AMD patent could enable hyperthreading

[Adul]

<!--StartFragment --> <B>OVER AT THE</B> US trademark and patent office, there's a slightly elderly patent successfully filed by AMD back in 1999 which indicates that the firm could provide hyperthreading for its processors, if it should so wish.
The patent, numbered 5,944,816, entitled "Microprocessor configured to execute multiple threads including interrupt service routines", outlines how a CPU can execute multiple threads concurrently.
It specifically says that in one test, a CPU executed at least two threads concurrently.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=6773

now that would be interesting. 🙂

 

[dullard]

We've always known that AMD could use it. It isn't like the hyperthreading is exclusive to Intel. The key is when will AMD use it.

 

[Wingznut]

(DISCLAIMER: I don't know the details of the Intel/AMD cross-licensing agreement, nor am I an expert on such things...)

... But I would think that their agreement would cover said technology.

Besides, it's not like AMD could just flip a switch and turn on HT. It would take a significant amount of time for them to engineer that into their design.

 

[AluminumStudios]

Besides, it's not like AMD could just flip a switch and turn on HT. It would take a significant amount of time for them to engineer that into their design.

Followed by a bunch of paper launches ...

 

[Lonyo]

Does anyone remember the motherboard pics anandtech had of the new Hammer mobos? They said HT enabled, suggesting the Hammer could have HT, possibly redundant like most P4's at the moment though.

 

[glugglug]

Followed by a bunch of paper launches ...

Couldn't they just do the paper launch first, THEN begin to engineer it into their design?

Anyone who has worked in the internet industry can tell you the process is as follows:

1. Marketing comes up with new product
2. Management drools over the product and heavily publicizes it, including already ridiculously aggressive release dates (paper launches)
3. Several weeks/months go by
4. Engineering is informed of the new product they need to offer.

 

[Accord99]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Does anyone remember the motherboard pics anandtech had of the new Hammer mobos? They said HT enabled, suggesting the Hammer could have HT, possibly redundant like most P4's at the moment though.

HyperTransport Enabled. Even if it did have SMT capabilities, they wouldn't use the term HyperThreading since that's an Intel trademark.

Anyways, based on Paul DeMone's reading of the patent, it has very little to do with SMT anyways.


Patent Analysis