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Lindows Releases OS for Centrino Laptops
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20040220/bs_nf/23214
Lindows, the maker of Linux (news - web sites) for personal computers, says it now has a version of the open-source operating system available for Centrino-equipped notebook computers. Though Linux on PCs has less than a 3 percent market share, Lindows continues to make small inroads on the territory now dominated by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) Windows.
Semi
Gartners Take On IA32E
http://www3.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=119791
Semi
Overclocked P4 Systems
This place is selling Overclocked 3.5GHz and 3.8GHz P4 Northwood systems..... Not cheap
http://www.go-l.com/store/index.htm
It's not liquid cooling, isn't R134a, FREON Refrigeration?
Semi
AMD Has To Give Away Opterons
http://www.cornellsun.com/articles/10871/
Of course, I will no doubt now hear from the AMDroids how this is a brilliant marketing technique, and how kind and generous AMD is..... when just a short while ago, they were spitting on intel and I2 for the same thing.
Semi
fictionnotfacs.....
chipguy, barret confuses 110K shipped with sold
Intel's website says "sold", not "shipped". Since intel only books revenue as "sold" after the distributor sells it, or after intel sells it directly, are you saying they're lying? If you have any proof of this accusation, I'm sure that the SEC would like to see it. As a matter of "Fact", I'm sure that we'd all like to see it too. Can you produce any proof of what you're saying, or is this just more "fiction" FUD?
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20040217corp_b.htm
The Intel Itanium® processor family is a notable example of the company's solutions-oriented approach to enterprise computing. Through industry collaboration and investments in software support and other important complementary technologies, the Itanium processor family is gaining momentum with key customers and improving business productivity. Intel sold more than 100,000 Itanium processors in 2003 and major system installations are being deployed at many Fortune 500 companies.
Cha-Ching!
GO INTEL!
Semi
That is curious, Barrett was quoted as saying Intel sold
about 110,000 IPF processors in 2003. How many more
on top of that do you think they gave away?
WOW! Intel must have very good Itanium yields on 0.13u, to be able to sell that many, and also give them away in bunches..... Those 0.13u intel Manufacturing PE's, must be really really really good at their jobs.
Cha-Ching!
GO INTEL!
Semi
And No Doubt......
The Fanboys won't like this from Ed over at overclockers either....
http://www.overclockers.com/tips00522/
Devaluing x86-64
Indeed, if Intel decides to make CT universal in its processors (and more on this later), it could make x86-64 worthless to AMD (in the sense of being able to charge a premium for it). For instance, if Intel comes out with Prescott Celerons with x86-64, how can AMD possibly take out x86-64 from its "Paris" line of chips this fall? See what I mean?
Semi
THG Take On i86-64
http://www20.tomshardware.com/column/20040218/index.html
I'm sure that the THG writer will now be labeled by the fanboys as.... (Pick One)
An idiot
A Paid Intel FUDster
Not a paid fudster, but paid to write this article
An AMD "hater".
What will most likely escape them, is that he's right on the money.
Semi
Greg, thanks for the "education".
It seems the trolls on this board are attacking at full force.
Boy, isn't that the truth. They sound really worried, don't they? Desperate even. It use to be that some of them at least admitted (to other AMD trolls) that having intel introduce an 32 bit chip with 64 bit extensions, was the worse thing that could happen to AMD, and Opteron. But now that it's happened, the story has changed to..... It won't be out until 2005..... No wait, I mean 4P won't be out until 2005....... No wait, I mean, it's Itanium that's "in trouble" not Opteron...... No wait, I mean it's Xeon that's in trouble..... No wait, I mean it doesn't matter anyway..... Cha-Ching! If the backpedaling and tap dancing got any quicker, their legs would be a blur.
