News - IBM shows-off world’s fastest CPU

[HEXUS]

5.2GHz quad-core z196 processor will start powering mainframes next month.

Read more.

[watercooled]

Another relatively unusual feature is the use of the CISC instruction set, as opposed to the more common RISC or x86 ISAs

Without meaning to sound too pedantic, CISC isn't an instruction set, it's a type of instruction set and x86 is a complex instruction set. This type of CPU uses the z/architechture.
IBM has made some interesting CPUs, including the Xenon and Cell for the 360 and PS3 respectively, I think it would be interesting if they decided to have a go at desktop/workstation CPUs too.

[BullDogg]

Without meaning to sound too pedantic, CISC isn't an instruction set, it's a type of instruction set and x86 is a complex instruction set. This type of CPU uses the z/architecture.

Please, be pedantic all you like. To be brutally honest, this is far from my area of expertise, so corrections are always appreciated. I'll do my best to fix the line.

[Noxvayl]

IBM has made some interesting CPUs, including the Xenon and Cell for the 360 and PS3 respectively, I think it would be interesting if they decided to have a go at desktop/workstation CPUs too.

Me too. When I first heard about Cell and then read extensive reviews about it with the PS3 release I was excited at the possibility of it becoming the main processor in PC's as well.

I would expect that IBM are currently doing lots of R&D with Cell, being such a young processor type. Considering the difficulties of PS3 game development I would imagine Operating Systems and other applications would have much more difficulty adapting to the processor.

I do hope they can find a way to get the Cell chip into PC's as it will improve gaming a hell of a lot.

[Terbinator]

I thought the Cell was something of a white elephant and will only be made as long as Sony (I know there are other customers) need it ?

[watercooled]

You can get a modified Cell in your PC with the Leadtek video transcoder card: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1134/1/

[BullDogg]

I thought the Cell was something of a white elephant and will only be made as long as Sony (I know there are other customers) need it ?

I can't remember where, but I swear I read something along those lines just today. You say there are other customers, but who are they? Tosh is a partner, and has thrown it into one or two TVs and laptops as a video processor and Sony have popped it into the odd TV, but who else has used it?

Even then, it seems like it's being horribly underutilised (except in the PS3, maybe). Cell was supposed to do great things, but all its being used for is to pretty up video.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Cell was quietly taken behind the shed and killed off once the PS3 stops production.

[Terbinator]

Well obviously IBM themselves used to use them in their server offerings, and as you mentioned Toshiba but you would imagine that if there wasn't an alternative they would be flying off shelves - seems that isn't the case.

[Noxvayl]

I think the complexity of writing compatible code is what is hindering Cell's uptake. Video transcoding is much easier than say an Operating System.

The leadtek card is quite interesting and I was tempted to get one. If they could get a Cell add in board which did physics and video transcoding, then I'd get one.

[Jay]

I thought Cell was already unofficially cancelled.

[Funkstar]

You can get a modified Cell in your PC with the Leadtek video transcoder card: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1134/1/

Interesting card, I didn't know it existed. I might need to take a proper look at it to help with video encoding.