Register: Secret Power4 variant?
"IBM could have another derivative of the Power4 chip in the works, too, that we have not yet heard of."
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/27827.html" target="_blank">http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/27827.html</a>
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/27827.html" target="_blank">http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/27827.html</a>
Comments
<strong>neat; hadn't heard of that one, but I suppose it makes logical sense for IBM to attempt...</strong><hr></blockquote>
What? Attempt what?
One line in the entire article that basically says "we're talking through our hats here folks, don't count on any of this" and your response (depite the fact you have not heard of any such "secret" processor) is that it's "logical" for IBM to attempt... what exactly?
If you are hinting at a multi-core version of the 970, just say so for cripes sake...
Well now I can't find the link...but IBM and Nvidia presented this week for the Highend 3d crowd some upcoming products for them.... I haven't gotten any info from the event but at the time I was curious if this could be a 970 + NV30 preview (yes I know NV30 has not known to be previewed yet) running on linux.... If this chip is built with this crowd, I could see IBM trying to get into this area as well especially considering Linux has been making major inroads in the 3d world in the last couple of years..
Well, that's all the evidence I need: CONFIRMED!
<strong>Well, that's all the evidence I need: CONFIRMED!</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
It could be a dual-core PPC970, which wouldn't really surprise me, but there is nothing really secret or amazing in the speculation there.
"Look, sir, we've got the operating temperature down to 200 degrees Celsius! And the battery life is now more than one second! We're making astonishing progress!"
"Sir?"
What if IBM and Apple are giving us a hip-fake? i.e. The 970 is the one they're publicly revealing, but they have another one they will drop on us much sooner than the 970. I know this sounds like desperation/grasping at straws, but there's been "something in the air" that has smelled fishy from the start on this. Use the 970 as a hunk of meat to throw to the rabid dogs, then while they're obsessed with that, you can slip the whole meat truck right past them.
It could just be my latent paranoia flaring up again, though...
[ 10-29-2002: Message edited by: TJM ]</p>
<strong>I had thought this back before the 970 was presented at the MPF, but was too timid to say anything.
What if IBM and Apple are giving us a hip-fake? i.e. The 970 is the one they're publicly revealing, but they have another one they will drop on us much sooner than the 970. I know this sounds like desperation/grasping at straws, but there's been "something in the air" that has smelled fishy from the start on this. Use the 970 as a hunk of meat to throw to the rabid dogs, then while they're obsessed with that, you can slip the whole meat truck right past them.
It could just be my latent paranoia flaring up again, though...
[ 10-29-2002: Message edited by: TJM ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
You fool! Now they know you're on to them! You know too much! Run away as far as you can, before it's too late!
<strong>A POWER4 targeted at PDAs?!
"Look, sir, we've got the operating temperature down to 200 degrees Celsius! And the battery life is now more than one second! We're making astonishing progress!"
"Sir?"
</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>but that's not enough to base a rumor on.</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>A POWER4 targeted at PDAs?!
"Look, sir, we've got the operating temperature down to 200 degrees Celsius! And the battery life is now more than one second! We're making astonishing progress!"
"Sir?"
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Who cares for the battery? It works with solar collectors! I want my portable thermonuclear reactor NOW!!!
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
IBL!!
<strong>
You fool! Now they know you're on to them! You know too much! Run away as far as you can, before it's too late!</strong><hr></blockquote>
I know it seems silly with all the "killer processor next week" rumors we've been seeing for the last year and a half. That's why I didn't post it earlier.
It's just that I read what seem to be credible reports of a new chip that has been sampling since April (never actually identified as the 970), and then the line in IBM's financial report about how the new Fishkill plant is already or nearly up and running, with production scheduled all the way out to next Summer. And the 970 is supposed to debut next Fall? Something just doesn't add up. Maybe I'm missing something.
<strong>
I know it seems silly with all the "killer processor next week" rumors we've been seeing for the last year and a half. That's why I didn't post it earlier.
It's just that I read what seem to be credible reports of a new chip that has been sampling since April (never actually identified as the 970), and then the line in IBM's financial report about how the new Fishkill plant is already or nearly up and running, with production scheduled all the way out to next Summer. And the 970 is supposed to debut next Fall? Something just doesn't add up. Maybe I'm missing something.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, you don't generally debut a brand new chip design on a brand new process, unless you want to go through Mot 7400 Hell. I don't think even IBM is arrogant enough to think they could pull that off. So what we'll probably see is a migration of an existing design first, with the 970 moving over once IBM has all the kinks worked out of the process.
So we might see some really small G3s...
<strong>
Well, you don't generally debut a brand new chip design on a brand new process, unless you want to go through Mot 7400 Hell. I don't think even IBM is arrogant enough to think they could pull that off. So what we'll probably see is a migration of an existing design first, with the 970 moving over once IBM has all the kinks worked out of the process.
So we might see some really small G3s...</strong><hr></blockquote>
That at makes a lot of sense. Thanks. But if we DO get a surprise before the 970, I want credit for calling it!
Now if only I can get those black helicopters to quit buzzing my house and chase that CIA guy out from under my bed I should be just fine... <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[Surprised]" />