Semi
Scott basically put is as Mankind against Power as he dismissed Itanium's chances very derisively.
http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/presskits/networkcomputing04q1/
It's not surprising to me that Scott bad mouths intel these days. A little known story, is that when Sun initially announced that they would not continue to upgrade Solaris for x86, intel, whiich needed to continue to upgrade their manufacturing control, switched all their manufacturing control systems from Solaris based servers to Win based servers. Chipguy was correct that Vax/VMS is also used, but that's for manufacturing tracking, not tool control.
By the time Scott changed his mind due to other customers pressure, Sun had lost the intel Solaris software licensing for all those fab manufacturing sites........ everywhere. How much do you think that cost Sun? It's understandable that crybaby Scott is mad, I'd be PO'd at intel myself, regardless of the fact that ole Scott brought it upon himself. No sense Scott blaming himself for his own mistake, when he can lay it off on intel, eh?
Expect to hear allot more, and worse bad mouthing, and AMD cheering from Scott in the near future.
Semi
"Sun to discuss next-generation 'Rock' chip
Last modified: February 10, 2004, 10:45 PM PST
By Stephen Shankland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-5157036.html?tag=st_lh
Sun Microsystems will discuss a future high-end processor Wednesday, a chip code-named Rock that will combine features of own designs with technology it acquired from Afara Websystems, sources said.
David Yen, executive vice president of Sun's Processor and Network Products Group, is expected to discuss the new chip at Sun's analyst conference in San Francisco.
Sun has talked about the existence of the chip before, but not disclosed its name or provided many details beyond the projection that it will provide 30 times the performance of a 1.2GHz UltraSparc III.
I wonder how much support Sun is providing to Opteron, when it appears that they are working on a successor to UltraSpark. Could it be that Sun is following the IBM Model of Opteron for Low end, and their own designs for Big Iron, ala IBM and PowerPC? Perhaps the predictions of Ultraspark's imminent demise are premature?
Semi
Yawn......
Intel's Weak Notebook PC Demand Issue
http://www.forbes.com/markets/2004/02/13/0213automarketscan02.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=
Banc of America said it reduced its estimates for Intel's (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) first-quarter revenue and earnings per share estimates "to reflect weaker-than-expected notebook PC demand."
The research house said it believes investors should view any short-term weakness of Intel shares as a buying opportunity and predicted "a very strong performance," for Intel in the second half of 2004. Intel was up 18 cents at $30.92.
Semi
Certainly there would be some but if it was worth the trouble they'd do it I guess. Heck, AMD does it and they have "the best yields in the world", right?
There could be lots of reasons why additional metal layers have not been added at this time, besides "if it was worth it". I was simply asking your opinion as an apparently defect knowlegeable person, if you thought that there would be additional defect issues that would make doing it a negative return on the investment. I thought maybe you had some insight into what the possible increased defect densities would be, for adding an additional metal layer. Never mind, I'll ask someone else. Thanks.
Semi
Slow down and read the article. The 5% doesn't refer to
yield, but rather the fraction of IBM foundry customers
that get their chips perfect on first silicon and don't do
respins. Given what we know of C stepping Prescott
Intel wouldn't likely have been in that 5% either okay?
Whatever it is, Nvidia didn't seem to think it was worth sticking it out. Apparently they thought the issue was big enough to move their contract back to their old foundry. Doesn't look like a simple "respin" issue to me. But what do I know. I guess "Design" knows about Manufacturing Yield better then "Process".
And you're right, yield of first spin of Prescott wasn't in the 5%. I heard Much Higher. Maybe you're thinking Speed Bin.
Semi
IBM foundry customers suffer feeble first silicon results
Five per cent, it ain't that good
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14087
THE FOUNDRY arm of IBM Electronics is failing to produce successful .13µ (micron) silicon with run rates of only five per cent, according to Electronics Weekly.
Reeves did not say which customers were getting the low yields, or elaborate on the reasons why. IBM's customers include Nvidia, AMD, and most recently Via.
--- So, all the crowing the fanboys have been doing about how great it is to have IBM as a foundry. Yeah, I can see IBM's High Volume capabilities. I guess Elmer, or was it wbmw who predicted that IBM is good for small production runs, but would have High Volume problems was right after all. And actually their nvidia statement seems to now be untrue......
