about your choice of words, but about your factual claims being false (or unproven at best).

    > As for the PowerXCell 32, dunno if you've ever seen the Cell roadmap

    Of yourse I have. Or where do you think I know this CPU from?

    > used to be found here, but not anymore, surprise?

    It's still there, surprise:

    http://www-05.ibm.com/hu/news/events/2007/bladenap/pdf/Hofstee_Cell.pdf (page 16 dating 08/06, page 17 dating 04/07, document dating 11/07)
    http://www-06.ibm.com/itsolutions/jp/deepcomputing/events/pdf/ibm.pdf (page 10 dating 03/08)
    http://www-03.ibm.com/technology/resources/technology_cell_pdf_Cell_computing_platform.pdf (page 17 dating 05/08)
    http://www-05.ibm.com/no/news/events/lsu2008/pdf/cell_overview.pdf (pages 15/16 dating 11/08)

    > it should be around available at 2010 (the roadmap was from 2006)
    > but the PS4 is due out in 2012? 2 years delay, when PS3/original
    > Cell release was almost simultaneous? Strange?

    No, not at all. As I told you numerous times already, the PowerXCell 32 isn't supposed to have anything to do with PS4 and never was. This alleged connection exists only within your twisted mind.

    > I like my PS3 and the Cell and it would be fun to play with
    > something more powerful, but I somehow think it will take quite
    > longer than expected, if at all.

    What about the already mentioned PowerXCell 8i then? It's more powerful than the Cell B.E. and it's out for quite some time already. Too expensive you say? Then forget the PowerXCell 32 instantly.

    > in regard to the other CPUs you mentioned, I actually don't see
    > anything other than embedded CPUs.

    Yes, quite like the QorIQ you mentioned yourself.

    > They're great really for their purpose [...] but they're not much
    > use for a desktop or even a netbook.

    I know. No need to educate me on this.

    > I stated (amongst other) that e600 (the de-facto desktop-oriented
    > CPU line, at least so far)

    Dont't forget the PPC970 :-)

    > is dead, and we're left with just server and embedded lines (QorIQ
    > is just the most powerful, I don't really care for the rest, which
    > are many, because they're embedded-only and too low-power).

    Don't try to take me for fool. Why not simply saying "only server and embedded lines" when you mean "only server and embedded lines"? Instead, you claimed there would be "only QorIQ and Power7" (the latter one being no problem as POWER is the only server CPU family within Power Architecture and POWER7 being the upcoming member) in plain denial of the existance of the many other embedded lines within Power Architecture which are supposed to get further developed. Do you wonder yet why your ridiculous claim got challenged?
    And for your argument why you're caring or not: the POWER7 is not suited for desktop applications either, yet you mentioned it.

    > what *new* CPU (-based system, ok) could an average powerpc fan
    > choose? None.

    Right. I never disputed that.

    > Which was *exactly* my original point, which you still seem to miss.

    No, it's not that I missed it. It's just that I didn't address it, which *you* still seem to miss. In order to avoid any misunderstandings I even quoted the exact statements of yours I was addressing, which you seem to have missed as well.
  • »11.04.09 - 00:25
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  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    feanor
    Posts: 104 from 2009/3/20
    Quote:


    ...says the one who argued that "we could do a much better conversation if instead of "source?" [I] said "hey, why do you say that?" or "what makes you say that?" or whatever". Very funny.



    I'm glad you find it amusing. Pity you missed the point. Again.

    Quote:


    It's still there, surprise:
    ...



    Nice job, thanks, I'll keep you in mind when I need to find sth on Google.

    Quote:


    No, not at all. As I told you numerous times already, the PowerXCell 32 isn't supposed to have anything to do with PS4 and never was. This alleged connection exists only within your twisted mind.



    Ok, now you're talking BS. A company like IBM won't spend *hundreds of millions* of USD on R&D for a CPU if it only ends up in a couple of their supercomputers and a few thousand boards sold here and there. They have never done that. Even the 440 and 450 used in BlueGene systems are widely sold as embedded CPUs (perhaps slightly modified). The Cell itself *was* funded by Sony and the end product was sold in millions of units and if it wasn't for Sony we would probably never see the Cell. For the same reason, the PowerXCell 32 *initial* purpose was to go in the PS4. Just as the PowerXCell 8i is a bigger/better version of the Cell BE (which came *after* the Cell BE), so the 32-SPU Cell would find its way to the PS4. At least that would make perfect sense, before Cell proved a $1B money-hole for Sony. Go and do some reading first, before you post tons of links, where you probably just skim the title and post the URL, I'm tired of this.

    Quote:


    Yes, quite like the QorIQ you mentioned yourself.



    Yes, but unlike the QorIQ they're not powerful enough. FWIW, I know that QorIQ was even considered by Genesi as basis of a ppc-based system.

    Quote:


    Don't try to take me for fool.



    I admit I was tempted...

    Quote:


    Why not simply saying "only server and embedded lines" when you mean "only server and embedded lines"? Instead, you claimed there would be "only QorIQ and Power7" (the latter one being no problem as POWER is the only server CPU family within Power Architecture and POWER7 being the upcoming member) in plain denial of the existance of the many other embedded lines within Power Architecture which are supposed to get further developed. Do you wonder yet why your ridiculous claim got challenged?



    I have to say, I do wonder yes. After all this discussion, you still miserably fail to see the obvious. The PowerPC line is withering and limiting itself to just a few models/markets, whereas the competition has a plethora of choices for whatever need. You try to justify your reasoning with comments like "hey, you forgot the Titan and the IBM 472 and the A2 and all the -unrelated to the topic- embedded CPUs!". Considering the netbook target, the only *new* CPU fit for the job would be the QorIQ actually (being multi-core and able to reach high frequencies), which is why I mentioned it. And I also mentioned Power7 because it's the most important line currently (and the only one that is able to beat Intel/AMD offerings). I like the PowerPC and have been programming it for ages (have you?) but it JUST ISN'T THE BEST CHOICE ANYMORE. Why is that so hard to grasp?

    Quote:


    And for your argument why you're caring or not: the POWER7 is not suited for desktop applications either, yet you mentioned it.



    Oh, there you're wrong. It would make a fine super desktop, faster than most PCs out there. It even has VSX (altivec-like SIMD unit). If only one could afford it; and the electricity bill.

    [ Edited by feanor on 2009/4/11 11:53 ]
  • »11.04.09 - 08:51
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