IBM collaboration with Nvidia

[cbn]

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2010/5/18/nvidia-bags-ibm-to-ship-tesla-for-datacenters.aspx

(Just wondering) How are these non-x86 applications different than the ones aimed at Intel and AMD CPUs?

From what little I understand x86 works well on the desktop, but companies like IBM (with Power architecture) are able to push the limit of processing power per watt if the programming is predicted to be almost entirely parallel.

If that is true, what are the reasons data centers still choose x86 for processors?

 

[Idontcare]

what are the reasons data centers still choose x86 for processors?

TCO (including software licensing, support, etc)

 

[jhu]

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2010/5/18/nvidia-bags-ibm-to-ship-tesla-for-datacenters.aspx

(Just wondering) How are these non-x86 applications different than the ones aimed at Intel and AMD CPUs?

From what little I understand x86 works well on the desktop, but companies like IBM (with Power architecture) are able to push the limit of processing power per watt if the programming is predicted to be almost entirely parallel.

If that is true, what are the reasons data centers still choose x86 for processors?

It would seem that these GPGPUs would be picking up much of the computing work. It seems like the Cell processor, but with the components in separate locations.

 

[cbn]

TCO (including software licensing, support, etc)

Thanks.

What software does an IBM machine use that drives up TCO?

 

[Idontcare]

IBM's sales model is to make profit on the software. Hardware just gets them in your door. Something like 75% of their revenue comes from software sales/licensing/support (accounting for around 90% of their profits).

The question would more appropriately be "what software does an IBM machine use that doesn't drive up TCO?". If there weren't good margins to be had from the software then IBM wouldn't bother to be in the business of selling the hardware.

(they would much rather tend towards Microsoft's infrastructure and business model than Intel's or AMD's...think more along the lines of what SUN or HP was/were before 2010)