mr_bigmouth_502 wrote:
xenocity wrote:
mr_bigmouth_502 wrote:
^Modern x86 CPUs are only "x86" in terms of their instruction sets; internally, they're custom RISC CPUs with translation units that go from x86 machine language to microcode. This isn't a new thing either; AMD have done this ever since the K5 CPU, which was just an AMD 29000 RISC cpu with a translator unit. Of course, translating from x86 to RISC microcode isn't as efficient as using a RISC architecture like PowerPC or ARM straight up. That said, for raw performance modern x86 CPUs still kick the living daylights out of ARM chips, which are aimed more at power efficiency than anything. The older PowerPC 603e-based architecture Nintendo uses for its home consoles isn't so hot anymore, but newer POWER architecture chips can be pretty formidable, and they can be found in high end servers.
IBM no longer develops POWER and the 3rd party game developers refuse to code for POWER.
IBM said they were going to stop production of POWER chip for good and leave the processor and server markets.
Thew newer ARM chips are really powerful and said to be better for dedicated game development than x86.
You can easily get an ARM chip that easily kicks the PS4's x86 CPUs.
Though obviously all the consoles and handhelds uses a customizes version of the chips.
Though to be fair Intel has no interest in developing custom x86 CPUs for dedicated gaming.
They don't even seem to care about making good mobile CPUs.
I honestly did not know that. Here I thought POWER was a thriving architecture. If IBM left the PC market, and are leaving the CPU and server markets, what the heck are they going to do now?
How do the latest ARM chips compare to a late model Core i5 or Core i7? They might be more power efficient, but Intel still has the raw horsepower. The PS4 and Xbox One CPUs may have a lot of cores, but truthfully they aren't very powerful.
Intel pretty much has a stranglehold on the desktop and laptop CPU markets, though it's puzzling as to why they decided to discontinue the Atom series. Probably because the Atom earned a reputation for low performance, though they could fix that with a rebranding for their higher end mobile chips. If I'm not mistaken, they also have a fair amount of success in the server CPU market.
The new ARM chips are within a stones throw of Intel's top of the line processor, to the point that Apple is considering developing their own Desktop ARM processor to use for Macs and OS X going forward, ending their relationship with Intel.
It's doesn't matter anyways because the CPUs used in dedicated gaming hardware is customized CPUs and GPUs, which Intel has purposely stayed away from the dedicated gaming hardware.
AMD has the lock on gaming CPUs because they are willing to work with the companies to make what they need.
AMD also makes GPUs.
Intel's i Series doesn't play nice with AMD and NVidia GPUs.
Intel announced it was pulling out of the mobile market, because it wasn't profitable.
They also announced a restructuring, laying off over 10% of their workforce.
Apple uses it's own CPUs, which they design in house using ARM as the base. Apple CPUs outclass all other mobile CPUs currently.
Samsung makes it's own CPUs for most of it's mobile phones and many of it's competitors.
Qualcomm makes CPUs for most mobile devices and the high end Samsung devices.
As for IBM, they are planning to ditch hardware due to losing money on most hardware they produce.
Right now most hardware in both desktop, laptops, mobile, servers etc... has no profit margins due to the RACE TO THE BOTTOM in price by competition.
IBM is planning on transitioning to software and analytic services, while inking a deal with Apple making their software and analytic tools exclusive to iOS and there is talk of them being exclusive to OS X this year.
I know someone who works at IBM.
Anyways Nintendo uses customized GPUs from AMD and will most likely use customized ARM chips going forward for their consoles (their handhelds already use ARM).
_________________
Something.... Weird... Something...
17 May 2016, 1:08 am
That's...that can't even be called clothing! 
