New SOI Partnership

[G4scott]

Found this link at The Register: http://www.theregus.com/content/3/24499.html

It talks about a new SOI (Silicon On Insulator) partnership. I know the article mentions that desktop computers aren't pushing the CPU market like embedded applications, but I wonder if this would have anything to do with the future of the G3, G4, G5, or any Gx in the future?

 

[Mr. Anderson]

It looks like IBM is branching out. These chips aren't necessarily for computers either. They're small, low power and could be put in any handheld device.

Kelly, senior veep at the IBM Technology Group, puts it: "The PC is no longer the driving force in semiconductor innovation. Networking and consumer electronics applications are driving the evolution of a new semiconductor industry

This seems to say the direction the new partnership is going is not with the G3 and Apple.

 

[G4scott]

Well maybe it is going with Apple. Just think. New, smaller, faster, and low power consuming chips could help Apple make a better PDA, digital camera, and stuff like that. But, if this type of miniturization of microprocessors could be applied successfully to a G4 or G5 (or still, even the G3), it would be better than anything out there, and you wouldn't need 5 fans and a super-tower case to house the computer (Of course, Apple's allready showed us that with the new iMac.)

 

[AlphaTech]

how about in laptops?

The SOI could (maybe, at some point in the future) allow for even faster processors in laptops. Or even the extremely lusted after dual processor PowerBook. Imagine a dp PowerBook, and quad chip towers... *drooooool*

 

[iGav]

Or even

A Quad Ti Book.........

HOT METAL...... VERY HOT METAL.......

 

[Mr. Anderson]

But these wouldn't be AltiVec chips. They'd have more like the G3, but hey, I'm not complaining, a multi processor TiBook would be great, but we won't see it any time soon.

What might end up happening in the next couple of years is you will see more multiprocessors in one chip. Now that would be cool to have 4, 8, 16 processors on a chip in the same size as the G4 today.

 

[iGav]

Dukestreet.....

Patent that idea..... you could be onto a winner with a multi processor chip, that is the same size as a current G4!!!

Make that an 8 processored Ti Book please!!!