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14131
IBM difficulties cause Nvidia shift back to TSMC
Poor results from Big Blue so far
DIFFICULTIES IN translating Nvidia and other chip makers' designs into silicon has caused the graphics giant to shift production back to TSMC, Digitimes is reporting.
--- Well at least nvidia was smart enough to have read ibm's past history of foundry services, and realize the smart thing to do. I was a little worried about the AMD/IBM Process alliance. Silly me.
Semi
SI's preliminary analysis has confirmed the presence of seven levels of copper metalization and revealed several industry firsts, including an advanced nickel - silicide process on the transistor gates, a strained silicon SiGe layer to improve channel mobility, and uniquely customized PMOS and NMOS devices. The process also confirms Intel's stated position that SOI is unnecessary to achieve high performance.
I notice the Layer descriptions seem very detailed. I had read somewhere else, that intel had worked on nickel salicide way back when, but never got it working. Appears they finally did. Also, Sounds like SI got their hands on a Prescott and either did a cross sectional analysis, or peeled back the layers. 7 Layer metal huh? Up 1 from 0.13u. I Wonder what sort of speed path improvement would be achieved if they added additional Metal Layers, vs. the additional defect issue. Think it would be worth it to go for 8 layer?
Semi
Most of the AMD fans are desperate in believing the rumors that Intel's earliest CT product will arrive in 2005. An annoucement of a XeonCT product earlier than this (say Q3 2004) would derail any momentum Opteron has, and represents AMD biggest concern this year. Well, that and their attempt at high volume 90nm production.
Isn't that the truth..... I think so too..... Why do you think Mysef has been so desperate...... asking time and time and time again "What are all those Prescott dark transistors for"? It's exactly what he thinks....... Oh, It's said very smugly, but it actually comes out sounding like he's so worried, he's practically pooping in his pants.
Semi
btw, even if I knew what they were for, and I don't..... Mr Mysef would be the Last person i'd tell..... not even on the list.
Intergraph CEO Halsey Wise said in a statement that the company is still studying the ruling.
"The decision is being reviewed by Intergraph's counsel to determine its meaning in the context of the April 4, 2002, settlement agreement between Intergraph and Intel," Wise said.
Intergraph also has separate suits against several PC makers that the company says are not affected by the latest ruling.
"Today's ruling on the appeal of Intel's infringement of our 'PIC patents' relates to different patents and products than those involved in our ongoing lawsuit with Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Gateway," Wise said.
Translation, Stick a fork in Intergraph, they're done. This ruling, In addition to the previous rulings that intel was not a monopolist for witholding proprietary information, and recent leanings that patent holders don't have to share their technology, has resulted IMO, that intergraph has actually achieved the opposite result they intended, and provided intel with a shield.
I wonder how the EU, investigating intel on antitrust complaint from an "Unnamed Company" (cough), will view all these developments? Ain't heard much lately, perhaps the EU fell asleep....... from boredom?
Oh btw...... if Intergraph decides the "context" is for them to keep the money.... then intel should sue Intergraph to get their 150 million back.
Semi
chipguy, I only have to say that Intel is using Solaris everywhere in their manufacturing process. So Sun can do something nobody can...
I believe your information is outdated. It would be more accurate to say that intel was using Solaris on their servers. Not anymore. I'm told that intel transitioned to Win Servers several years ago, when Sun initially announced that they would not update Solaris for intel's next generation...... before Sun changed their minds, and said they would after all. Too Late, Sun/Solaris servers for manufacturing are now all gone. Sorry.
Semi
In other words if you have an AMD chip, you don't want software compiled with a Intel compiler because it will not allow the AMD chip to use the optimization. Intel has sucken very low with this one
It sounds like you're saying that intel should develop the compiler, test it, optimize it for intel processors, then go ahead and optimize it for their competitors. Brilliant competitive strategy..... Not. It was an amusing suggestion though, almost as amusing as the time Dan3 suggested that intel "Should give AMD some market share, to level the playing field". Man, I thought that was the epitome of hutzpa, I guess I was wrong, because you sure managed to top it.
