"Sledgehammer and the Future of Computing"

[utopia]

http://www.overclockers.com/articles178/

 

[Shagga]

Only time will tell. Perhaps I might even change to AMD in the near future

 

[Mister T]

as an AMD stockholder I am sitting for a nice ride...
bought at 20.5

 

[utopia]

well, this is vaporware for now, but intel HAS the 800+Mhz iTaniums...

 

[MadRat]

Let them keep their 800mHz iTaniums!

 

[apoppin]

Well, it's nice to know the 32 bit apps will be around for at least 5 more years.

EDIT: It looks like AMD has the clearer vision and better execution of planning than Intel.

 

[utopia]

time will tell.

 

[tmj]

"AMD also plans to beef up hardware FPU even further for Sledgehammer..."

Can't wait to see how Quake 4 Arena runs on this baby.

 

[DaddyG]

When ever I read something like , 'This will kill Intel' I know that the rest is pure CRAP. Don't get me wrong AMD is great but who is going to develop the 64-bit apps ? AMD has enough problems getting good support for 3D NOW. They don't offer a complier of any kind AFAIK and I think Microsoft won't be very supportive. Lets face it, INTEL owns this business and has a full and complete product line. AMD has had recent success with Athlon\TBIRD\Duron but is still a small player. 64 bit on the desktop is just not required.

 

[tmj]

DaddyG - You're right, but remember that article said at the very beginning that AMD was a small player, could not destroy intel, and that this was just a step in the right direction.

 

[Dameon]

just FYI folks - from everyone I talk to, the Itaniums are friggin nuclear heat monsters and require a seperate power supply .... for the *CPU*. IE - a four procssor server would require 5 powersupplies at minimum... 4 for the itaniums and one for the drives, cards, etc... lets just say cooling and power consumption issues are looking very bad right now.

 

[DDad]

DaddyG
"Don't get me wrong AMD is great but who is going to develop the 64-bit apps ?"
The question should be, "whose going to develop the 64 bit apps for Intel?" Remember that the Itanium will be using a completely new X86 language, and will have to use a emulator to run a 32 bit app.
AMD's approach is a outgrowth of current X86, and will be able to run a 32 bit app natively.
Now, if you are a software developer, which route would you prefer?

BTW, to me this is kinda pointless, these chips aren't likely to be seen on anyones desktop anytime soon

 

[Soccerman]

actually intel's new language isn't even x86, which is why they'll have to run in emulation for old programs.

now, this is an interesting article. it points out that the Sledgehammer will be available to the public (that means us people here at anandtech and all the Joe computer users) before Intel will get it's part to the public. that means that many people will have the Sledgehammer and will demand 64 bit programs to work with them.

That IMHO is the only way that AMD's sledgehammer will servive. otherwise it appears Intel will rule, and with their death grip on Patents, the computer industry will be dull once again (well compared to what we have right now!).

So, AMD needs to work like hell to get their Sledgehammer out ASAP.

Also, AMD will have to move away from x86 sometime soon. in order to get support for any new architecture, they have to become the CPU giant. if that happens though, we may not see much competition...

 

[M]

I would really suggest that ya'll take a little look at Hannibal's article over at ars technica on the future of tye x86 ISA before you pass judgement on just who's gonna kick ass in the upcoming processor releases. http://arstechnica.com/cpu/2q00/x86future/isa-future-1.html

I would further add that whilst K8 (sledgehammer) will be an 8th generation 64bit x86 processor, whereas the Itanium will employ an entirely new ISA (non-x86), as I understand it.

 

[DaddyG]

Ddad,

If you develop software and the market is 10 times larger for Intel than it is for AMD the answer is obvious. Itanium is a server based chip, AMD is gambling that Sledgehammer can function in server systems and on the desktop. Now, big bad Bill over a Msoft wants to be your Application Service Provider so that you 'rent' the app when you need it. Quite an attractive proposition for many businesses who can't afford the cost of entry for Oracle, SAP etc. and little or no support staff to pay.

 

[Spook]

Quake 4 Arena

More like Quake 4 'The Engine'

 

[UncaMilty]

>Don't get me wrong AMD is great but who is going to
>develop the 64-bit apps ?

A good question, and an important one. Two things to keep in mind:

1- Sledgehammer will run 32-bit apps without a performance hit, which means that no one has to write apps for it. It will run existing software faster than Intels 64-bit CPU will, since Intel's chip will need to emulate x86 instructions. Thus AMD can wait for 64-bit apps to trickle in, and allow a smooth transition to occur.

2- However, since Sledgehammer will support 32-bit x86 computing, application developers may not bother to write 64-bit software! Intel will, after all, still be the bigger fish, and the corporate market will still favor Intel by a large margin, even assuming AMD makes big strides in that market. Thus, there WILL be 64-bit development for Intel's 64-bit CPU, but maybe none (or very little) for Sledgehammer, which would then fall behind in performance since the 64-bit apps would outdo 32-bit x86 apps (well, presumably, anyway. Humor me. ). Developing new hardware, even ports to 64-bit, may be more trouble than it's worth, and software developers may decide not to bother.

HOWEVER, developing for Intel's EPIC processors requires a VERY tightly optimized compiler, or your apps may run like sh*t. It may be EASIER to port your 32-bit apps to 64-bit, in which case AMD is sitting on a potential gold mine.

Hmmm. I'm right back at square one, aren't I?