PPC/RapidIO vs. Apple/HyperTransport???
<a href="http://www.arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/01q4/hypertransport/hypertransport-1.html" target="_blank">http://www.arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/01q4/hypertransport/hypertransport-1.html</a>
This article points out what some of you may have already pondered about. Moto and IBM are backing the RapidIO standard and Apple is signed on for the competing Hypertransport standard. What does this mean? The article points out some very interesting possibilities (check out page 3).
This article points out what some of you may have already pondered about. Moto and IBM are backing the RapidIO standard and Apple is signed on for the competing Hypertransport standard. What does this mean? The article points out some very interesting possibilities (check out page 3).
Comments
The article didn't mention the possibility of Apple's membership in the HyperTransport consortium as any of the following:
a) a smokescreen to throw off the rumor mill
b) an attempt at sabotage
c) a desparate search for new technologies to rip off in some form or another
d) something Jobsian just to spite IBM/Mot
RapidIO could be used to link the processor to memory, and HyperTransport used to link the PCI-X/3GIO, video, sound, etc. Apparently the two can coexist for different purposes on the same mobo.
I posted regarding this on /. and an hp employee was nice enough to give a solid answer.
NGIO + Future I/O = InfiniBand = replacement for network buses (Intel + IBM + Compaq ...)
Lightning Data Transport -> HyperTransport = chip to chip bus, replacement for processor buses (AMD)
RapidIO = chip to chip bus, replacement for processor buses (Motorola)
3GIO = replacement for PCI (Intel)
<strong>RapidIO and HyperTransport are in direct competition with each other. They are both chip-to-chip serial buses for processor to processor, processor to core logic chips, core logic to PCI bridges, etc. It would be a rather unusual motherboard for Apple to use both technologies.
NGIO + Future I/O = InfiniBand = replacement for network buses (Intel + IBM + Compaq ...)
Lightning Data Transport -> HyperTransport = chip to chip bus, replacement for processor buses (AMD)
RapidIO = chip to chip bus, replacement for processor buses (Motorola)
3GIO = replacement for PCI (Intel)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Aw man, I could've sworn I read something about them only kinda sorta competing. Well I'm pretty sure you know your stuff better than I do. It'll be interesting to see how Apple deals with it now.
It's certainly an odd situation that Apple is in. If Apple can convince Moto and IBM to produce PPC chips with HT buses everything would be gravy. But as it stands now with Moto and IBM putting RapidIO on their PPCs, the only reason for Apple to use HT appears to be that there would be more PC oriented HT components available for Apple to connect to the southbridge end of their computers. IE, Apple will be using HT as a PCI replacement.
So:
PPC chip <-> RapidIO <-> northbridge chip <-> HT <-> southbridge.
The northbridge would have memory, AGP, FireWire, Ethernet and one would have ATA/133 or serial ATA. The southbridge would have legacy PCI, USB, audio, Airport (on ATA/33), and modem. The PPC chip could have a memory controller, but that's a ways away.
THT, thanks for the info on HT and RapidIO.
"Apple will be using HT as a PCI replacement."<hr></blockquote>
Oh great googly moogly. I bought an 8100 w/ NUBUS weeks before Apple dumped it and went with PCI. Now I'm in a position to buy a new computer in late Dec. early Jan. and in all likelyhood it will be PCI.
Then ....then.....then....well you know....I'm stuck with an outdated system w/ limited upgradability for another 6 friggin years.
<a href="http://www.extremetech.com/article/0,3396,s%3D1005%26a%3D18058,00.asp" target="_blank">http://www.extremetech.com/article/0,3396,s%3D1005%26a%3D18058,00.asp</a>
<strong>The iMac and iBook already have an integrated North and southbridge chip called pangea. .</strong><hr></blockquote>
Does the name of this chip has something to do with Pangea sofware (nanosaur, bugdoom ...) ?
<strong>No It has to do with the prehistoric super-continent millions of years ago that covered the Earth. All modern continent originated from it. Apple should have called the chip "Pangea in reverse"</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks for your answer, but if i have understand what you say do you mean that this chip is a prehistoric chip
[ 11-15-2001: Message edited by: Whisper ]</p>