By the way, I expect you to make the same kind of reverse statements about any compilers AMD comes out with, OK?
Semi
Alan, an interesting take on what is up concerning Prescott.
http://www.realworldtech.com/forums/index.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=2031&Thread=133&entr....
the next poster has an intersting reply to Paul. I know you read RWT, but thought I'd give you a heads up. What do you think?
Kate
That suggests it's a Design issue, rather than a Process issue. I've been saying time and time and time again that there is nothing wrong with intel's 90nm Process. Most don't believe me. So be it.
Semi
Intel urged to boost Prescott production
Two of the UK’s largest component distributors have warned Intel that unless it heavily ramps up production of the newly launched Pentium 4 chips, supply shortages will become a real issue
Sukh Rayat, vice-president and managing director for Europe at Avnet Technology Solutions, said the first quarter had been "extremely buoyant" so far and Intel’s new products were in high demand, which was putting pressure on the vendor’s other lines. "Unless Intel starts to supply Prescott in line with market demand, Northwood [the name of the design of the core technology] could start to have serious supply issues," he said.
http://www.microscope.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=128207&liArticleTypeID=1&liCate....
Can't be. Prescott in it's current form is a loser, as the AMDroids have told me, so it must be true, and therefore, this story must be a lie.
Semi
Semi, you are abusing the meaning of the word extended.
You should take some time on this Sunday to browse through the rest of the documentation, don't just rely on the media reports. Look at the actuals.
--- Thanks for the feedback, I did. You're right, I'm wrong, My opinion has completly changed. I now think that Intel should come out with a "kludged" x86-64 product...... too, in addition to IA-64. Just in case it does need that that "economy of scale" thing. In that case, all that mfg investment intel made way back when, is looking better every day. On the other hand, if x86-64 is not long term for this world, IA-64 can be waiting in the wings. Still all good. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Semi
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14038
Conclusion
So what we have is a situation where x86 desktop processors are likely to take over the whole desktop and above markets. A 64bit x86 is a long way from being the perfect processor; it's a kludged 64bit architecture built on a kludged 32bit architecture built on a kludged 16bit architecture that was designed to be compatible with the 8bit 8080. Hardly the best choice.
But economy of scale means that it will win.
Oh..... never mind.
Almost threw gas on a fire...... Silly me......... Whew.
Why would you think they'd want to go down that path? Besides, would you care to share how you'd define full blown 64 bit chip?
Paul
Don't play dumb, you already know what I mean, otherwise you wouldn't have written the first part of your "down that path" statement. The people here are comfortable with the direction of AMD's x86-64 technology plans, I got the message loud and clear already, thanks.
Semi
Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy have you ever not been paying attention!
AMD hasn't just been developing a full blown 64-bit chip, they've been shipping it!
Right Dan, BTW, thanks for your first sentence personal attack, but I was already well aware of your opinion of me. I put you down in the column labeled "Already Have It" (2), alongside column "Not Needed" (2) alongside "Not In Development" (1). Guess I'm not going to need that "Percent Developed" (n/a) column after all. Thanks for the feedback, interesting data collection so far..........
Semi
Considering that they've been shipping a full blown 64-bit processor since last April, I'd say they are very far along on it.
Oh - you said proprietary. Silly me. Why would they want to do that?
:)
It's been widely documented that X86-64 is extended 32 bit, not "full blown" 64 bit. I at least, didn't think, that anyone would try to argue that point. Guess I was wrong. So I'll put you down in the column with the others as "not in development" and/or "not needed". Thanks for the feedback.
Semi
IBM Introduces Lightest ThinkPad Yet
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20040206/bs_nf/23141
Fri Feb 6, 5:25 PM ET Add Business - NewsFactor to My Yahoo!
