Jim Keller joins Intel

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It looks like Intel is hiring more and more new blood:
https://www.techpowerup.com/243673/r...er-joins-intel

So this either means they are working on a new CPU core,or intensifying their work into AI and deep learning.

[DanceswithUnix]

or intensifying their work into AI and deep learning.

That gets my vote. He can't tell Intel what's in Zen, but a whole new AI architecture rather than using a GPU would make sense.

Tesla's self driving crew seem to be having a rough time though.

[dandyp]

It's crazy what Ryzen/ZEN/Vega has done to the industry. While I have no stake in either company, it's just great to finally see Intel being forced into changing, incremental updates to Cpu architecture over 7-8 years might finally be a thing of the past.

[scaryjim]

... incremental updates to Cpu architecture over 7-8 years might finally be a thing of the past.

Hate to burst your bubble, but no, they won't be. As I understand it, t takes at least 5 years to get a new CPU arch from paper to silicon, probably more if you want it to a) work and b) be better than your old one.

The risks of trying to develop several generations of architecture in parallel, but with staggered start and launch dates ... well, I'm slightly nauseated just thinking about it.

The sensible way to progress in CPUs is to not start working on your next arch until the one currently under development is basically complete, so you know what your performance targets are and you can learn the lessons from the last design process. You'll prtobably start before that arch is released to the public, but not before the design is essentially finalised. So while that new arch is being designed, you work on enhancing the existing arch, because it's going to be 4 - 5 years before you really know how the new one's going to work out.

[DanceswithUnix]

Hate to burst your bubble, but no, they won't be. As I understand it, t takes at least 5 years to get a new CPU arch from paper to silicon, probably more if you want it to a) work and b) be better than your old one.

The original 8086 was designed and released in 2 years, which I think proves your point that if you want something good it takes 5 years

Edit: That doesn't change that it sounds like he is being taken on in a managerial role. If Intel have a team dynamic problem, and it sounds like they routinely fire a percentage of their staff every year to keep them on their toes so I suspect they have, then he might make a difference quite quickly but only to existing design projects.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Now he leaves Intel:
https://www.anandtech.com/show/15846...ve-immediately

[Apex]

Interesting times.

[DanceswithUnix]

Clearly all Intel's problems are now fixed

[Xlucine]

It took 2 years from him leaving AMD till zen launched, so zen 5 will have decent competition?

[watercooled]

It took 2 years from him leaving AMD till zen launched, so zen 5 will have decent competition?

I know you mean it in jest, but it's unfair on the Zen design team headed by Mike Clark to attribute its success solely to Jim Keller, as many people seem to do.

[s000m]

Great move for Intel, hopefully we'll see some improvements in the CPU space in another generation or two .