I can understand that - but it's you being driven crazy vs our cumulative energy wasteage. I know it's a tough decision but how important is number one?
I'm a 'musician' (clue : it's not what I get paid for). This is the second story I have seen recently where creative fields are given a limited time to come up with 'product' as part of a community project. As a lone musician I spend too much time in a bubble re - recording things time and time again even though the first take was probably good enough (which ultimately has the potential to stifle further creativity) - I can imagine the same happens to writers/artists/musicians or any people from any creative industry. I applaud this sort of collaboration it can only lead to more quality out there, and quality that's free for all, not quality controlled by publishers.
When I ordered Sky HD here last summer I had to wait a month for an install. According to the person I ordered it off (I was already sold on it anyway) response had been strong and not tailed off, and there was a shortaqge of the recordable HD receiver boxes. I initially had some qualms as I really bought the TV for HD gaming but I think it is worth it. Hopefully more content to follow soon, but I also work with a lot of broadcast equipment companies and the demand for HD technology is really snowballing so I'm fairly sure this will go much more mainstream over the next year.
Sorry about the appalling spelling and grammar in the above post. I just needed to get the raw knowledge out before my head exploded!:) Don't get to talk about FPGA's much with wife or friends...;(
Hi,
I work as field apps for a large FPGA manufacturer.
The interconnect lengths count for a large proportion of the delay between each configurable logic cell (LE in our terminology), so a shortening in interconnect is not only useful from a transistor count view, but also an upper performance limit view.
As for the first poster the larget current FPGA's (Altera's StratixIII, Xilinx Virtex 5 series) have multiple millions (sorry can't be bothered to look up the exact figures) of transistors. However, the flexibility of an FPGA is not that it can just be configured like a Microprocessor (though it can, see Altera's NIOSII) but to act like almost any digital logic you wish to conceive of. Want a FFT function? Don't write it in C/C++, describe it in hardware - much much faster than code, and getting on for an order of magnitude or more faster than on current DSP chips.
To do the this, the simplest architecture element is a Logic Element (in Altera technology at least) - this usually (but not always, different vendors have their own twist on these) consists of a 4 input look up table and an associated programmable logic register. Combining a number of these LE's through the routing can create sequential or purely combinatorial logic functions. On top of this many hardware vedors also include special blocks for on chip RAM or ROM, and commonly now DSP multipliers. Of coures, RAM/ROM and muolts can theoratically also be built from discrete LE's but this can be inefficient so dedicated blocks are used.
The latest Altera StratixIII family uses ALM (Arithmetic Logic Units) which are slightly larger than an LE but allow more functions to be implemented in one ALM than an LE, potentially reducing the number of logic levels to privide any given funtion, and in turn this can increase system througput and therefore performance. The current larget FPGA announce is the StratixIII EP3S340, which contains 340K equivalent LE's or if you prefer 340K programmable registers (for simplicity). You should ignore exact gate count comparisons between vendors as these are usually marketing figures. Some will include the gates used to configure the FPGA as well as usable ones accessible for use as general logic funtions, so can skew the figures somewhat.
I genuinely think that in all the time I've been visiting/. you're the first open, non coward advocate of MS I have ever seen. Really I'm no fan either way (zealotry? meh.) So this is good to see. Still posting anonymously like the yellow bellied shit I am though, but keep up the good work. They always talked of one who would bring balance to the force. How's the mitochondrian level? Ah, fuck anonymity. My LINUX toadying means I can afford it.
We're expecting our first child this March, and this is a topic I have been thinking about recently. I gave up gaming completely (well save for the odd arcade game at the beach in the summer) about twelve years back (after a lifetimes work) - Girlfriend, college, money, 'too old for it' etc.. I got back into it a couple of years back at an age where I finally am fortunate enough to indulge myself a little bit. But now I can't help but think those 4 hour sessions (it's enough for me) of 'Gears of War' and the like are slowly drawing to a close... Guess I'll have to wait until Mini-Me can frag like his/her Daddy... Could be a long wait..
I was involved with designing CPLD's into this product about two years ago. Saw one of the first proto's. Quite impressive stuff, limited range though.
