IBM releases some Power6 specs

[Deleted member 3]

Clockspeeds are important. At least that's what IBM seems to think. While IBM was way ahead with dual core configurations it doesn't think simply adding more cores is a good idea without increasing bandwidth. The new Power6 CPU's will run at 4-5GHz, which is basically double the clock of a Power5, have 8MB cache and 75GB/s bandwidth to the memory. Impressive specs to say the least, and it won't even up the TDP.
IBM says this massive increase in specs is to thank to advanced production methods. The Power6 chips should be available mid 2007.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[HaZe303]

One Word!! Whhhoooowww....

Wonder what it will cost?? Or is just available for servers and so?? But really impressive specs..

 

[Deleted member 3]

One Word!! Whhhoooowww....

Wonder what it will cost?? Or is just available for servers and so?? But really impressive specs..

It's not X86 anyway so it's not interesting. Apple stopped using PowerPC.

 

[Nitro-Max]

these guys are right on clock speeds need to get better its ok having a 64 bit cpu and duel cores but were the software that runs on them i mean 64 bit windows to me is rushed and not really setup as good as the 32bit one. and when will 64 bit games be out? seems like the hardwares moving that fast the software cannot keep up and niether can we for that matter already the x2 has died so young with production stopping.

 

[Polaris573]

It's not X86 anyway so it's not interesting. Apple stopped using PowerPC.

I was thinking the same thing too. Who uses IBM's CPUs now that apple doesn't? I suppose they might be used in supercomputers.

 

[Alec§taar]

Who uses IBM's CPUs now that apple doesn't? I suppose they might be used in supercomputers.

I am fairly certain IBM uses them on As/400-zSeries OS midranges &/or mainframes... but, for vendors other than IBM?

No idea!



* I only program 'cross-platform' to those systems infrequently (IBM "Big Iron") nowadays, & a couple times in the past for some larger companies that can afford them... but, I am by NO means a "master" of them, so I am not sure what other machines may leverage their CPU's...

APK

P.S.=> Still, when you look @ the fact they are packing 8mb cache onto them, & hitting memory @ the rates quoted above + the 5ghz clockspeeds? You can BET folks from AMD &/or INTEL "R&D" labs WILL be getting ahold of them (& doubtless, their 'backplane-pluggable' oriented architecture + boards), & tearing them apart, looking for "tricks/tips/techniques" to use... apk

 

[jocksteeluk]

id buy one of these chips if they made them for a consumer purchaseable mainboard

 

[Steevo]

I am fairly certain IBM uses them on As/400-zSeries OS midranges &/or mainframes... but, for vendors other than IBM?

No idea!



* I only program 'cross-platform' to those systems infrequently (IBM "Big Iron") nowadays, & a couple times in the past for some larger companies that can afford them... but, I am by NO means a "master" of them, so I am not sure what other machines may leverage their CPU's...

APK

P.S.=> Still, when you look @ the fact they are packing 8mb cache onto them, & hitting memory @ the rates quoted above + the 5ghz clockspeeds? You can BET folks from AMD &/or INTEL "R&D" labs WILL be getting ahold of them (& doubtless, their 'backplane-pluggable' oriented architecture + boards), & tearing them apart, looking for "tricks/tips/techniques" to use... apk

The newer e-series servers can house multi-os's running in virtual address space, and host webcontent, as well as server hundreds of users simultaneously. All able to interact togeather as if they were on seperate servers.

 

[Alec§taar]

The newer e-series servers can house multi-os's running in virtual address space, and host webcontent, as well as server hundreds of users simultaneously. All able to interact togeather as if they were on seperate servers.

Much of that, was possible as far back as 1996-1999, iirc... bit hazy over a decade & all that since then, but I was aware of it, first hand, when much of that came out in fact.

I say this, because NT 3.51 (again iirc, might have been NT 4.0 actually) was being run that way, on "OS/400" (not z-OS back then) as it was called then @ least, that far back (virtual OS emulation layers & shared memory conduits (sort of like how clipboard works) so they could "cross talk" OS-to-OS, etc.).

Same w/ web content... that is when THAT came out, this I am certain of as to the year (1996), because, lol, I remember my boss (one of the FEW I have met that actually REALLY KNEW HIS STUFF in this field mind you, very few & far between) was actually "excited" to load the patch tapes for it.

I saw that ALL happen @ a LARGE logistics firm/fortune 500 I worked for @ that time period & 2nd firm I was exposed to 'cross-platform' programming @, using As/400's @ least... since then, it's been MOSTLY Unix stuff.

What I am NOT certain of, is what OTHER systems use Power CPU's... per the question the initial poster asked.

APK

 

[v-zero]

Meh, the Power marchitecture always fails to impress me... They love theri numbers over at IBM, but as we can see from the Apple move, they tend to mean diddley-squat...
I I would bloody hope that the TDP wasn't increased, the Power5's got way, way, way, way, way, way too hot for decent server use...

Nope, IBM impress with technology, but R&D on their chips is poor these days it seems... They can build CPU's, but can they design them? Look at Cell...