Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

AMD Fusion To Add To x86 ISA

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the but-is-it-cold dept.

Giants2.0 writes "Ars Technica has a brief article detailing some of the prospects of AMD's attempt to fuse the CPU and GPU, including the fact that AMD's Fusion will modify the x86 ISA. From the article, 'To support CPU/GPU integration at either level of complexity (i.e. the modular core level or something deeper), AMD has already stated that they'll need to add a graphics-specific extension to the x86 ISA. Indeed, a future GPU-oriented ISA extension may form part of the reason for the company's recently announced "close to metal"TM (CTM) initiative.'"

2 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. Re:One unanswered question? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can it run Linux? OK JUST KIDDING!

    Why joke? It is an important question.

    All the current nvidia and ati graphics cards require proprietary, closed-source drivers.
    If the GPU is to be integrated into the CPU, either they will have to keep the new ISA a secret or we will finally start getting access to the information required to really write Free graphics drivers.

  2. Showing my age by WidescreenFreak · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess I'm showing my age. As soon as I saw "ISA" I immediately thought, "Why the HELL are they thinking about bringing this back?

    :(

    --
    The Overrated mod is for reversing inappropriate, positive mods, not for voicing disagreement with a post.