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[Web] Multi-Architecture Binaries...ANN.lu
Posted on 09-Aug-2002 08:43 GMT by Ben10 comments
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An interesting article from The Register today about the IBM processor roadmap and also some possible hints at whats going on at Apple with regard to PPC...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/26594.html I think the two most interesting and relevant quotes are:
"The NeXT team who took over Apple in 1997 have plenty of experience of producing one binary for different processor architectures: HP-UX, Solaris and x86 as well as Mach on 68000. NeXT called these Multi-Architecture Binaries, or MABs."
"One glitch in what could be a smooth transition could simply be the amount of legacy MacOS9 code: much of 'Classic' is still written in 68000 instructions. Getting OS X onto a new processor is going to be difficult with so much old code hanging around."
Make of it what you will! :)
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 1 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by takemehomegrandma on 09-Aug-2002 07:41 GMT
> Getting OS X onto a new processor is going to be difficult with so much old
> code hanging around."
> Make of it what you will! :)
Huh? Isn't it just to recompile the 68k scources for the new processor (*and* OS)?
;-)
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 2 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by DaveW on 09-Aug-2002 07:58 GMT
In reply to Comment 1 (takemehomegrandma):
Glad you put that here > ;-) <
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 3 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by dammy on 09-Aug-2002 08:18 GMT
Two problems I see with the article (The Reg has never really impressed me on their predicting PPC future). First is Power4 isn't PPC. IBM is tied to what Mot can produce, and Mot has complete idiots for upper and mid level management that has driven some of the best and brightest PPC designers out of Mot. So whatever Mot can produce in speedy PPCs, is the maximum IBM can release as well.
Second problems is, Power4, AFAIK, is not sold to outside venders. IBM would rather keep low production rates and get the cream from server (and perhaps now they are looking at desktops running their new found love, Linux) market then lose any of that market to venders with their Power4 servers and make chump change off the CPU.
If Apple is going to spend resources on porting to a new CPU, it's more likely to be either X86-64 or IA-64 based system with whatever closed motherboard design. It would be bad economics to stay with PPC, or even Power4.
Dammy
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 4 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by DaveW on 09-Aug-2002 08:25 GMT
In reply to Comment 3 (dammy):
LOL!!!!!
I suggest you spend more time reading up on the compatibility or otherwise
of the Power family - which includes PowerPC, Power4 and many others. You might
also inquire about the production runs IBM does for resellers.
There are other reasons you could put forward for Apple going to x86 without
further perpetuating the innaccuracies of Computer Shopper journalists.
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 5 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by Ole-Egil on 09-Aug-2002 11:10 GMT
In reply to Comment 4 (DaveW):
Yeah. If Linux-ppc32 can run on ppc64 (Power4), I'm sure MacOSX can as well, with little change. Either try to learn something about what is discussed, or don't jump into the discussion. That guy just seemed desperate. :-)
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 6 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by Ole-Egil on 09-Aug-2002 11:29 GMT
In reply to Comment 5 (Ole-Egil):
That guy being dammy, of course. Now that I've checked :-)
Of course, DaveW is gonna read my post with high blood-values in his caffeine again and think I'm laughing at him. Hi Dave ;-)
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 7 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by dammy on 09-Aug-2002 13:05 GMT
In reply to Comment 4 (DaveW):
I'll bite, what none IBM Power4 Servers can I buy? Why hasn't Apple gone to Power chips years ago?
Dammy
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 8 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by Graham on 09-Aug-2002 13:11 GMT
In reply to Comment 3 (dammy):
POWER, the ISA that Power4 implements, is a superset of PowerPC, the instruction set in use by the G4, amongst others. Altivec is not part of POWER though, but it appears that this desktop Power4 processor will include it.
As this chip is meant for the desktop, that means that it will be made in volume. I don't know what desktops these would be however, but IBM must have an idea. It certainly isn't 5,000 AmigaTwos and Pegasos2's though.
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 9 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by Graham on 09-Aug-2002 13:14 GMT
In reply to Comment 7 (dammy):
Damn it, where can I buy a desktop Itanium/Itanium 2 system?
POWER has been a server processor for years, and very very powerful. Usually Power4 is installed in big iron servers with 128MB processor cache in a multi-chip module that includes several Power4 cores and the cache. This is why Apple hasn't used it.
This new processor is destined for the desktop. It is a Power4 core, with less cache, and only a single core. Thus it will cost less, whilst being less powerful. Hence it is suitable for desktop machines.
Multi-Architecture Binaries... : Comment 10 of 10ANN.lu
Posted by Ole-Egil on 10-Aug-2002 06:20 GMT
In reply to Comment 7 (dammy):
"I'll bite, what none IBM Power4 Servers can I buy? "
Dunno, but that doesn't mean this CPU won't be installed in non-IBM systems. Doesn't mean the previous POWER chips aren't installed in non-IBM systems either. Just that none of them are widely sold as Servers to the outside world.
"Why hasn't Apple gone to Power chips years ago?"
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