After staying overnight at a hotel recently I got up a few days to see a client only to realise that I had left my Wilkinson (3 blades) there. In desperation I used my wifes Venus leg razor. Worked like a dream, fantastically close shave, no nicks. Better than my Protector. What gives?
I work in FPGA. It is now possible to use FPGA for rapid prototyping of your IC, making design changes quite easily. When the design is finalised it is quite easy to get these converted to a structured ASIC. See Altera Corporations Hardcopy. Though I don't agree with the Microsoft invents FPGA sentiment it could be where the parent is coming from.
No, not redundant. In fact, for somewhere as tech aware as Slashdot I'm suprised there's not more responses saying the whole article is redundant already. I work for a chip company. We have a two-two/half year cycle - we have just finished rolling out a new series of FPGA's after an 18 month lead up to releasing first silicon. One week after the last devices hit the street, we get heads up on the next family. That's tech - and always will be. Just amazes me the amount of 'geeks' on here who don't appreciate thats the way it works.
I had the same problem with Ghost Recon, so its not just Capcom. Fortunately I now have an HD set and the problem has gone away (and on Dead rising too). But I would be gutted too if I found a £50 game (not that I paid for it) that was unplayable because no one bothered to test on SD.
I worked in a computer store in the early nineties. One day this very sad planespotter type (pan-am bag and all) walks in when the store was empty except me and my colleague behind the counter. He shuffles up and says 'Hi - I'd like a box of five and a quarter inch floppy dicks please'... We laughed him out of the place..
+ 1 insightful. This 'next gen' means shit. NEXT next gen will be the real shakeout. They're all treading water until then. Thats why I'm going Wii. After that? NEXT next gen will have the control AND the graphic immersion.
See you on Slashdot games as much as me, always have something interesting to say even if I don't.
Good to see someone else with the same interests so hello.
Richard.
Slashdot Mirror
I can understand that - but it's you being driven crazy vs our cumulative energy wasteage. I know it's a tough decision but how important is number one?
Maybe it wont be hubble that gets us off this godforsaken planet - but its a start. we need to get off of earth. NOW.
How am I going to back up my punched cards now?!
Yeah, maybe Ballmer will be using this to squirt at friends and family now.
I'm a 'musician' (clue : it's not what I get paid for). This is the second story I have seen recently where creative fields are given a limited time to come up with 'product' as part of a community project. As a lone musician I spend too much time in a bubble re - recording things time and time again even though the first take was probably good enough (which ultimately has the potential to stifle further creativity) - I can imagine the same happens to writers/artists/musicians or any people from any creative industry. I applaud this sort of collaboration it can only lead to more quality out there, and quality that's free for all, not quality controlled by publishers.
When I ordered Sky HD here last summer I had to wait a month for an install. According to the person I ordered it off (I was already sold on it anyway) response had been strong and not tailed off, and there was a shortaqge of the recordable HD receiver boxes. I initially had some qualms as I really bought the TV for HD gaming but I think it is worth it. Hopefully more content to follow soon, but I also work with a lot of broadcast equipment companies and the demand for HD technology is really snowballing so I'm fairly sure this will go much more mainstream over the next year.
Sorry about the appalling spelling and grammar in the above post. I just needed to get the raw knowledge out before my head exploded! :) Don't get to talk about FPGA's much with wife or friends... ;(
Hi, I work as field apps for a large FPGA manufacturer. The interconnect lengths count for a large proportion of the delay between each configurable logic cell (LE in our terminology), so a shortening in interconnect is not only useful from a transistor count view, but also an upper performance limit view. As for the first poster the larget current FPGA's (Altera's StratixIII, Xilinx Virtex 5 series) have multiple millions (sorry can't be bothered to look up the exact figures) of transistors. However, the flexibility of an FPGA is not that it can just be configured like a Microprocessor (though it can, see Altera's NIOSII) but to act like almost any digital logic you wish to conceive of. Want a FFT function? Don't write it in C/C++, describe it in hardware - much much faster than code, and getting on for an order of magnitude or more faster than on current DSP chips. To do the this, the simplest architecture element is a Logic Element (in Altera technology at least) - this usually (but not always, different vendors have their own twist on these) consists of a 4 input look up table and an associated programmable logic register. Combining a number of these LE's through the routing can create sequential or purely combinatorial logic functions. On top of this many hardware vedors also include special blocks for on chip RAM or ROM, and commonly now DSP multipliers. Of coures, RAM/ROM and muolts can theoratically also be built from discrete LE's but this can be inefficient so dedicated blocks are used. The latest Altera StratixIII family uses ALM (Arithmetic Logic Units) which are slightly larger than an LE but allow more functions to be implemented in one ALM than an LE, potentially reducing the number of logic levels to privide any given funtion, and in turn this can increase system througput and therefore performance. The current larget FPGA announce is the StratixIII EP3S340, which contains 340K equivalent LE's or if you prefer 340K programmable registers (for simplicity). You should ignore exact gate count comparisons between vendors as these are usually marketing figures. Some will include the gates used to configure the FPGA as well as usable ones accessible for use as general logic funtions, so can skew the figures somewhat.
