Cell

[ailevation]

To change the world!? Cell processors, someone clear what the fuss is about this.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20040715175108.html

 

[psyno]

Cell processors are highly integrated pieces of silicon. They contain a great many of the components normally found scattered throughout a computer system, and usually multiple execution units. The high integration allows for massive performance. The key to a cell processor is to pack a lot of stuff in a small space. They don't necessarily need the huge caches that regularly take up half the die space of a modern processor. Multiple execution units of course allow for higher performance at lower clock speeds (using less power and generating less heat).

I don't know too much about them and haven't seen very much published in the IT media. You could probably look for some IBM whitepapers on them for more..

*edit: http://www-1.ibm.com/businesscenter...featurearticle/gcl_xmlid/8649/nav_id/emerging

 

[ewilson248]

think massively scalable shared computing. you can put cell cpu's in everything in your house that runs on electricity, then hook them together to form your own intranet where all the idle time of all cpus can be used by other cpus, ie.. your fridge and your dishwasher could help you play games on your console! i think thats the thoery anyway.. ed

 

[DreamThrall]

/drools

uhuh.... cool....

/drools some more...