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Future of 3d Graphics

Posted by michael on from the rendered-pr0n dept.

zymano writes "Extremetech has this nice article on the future of 3d graphics. The article also mentions that graphic card gpus can be used for non-traditional powerful processing like physics. A quote from the article, "GPU can be from 10 to 100 times faster than a Pentium 4 and Scientific computations such as linear algebra, Fast Fourier Transforms, and partial differential equations can benefit". My question - If these cards are getting so powerful at computations then why do we need a Intel/AMD processor at all? Just make a graphics card with more transistors and drop the traditional processor..."

8 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. Database sorts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Another scenario that surprised Kirk was when a development team recently tried to use a GeForce FX CPU to perform database key sorting.

    I don't think blowing the paperwork off a developer's desk qualifies as database key sorting.

  2. Umm....GPU?!? by Tokerat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because GPUs are NOT general purpose devices.
    General Purpose Unit, duh!

    ...Huh?

    Graphics? I still use a VT100 :-\
    --
    CAn'T CompreHend SARcaSm?
    1. Re:Umm....GPU?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      it can mean a variety of things.... behold!

    2. Re:Umm....GPU?!? by MulluskO · · Score: 4, Funny
      GPU: Gossudarstwenoje Polititscheskoje Upravlenije (Russian: National Political Administration; Soviet Secret Service until 1937)


      In GPU's Soviet Russia, pixel pushes you!

      In GPU's Soviet Russia, graphics card displays you!

      In GPU's Soviet Russia, jaggies smooth you!

      In GPU's Soviet Russia, adventure game pixel hunts you!
      --

      Too busy staying alive... ~ R.A.
  3. Re:Graphics processor vs. general-purpose CPU by Phleg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, I see it more like having a brain surgeon as your family doctor.

    --
    No comment.
  4. The horror! by Ridge · · Score: 4, Funny
    "One research group is looking to break the Linpack benchmark world record using a cluster of 256 PCs with GeForce FXs!"


    Unfortunately, the researchers have all inexplicably been rendered deaf.
  5. Oh great... by ZorMonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    "If these cards are getting so powerful at computations then why do we need a Intel/AMD processor at all? Just make a graphics card with more transistors and drop the traditional processor..."

    So, now I should start putting high-end graphics cards in my servers? Has Apache been compiled for an nVidia GPU yet? I wonder how well a Geforce FX runs Linux or Windows 2000. I bet the 2.0 Pixel Shader spec helps a lot with database speed.

  6. Re:We need traditonal processors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's logical to think that they are indeed specified devices, but sadly enough they are not. My super VGA rendition of this obscure idea depics uncertainty in your reasoning. Upon inputing these equations into my Ti-83+, linear regression showed that my speculations were corrent. The slope of the OpenGL calculations were indeed exponentially decreasing therefore proving my theory.