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x86 Weekly News Collected By Robert R. Collins |
Week of November 2, 1998 |
Older News |
November 6, 1998 | ||
AltiVec versus KNI (MMX2) How do they compare?By: David K. Every Small Dog Electronics |
Both KNI and AltiVec are SIMD (Single
Instruction, Multiple Data) implementations, or they are
also called (short) Vector Processors. What they do is to
allow a single instruction to work with multiple pieces
of data at once (instead of one at a time), so they can
do 8 things (or sometimes as much as 32 things) at once.
Each piece of data, or path through an instruction, is
called a vector. If you still don't understand the basics of SIMD or Vector Processing (what MMX, KNI, and AltiVec are), then read What is AltiVec or the older MMX/VMX (from before the specifics of AltiVec were known). They can give you a pretty good understanding of SIMD and design decisions and tradeoffs. |
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Samsung plans early 99 start for production of 144-Mbit Rambus DRAMNovember 5, 1998 |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has
completed development of a144-megabit Rambus DRAM Direct
componentand 144-megabyte Rambus In-line Memory Module,
providing twice the capacity and all the same functions
as the 72-megabit Rambus it announced in July. The South Korean memory maker said it expects to begin producing 100,000 of the devices a month beginning early next year and plans, and up to 1 million units in the third quarter. |
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November 5, 1998 | ||
Intel follows in iMac's footstepsNovember 5, 1998 |
After Intel's Andy Grove made glowing comments about Apple's iMac, Intel appears to be following in Apple's footsteps. The Pentium chipmaker providing chips for a majority of PCs sold worldwide, Intel recently built a "concept" PC to demonstrate its own vision of the future. Intel added when demonstrating the concept PC that they were not getting into the PC-making business but wanted to show off their ideas. | |
Intel touts pyramid PCBy Michael Kanellos November 4, 1998 |
Intel is out to convince people that it
can make computing attractive and easy too--an elusive
goal in the PC industry. The chip giant this week is showing off prototypes of modular computers, most notably the ziggurat-shaped "Aztec," in an effort to promote how the company plans to better integrate technology into the home. The prototypes seem to clearly take their cue from Apple Computer's iMac, which was the third highest selling computer in retail outlets for the month of September, according to analyst reports. |
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November 4, 1998 | ||
AMD Releases K6 For Embedded SystemsOctober 3, 1998 |
Advanced Micro Devices Tuesday
introduced a new K6 microprocessor for embedded system
designs needing compatibility with x86-based desktop PCs.
AMD said its AMD-K6E processor is designed to run both 16- and 32-bit software. It supports x86 operating systems, including the Windows CE, Windows 95, and Windows 98 operating systems and applications that run on them. The 8.8-million transistor chip also contains the industry standard MMX instruction set and is designed for the Socket 7 infrastructure. |
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November 3, 1998 | ||
Another
I/O spec in the works
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They're at it again. IBM,
Hewlett-Packard Co. and Compaq Computer Corp., the three
rival systems makers that developed the PCI-X
specification for faster server I/O, are now developing
an even faster switched-fabric-based I/O that could
challenge a similar Intel Corp. project. The Future I/O switched fabric will double the sustained I/O speed of PCI and scale better than any PCI architecture, IBM officials said. The new architecture will likely be available in servers in late 2000, about a year after the PCI-X architecture, said Tom Bradicich, director of server architecture and technology at IBM, in Research Triangle Park, N.C. |
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Perspective: Do Rambus licensees have clause for concern?By Andrew MacLellan November 2, 1998 |
Intel Corp.'s $500 million investment in
Micron Technology Inc.-and the Boise, Idaho, company's
subsequent capitulation to the Direct Rambus DRAM
camp-could trigger a royalty windfall for technology
architect Rambus Inc. Having taken the king's shilling, Micron will do the king's bidding and accelerate its ramp-up of Direct RDRAM into next year's PC market. The investment will allow Micron to fulfill its capital-investment agenda and will likely guarantee that a few million more Rambus chips hit the street in 1999. |
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November 2, 1998 | ||
PC buyers wont wait for Katmai CPUBy Mark Hachman October 30, 1998 |
Although PC OEMs can't be certain what
they'll find in their stockings this Christmas, the 1999
release date of Intel Corp.'s Katmai processor should put
to rest one ghost from Christmas Past. Third-quarter earnings from PC and chip companies alike indicate a strong seasonal growth pattern, bolstered by a sudden unexpected boost in demand (see story on page 20). As a result, industry executives and analysts don't expect holiday buyers to delay their PC purchases until Katmai-based machines are available next spring. |
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See how politically correct Intels Barrett really isBy Mark Hachman October 30, 1998 |
An Intel Corp. spokesman has said that
Craig Barrett, president and chief executive of Intel
Corp., will match wits with Bill Maher in a spoof of the
Politically Incorrect TV show Tuesday,
November 17th at Las Vegas' Comdex trade show. The Technically Incorrect panel will feature Penn Gillette, the vocal half of magician duo Penn & Teller; Bill Nye, The Science Guy; and industry pundit Esther Dyson in debating and berating a variety of high-tech topics. |
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ST and Microsoft collaborate on software for PC-on-chipNovember 2, 1998 |
STMicroelectronics here today said it
was working with Microsoft Corp. to support its STPC
series of PC-on-a-chip products with Windows CE operating
system software. For a couple of years, St. Genis, France-based ST has been pursuing embedded x86-based solutions offering highly integrated ICs with 486 cores. The latest to be introduced is aimed at industrial and commercial systems (see Oct. 26 story). |
See Related
Stories ST rolls out its latest PC-on-chip for industrial, embedded applications |
Compaq,
Intel Fight Digital Brain Drain
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Buying a technology company is tricky:
the key assets go out the door every night, and you never
know if they will all walk in again the next morning.
Digital's fate provides a good example. After Compaq and
Intel carved up Digital like a Thanksgiving turkey last
year, both felt satisfied with their portions. But like
giblets that fell on the floor, the CPU designers who
walked out on their new employers may turn out to have
been the best parts of the bird. Digital has been bleeding CPU designers (as well as many other employees) for the past few years as the company spiraled down toward its ultimate demise. The pace accelerated with last November's announcement that Intel would purchase some of Digital's assets (see MPR 11/17/97, p. 1). As a result, the Alpha and StrongArm teams suffered significant losses. |
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Doh! Homer Simpson sells out to Satanic IntelBy Pete Sherriff October 30, 1998 |
The Great Satan of Chips has lured Homer
Simpson into one of its secret skunk operations and will
"upgrade" his brain, the company said today. Simpson, who has in the past criticised both Intel and Microsoft, is to receive the ultimate insult to his IQ. This is all very intriguing. At the Intel Developer
Forum some weeks ago, which The |