Replies to post #20635 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[chr p]

kpf,
Unless there is something what Sparc can do that X86 cannot do. (Which I would not be able to see).

It's called "throughput computing"(it has very much in common with the more popular "virtual computing")combined with excellent reliability. IMO, That's where any x86 design will always lag SPARC, Power and IPF. To compensate this lag OEM's must scale Opteron *up*, which is bad for the reliability, or *out* which is not suitable for all workloads.

So, I tend to see that there will be high end low volume designs for quite some time.

regards,
chr

[sgolds]

kpf, clarification -

The simple reason Sparc will go the Alpha-Way (and the DEC-way, for the matter, there is alot more examples) is economies of scale (in many respects).

Alpha was the architecture, DEC was the company. Are you saying that Sun is doomed? (I think their survivial is questionable, they are in turnaround mode and I hope they succeed.)