Erika Morphy, www.newsfactor.com
IBM (NYSE: IBM - news) is pushing the envelope in mobile computing by scaling down even more its popular ThinkPad X product line while at the same time adding new functionality. Its primary goal: to capture the executive road-warrior market.
20 Million and Counting
IBM reached a milestone last November when it sold its 20 millionth ThinkPad notebook PC, which included its latest innovation at that time: the Active Protection System, a new technology that helps protect a system's hard drive and responds much the same way as an air bag does to protect a vehicle's passengers.
The 20 millionth IBM ThinkPad notebook was an Intel Centrino mobile technology-based system featuring 512 MB RAM of memory, a 1.7 GHz processor, a 60 GB hard drive and an extended battery life of up to eight and a half hours.
Whoooooo Hoooooo! Onward and upwards! Remind me, I forget...... How many of those Thinkpads were AMD chips? Oh.... yeah.... my bad.
Semi
I am very disappointed at you as I think you are a smart person. Now tell me why AMD will need to develop it's own proprietery design when Itanium is going to obsolete? AMD is not a suicidal teenager. The money to be made by AMD is not in the big tin, but down below...
Sounds like you're saying, that you think there's no development effort. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Semi
What is the dead half of the Prescott for?
Surely an Intel employee like yourself would know.
Mysef
I ask a well reasoned question concerning what you think about AMD's future technology plans, and it's completly ignored, just so you can dump your "Employee FUD" on me......... or others........ once again. I guess you're not really interested in contributing after all.........
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=2298274
I see from looking at your last 50 messages how much you contribute......... Not.
Semi
Joe,
Merced was a proprietary ploy by Intel and nothing else.
They knew AMD couldn't use the instruction set.
Mysef
You're right, AMD can't use the IA-64 instruction set. So, it appears, that if AMD wants to make a full blown 64 bit chip at some time in the future, they will need to develop their own proprietery design. If they're working on it, How far along do you think AMD is?
Semi
Intel Was Right
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=Microsoft_Releases____Bit_Windows_Beta&story_i....
For now, it looks as though most players in the 64-bit computing race are merely covering their bases. AMD is staking its future on it, and the buzz surrounding the technology has garnered the company kudos for making advancements in the face of Intel's gargantuan chip-making machine.
But when Intel said last summer that it saw no urgent need for a 64-bit computing environment, it turns out the biggest semiconductor company in the world was probably right.
The desktop certainly seems to be no place for a 64-bit environment, just as the average living room is unsuited to show 35-millimeter projected movies. Yet, its use with such media applications as video, music and games is one of the major attractions for proponents of 64-bit computing.
Semi
BTW, as a Bee, I'd have thought you would have found what the replacement computer for the supercomputer center was. Think SGI.
Actually, I didn't really care to look, I was just trying to make a joke. I was interested to see how it would go over, so I momentarily took my filter off. Apparently, it didn't go over too well with some on this board, just as I expected. Don't worry, I learned my lesson, no joking from Semi desired around here. Got it.
Semi
These are Athlon MP clusters, BTW. Don't know why they wouldn't switch to Opteron.
Ummmmmm.......Because they don't want to trade..... down?
Heyyyyyyyy, don't blame me, if you're gonna give a bee, a straight line like that, don't expect me to resist.........
Ha
Semi
Semi - I obviously can't speak for him("him" being blauboad, BTW, not Doug, whom you appeared to think you were responding to ;) ), but it could be his point is that AMD is transitioning to A64 and it would make no sense to build up business you can't support (due to phasing out of XP). However, as A64 comes on strong, there will be the budget versions that would be more appropriate for those markets. Perhaps they're pacing themselves, focusing on the best market they can supply right now, which offers far more profits.
I have my own concerns about their support of the Asian market, voiced earlier, but just want to consider all possibilities.
Paul
As far as the person..... I knew who I was talking to, but if the attitude fits, wear it.
