The differences in hardware are not that big of a problem for next generation graphics engines. The amount of features and flexibility available now necessitate using a higher level shader language as opposed to hardware specific api features. A well designed shader language can be compiled to take advantage of whatever driver features you have available, and emulate or ignore the rest.
We are currently able to target both pixel shader versions in DirectX, and hopefully soon in OpenGL. We are currently ignoring features not supported by the hardware that shader code tries to use. So rendering the shader surface on a GeForce1 will look much worse than on a full featured card, but we don't waste time emulating it.
For reference on similiar techniques check otu Proudfoot et al. 'A Real-Time Procedural Shading System for Programmable Graphics Hardware'. (Thought thats based on NVIDIA hardware, it extendable to new features as well)
Compaq is not abandoning its hardware. Rather its focusnig on just adding value to its high end servers through software solutions! Think clustering, server management, fail over, operating system support. I take as my source an internal letter sent by CEO to employees. The MSNBC piece seems like general uninformed FUD in light of recent news of Alpha's demise.
Regarding that, the Alpha platform might have been technically superior. However in the next two or three generations it could not compete with the massive amounts of cash that Intel can throw at its fab process. Economy of scale wins out. Look at SGI, and I predict also sun in couple generations.
still, its sad. now everybody will be at the mercy of intels shipping cycles and blunders.
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The differences in hardware are not that big of a problem for next generation graphics engines. The amount of features and flexibility available now necessitate using a higher level shader language as opposed to hardware specific api features. A well designed shader language can be compiled to take advantage of whatever driver features you have available, and emulate or ignore the rest.
We are currently able to target both pixel shader versions in DirectX, and hopefully soon in OpenGL. We are currently ignoring features not supported by the hardware that shader code tries to use. So rendering the shader surface on a GeForce1 will look much worse than on a full featured card, but we don't waste time emulating it.
For reference on similiar techniques check otu Proudfoot et al. 'A Real-Time Procedural Shading System for Programmable Graphics Hardware'. (Thought thats based on NVIDIA hardware, it extendable to new features as well)
You forget, sir, a certain company named AMD.
I am not aware of AMD being particularly strong in the 64bit large scale server market at this time.
Compaq is not abandoning its hardware. Rather its focusnig on just adding value to its high end servers through software solutions! Think clustering, server management, fail over, operating system support. I take as my source an internal letter sent by CEO to employees. The MSNBC piece seems like general uninformed FUD in light of recent news of Alpha's demise.
Regarding that, the Alpha platform might have been technically superior. However in the next two or three generations it could not compete with the massive amounts of cash that Intel can throw at its fab process. Economy of scale wins out. Look at SGI, and I predict also sun in couple generations.
still, its sad. now everybody will be at the mercy of intels shipping cycles and blunders.