Few questions on microprocessors

[dave_c]

-Will IBM's forthcoming (and highly hyped) 'Cell' microprocessor, be the most powerful to date?

 

-What type of hardware will we see the Cell being used?

 

-Are there any other companies like IBM that have the 'strength' or ability to create such 'suped up' microprocessors?

 

-If so will there be a rival brands to respond to the Cell processor?

[Mattk]

type of hardware to take advantage will include xbox 2/next and ps3

[Gigadave]

As far as I can understand, the 'Cell' processor is basically one core processor linked to 8 slave mini processors. Most applications will not really see a significant speed boost - the main area of performance being mulitiple content apps, streaming music/video and games. I think this is because of the ability to 'farm out' processes to slave chips rather than dedicating a share of processing power from a single CPU. Looks like X-Box2 and PS3 should really fly if the chip can live up to it's hype. As for rival chips, Intel and AMD have hit a bit of a wall after reaching a 90nm size limit - but clock speeds are always increasing and the whole task of programming completely new software for the Cell will ensure they don't lose too many fans.

[OBonio]

Seeing as Sony are involved, I doubt XBox 2 will have Cell.  The first bit of kit with it in will be the Playstation 3 but they're (Sony, IBM and Toshiba) also targetting devices in the living room.  Here are a couple of articles on what it is and the implications :

http://www.theregister.com/2005/02/01/cell_analysis_part_one/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/03/cell_analysis_part_two/