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Nvidia's Chief Scientist on the Future of the GPU
teh bigz writes "There's been a lot of talk about integrating the GPU into the CPU, but David Kirk believes that the two will continue to co-exist. Bit-tech got to sit down with Nvidia's Chief Scientist for an interview that discusses the changing roles of CPUs and GPUs, GPU computing (CUDA), Larrabee, and what he thinks about Intel's and AMD's futures. From the article: 'What would happen if multi-core processors increase core counts further though, does David believe that this will give consumers enough power to deliver what most of them need and, as a result of that, would it erode away at Nvidia's consumer installed base? "No, that's ridiculous — it would be at least a thousand times too slow [for graphics]," he said. "Adding four more cores, for example, is not going anywhere near close to what is required.""
Pretty good read; interesting that this guy is talking to press a lot more:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=530
Must be part of the "attack Intel" strategy?
Everything will be integrated into one chip, and we will call it the PU.
... core processor? I don't understand the author's logic. Now, suppose it's 2012 or so and multiple core processors have gotten past their initial growing pains and computers are finally able to use any number of cores each to their maximum potential at the same time.
A logical improvement at this point would be to start specializing cores to specific types of jobs. As the processor assigns jobs to particular cores, it would preferentially assign tasks to the cores best suited for that type of processing.
The pattern set by the whole CPU / Math Co-Processor integration showed the way. For those old enough to remember, once upon a time the CPU and Math Co-Processor were separate socketed chips. Specifically you had to add the chip to the MOBO to get math functions integrated.
The argument back then is eerily similar to the same as proposed by NV chief, namely the average user wouldn't "need" a Math Co-Processor. Then came along the Spreadsheet, and suddenly that point was moot.
Fast forward today, if we had a dedicated GPU integrated with the CPU, it would eventually simplify things so that the next "killer app" could make use of commonly available GPU.
Sorry, NV, but AMD and INTEL will be integrating GPU into the chip, bypassing bus issues and streamlining the timing. I suspect that VIDEO processing will be the next "Killer App". YouTube is just a precursor to what will become shortly.
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
Despite what some major 3D game engine creators have to say if real-time ray tracing comes sooner than later, at about the time an eight core CPU is common, I think we might be able to do away with the graphics card especially considering the improved floating point units going in next gen. cores. Consider Intel's QuakeIV Raytraced running at 99fps at 720P on a dual quad-core Intel rig at IDF 2007. This set-up did not use any graphic card processing power and scales up and down. So, if you think 1280x720 is a decent resolution AND 50fps is fine you can play this now with a single quad-core processor. Now imagine it with dual octo-cores which should be available when? Next year? I hazard 120fps at 1080P on your (granted) above average rig doing real time ray tracing some time next year IF developers went that route AND still playable resolutions and decent fps with "old" (by that time) quad-cores.
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