February 6, 2008: Two Billion Transistors

[linknoid]

It's interesting to see that chip layout. In most pictures of processors I've seen, you can see different areas, but it's not so obvious what's what.

In this case, the large black areas are most likely cache RAM. All those lines running through it are probably busses to communicate with the rest of the chip.

Also notice the symmetry, you can see each of the 4 cores separated by large areas of RAM, and in the center is the controller which coordinates all the cores... or something like that.

I might also guess (all of this is guesswork) based on the layout that the two cores on the right are more closely tied, as are the two cores on the left, and for the right side and left side to communicate it has to go through the middle.

I'm really curious how accurate my guesses are, but I doubt I'll ever find out.

While 2 billion transistors sounds like a lot, it's not quite as intimidating when you consider that that's only about 31000 transistors wide. Kind of like how you can cross a 2500 square mile area in under an hour, because it's really only 50 miles by 50 miles.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by linknoid

While 2 billion transistors sounds like a lot, it's not quite as intimidating when you consider that that's only about 31000 transistors wide. Kind of like how you can cross a 2500 square mile area in under an hour, because it's really only 50 miles by 50 miles.

Interesting comparison. never looked at it that way.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, but the difference comes in the 50 mph roads, instead of the 10 mph ruts they started with, not that long ago.

[Imigo Jones]

Originally Posted by linknoid

I might also guess (all of this is guesswork) based on the layout that the two cores on the right are more closely tied, as are the two cores on the left, and for the right side and left side to communicate it has to go through the middle.

Link, the middle is called the corepus calculosa.



:p

[tw]

Originally Posted by Imigo Jones

Link, the middle is called the corepus calculosa.

Will you want a left handed or right handed computer?

[Imigo Jones]

Originally Posted by tw

Will you want a left handed or right handed computer?

Left-handed, please, tw. All hemispheric things being equal, and for what it's worth, the cor(e)pus cal(cu)losum is generally a bit more substantial in left-handers.



"Okay, now stretch. . . . That's is. A little more. . . . Str-r-r-e-t-ch. . . . Okay, hold. Good, . . . a-n-d release." Sproing!

[Torrere]

All that, and they named it after an airport town...

[Bitman]

Originally Posted by linknoid

that's only about 31000 transistors wide.

"Only"?? The original 8086 that kicked off the personal computer revolution had 29000 transistors. This quad Itanium is like an 8086 squared.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Bitman

"Only"?? The original 8086 that kicked off the personal computer revolution had 29000 transistors. This quad Itanium is like an 8086 squared.

Non-editor's note: the 8086 was not used in PCs. 8088 was used. The personal computer revolution was pioneered by the 8080 in products such as the Altair 8080. Microprocessors starting with the 4004. 80186 was supposed to appear in the PC Jr but quashed by ignorant IBM management. 80286 - the first 16 bit IO personal computer. Then many who are now in the Cellar were born.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Uh, do you mean were not born?