I genuinely think that in all the time I've been visiting /. you're the first open, non coward advocate of MS I have ever seen. Really I'm no fan either way (zealotry? meh.) So this is good to see. Still posting anonymously like the yellow bellied shit I am though, but keep up the good work. They always talked of one who would bring balance to the force. How's the mitochondrian level? Ah, fuck anonymity. My LINUX toadying means I can afford it.
Must be pretty cool because I can browse /. using FF (not IE, the standard install) all day lon... NO CARRIER
We're expecting our first child this March, and this is a topic I have been thinking about recently. I gave up gaming completely (well save for the odd arcade game at the beach in the summer) about twelve years back (after a lifetimes work) - Girlfriend, college, money, 'too old for it' etc.. I got back into it a couple of years back at an age where I finally am fortunate enough to indulge myself a little bit. But now I can't help but think those 4 hour sessions (it's enough for me) of 'Gears of War' and the like are slowly drawing to a close... Guess I'll have to wait until Mini-Me can frag like his/her Daddy... Could be a long wait..
I was involved with designing CPLD's into this product about two years ago. Saw one of the first proto's. Quite impressive stuff, limited range though.
After staying overnight at a hotel recently I got up a few days to see a client only to realise that I had left my Wilkinson (3 blades) there. In desperation I used my wifes Venus leg razor. Worked like a dream, fantastically close shave, no nicks. Better than my Protector. What gives?
How do you feel about a $700 screw in you're coffin? PS when's Motorstorm?
I work in FPGA. It is now possible to use FPGA for rapid prototyping of your IC, making design changes quite easily. When the design is finalised it is quite easy to get these converted to a structured ASIC. See Altera Corporations Hardcopy. Though I don't agree with the Microsoft invents FPGA sentiment it could be where the parent is coming from.
I'd like to make you farcical, but not after some aquatic bint
No, not redundant. In fact, for somewhere as tech aware as Slashdot I'm suprised there's not more responses saying the whole article is redundant already. I work for a chip company. We have a two-two/half year cycle - we have just finished rolling out a new series of FPGA's after an 18 month lead up to releasing first silicon. One week after the last devices hit the street, we get heads up on the next family. That's tech - and always will be. Just amazes me the amount of 'geeks' on here who don't appreciate thats the way it works.
The UK is in the last of the major regions to get these consoles, yet both articles originate here. How odd.
I had the same problem with Ghost Recon, so its not just Capcom. Fortunately I now have an HD set and the problem has gone away (and on Dead rising too). But I would be gutted too if I found a £50 game (not that I paid for it) that was unplayable because no one bothered to test on SD.
Let's just give them no news at all and pretend they don't exist.
Yes this would be uber-cool... But for one word - Saturn... :)
Please someone with points mod this up - I've been wanting such a concise explanation for some time now...
I worked in a computer store in the early nineties. One day this very sad planespotter type (pan-am bag and all) walks in when the store was empty except me and my colleague behind the counter. He shuffles up and says 'Hi - I'd like a box of five and a quarter inch floppy dicks please'... We laughed him out of the place..
+ 1 insightful. This 'next gen' means shit. NEXT next gen will be the real shakeout. They're all treading water until then. Thats why I'm going Wii. After that? NEXT next gen will have the control AND the graphic immersion.
See you on Slashdot games as much as me, always have something interesting to say even if I don't. Good to see someone else with the same interests so hello. Richard.