It doesn't make any sense to me to piss off distributors, regardless of whether you are going to be selling what they currently want forever. IMO, that's a short sighted perspective. Sooner or later, you'll want to sell them the new stuff, and in my experience, people who get screwed have long memories. We had a saying in the military, 1 awshit, wipes out 20 attaboys.
But hey, on second thought.... me being an intel investor.... ummmmm, never mind, AMD should marketing A64, and de-emphasize the rest. Great idea, go for it. My Bad.
Semi
The mature markets are exactly where AMD should be pushing the A64. The emerging markets don't have the money for high-end chips.
(This took me <2.00 seconds to think up.)
blauboad
---Who was talking about A64? You didn't even read the article, did you. Or maybe you don't care about the rest of AMD's product line? Yeah, AMD should forget about the rest of their products, and piss off their distributors in emerging markets in the process. Why don't you suggest that to them? I'm sure, based on past history, your "brilliant" idea should be well received by AMD marketing.
The Delhi resellers are upset with AMD about, what it calls, its laid-back attitude towards the channel and its needs.
The resellers also term the company's efforts to push its products in the market as diluted and blame low visibility of AMD Athlon XPs for poor business. While chips like Athlon XP 2100+ and Athlon XP 2400+ are in demand, they still cannot get enough market share as they are often unavailable here.
--- BTW, Maybe if you were a little more interested in the facts, instead of just crapping on me, maybe next time you might know what you're talking about.
Way to go....... Doug.........
(That one took no time at all)
Semi
Trouble for AMD from the locals in the colonies - or some sought of bargaining strategy by distributors?
http://www.channeltimes.com/channeltimes/jsp/index.jsp?section=News&subsection=CPU-Memory&su....
Sounds PO'd at AMD Marketing efforts. That's not news to anyone around here, is it? Just a suggestion, but perhaps AMD Marketing might consider moving their roadshows out of the US, and do them elsewhere, maybe in emerging markets, instead of more mature ones?
BRILLIANT!
That one took *ME* 2 seconds to think up. I wonder if it has even occured to AMD PR/Marketing types?
Semi
First of all, what do you mean initially? Are you suggesting that the power numbers will go with Prescott will go down? Do you have a link, or are you just guessing, like you were guessing (wrong) about Prescott performance?
I'm guessing, that's all they've ever been. But I'm sure that you and your buddies think differently. I was waiting for some jer.... ummmm somebody, to mention it. I thought it would be Doug, I didn't see it through the ignore, but it's not too hard to guess that it's probably already happened. No matter, a reasonable facsimile has presented itself.
Yup, Yup I was wrong, didn't know what I was talking about. Didn't get it right at all. You'd think I would be better informed, being a(n)... (chose whichever) Intel employee..... Paid intel fudster...... Intel black shirt fudster, Intellibee, Bee, Paid Bee, or any of the other names I've been called here, wouldn't you? Gee, maybe I'm not the paid intel employee that everyone accuses me of, eh? Thanks for bringing it up. I'll be sure to point out in the future when you're wrong too....... Doug.......
Second of all, I would think that given Prescott's poor specs regarding power consumption, I think the OEMs will now give even more serious consideration to Opteron, since it not only runs cooler, it offers higher performance and 64 bit support.
Joe
Come back and talk to me when you speak for OEM's..... You don't.
Semi
Cleaner? It reminds me a lot of the Dell implementation in a GX2x0 model but it looks more like a prototype (I'd have said rougher not cleaner).
It looks like it isn't a friendly design to the average DIY or overclocker.
Maybe it is a prototype, who knows. In any case, I guess I should have said simpler, that's what I meant. The ducting I had on my last dell came out from the fan about 6", made a 90deg turn down towards the board, flexed right, then left, then clamped onto the heatsink. It took up allot of case space. As far as this design not being friendly to DIY's, I can't tell how easy it would be to remove. The previous dell I mentioned, had 2 snap clips, removal took about 5 sec, do whatever needed to be done, snap back in.
Semi