Nvidia Working on a CPU+GPU Combo

Max Romantschuk writes "Nvidia is apparently working on an x86 CPU with integrated graphics. The target market seems to be OEMs, but what other prospects could a solution like this have? Given recent development with projects like Folding@Home's GPU client you can't help but wonder about the possibilities of a CPU with an integrated GPU. Things like video encoding and decoding, audio processing and other applications could benefit a lot from a low latency CPU+GPU combo. What if you could put multiple chips like these in one machine? With AMD+ATI and Intel's own integrated graphics, will basic GPU functionality be integrated in all CPU's eventually? Will dedicated graphics cards become a niche product for enthusiasts and pros, like audio cards already largely have?" The article is from the Inquirer, so a dash of salt might make this more palatable.

Comments

Out of their league?

[Salvance]

Unless Nvidia is partnering with Intel to release this chip, I think they're getting too far out of their confort zone to be successful. Sure, a dual or even quad core chip with half of the cores handling graphics would be great, but can Nvidia deliver? I doubt it ... look how many companies have gone down the tubes after spending millions/billions after trying to make an x86 compatible chip, let alone trying to integrate top end graphics as well.

Nvidia is a fantastic graphics card company - they should continue to innovate focus on what they're good at rather than try to play follow the leader in an arena they know nothing about.

Re:Out of their league?

[TheRaven64]

The thing is, it doesn't need to be a very good x86 chip. Something like a VIA C7 is enough for most uses, if coupled with a reasonable GPU. I can imagine something like this being very popular in the sub-notebook (which used to mean smaller-than-letter-paper but now means not-as-fat-as-our-other-products) arena where power usage is king. If the CPU and GPU are on the same die then this gives some serious potential for good power management, especially if the memory controller is also on-die. This makes for very simple motherboard designs (and simple = cheap), so it could be very popular.

Math co-processors, anyone?

[cplusplus]

GPUs are going the way of the math co-processor. I think it's inevitable.

A cyclic process?

[Kadin2048]

A while ago -- and maybe it was in the Slashdot discussion about ATI, I'm not sure -- somebody described a cycle in computer design, where various components are built-in monolithically, then broken out as separate components, and then swallowed back up into monolithic designs again.

Graphics chips seem to have done this cycle at least once; perhaps now we're just looking at the next stage in the cycle? We've had graphics as a separate component from the processor for a while, perhaps the next stage in the cycle is for them to combine together into a G/CPU, to take advantage of the design gains in general-purpose processors.

Then at some point down the road, the GPU (or more likely, various GPU-like functional units) might get separated back out onto their own silicon, as more application-specific processors become advantageous once again.

Re:Should Slashdot really insult other news outlet

[vondo]

The Inquirer is more of a rumor site than a news site. They have a pretty good track record for their rumors, but they don't have people on record backing this one up.

What NVidia eventually does may not bear much resemblance to the story.

Re:Heard This One Before

[Ironsides]

And, of course, the reason number one: you get a guaranteed GPU sale for each CPU sale - goodbye pesky competition ;).

And vice versa. This might work where someone wants an embeded GPU for low to medium end graphics. However, I doubt gamers would like the idea of having to purchase a new CPU evertime a new GPU comes out and vice versa.

There's something to be said for physically discrete components.