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IBM Processor Yields

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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eeTimes reports that while IBM is running at full capacity at its 200 and 300 nm fabs, it continues to wrestle with chip yields.

Even so, IBM claims that it is close to resolving these yield issues which Apple has pointed to as a reason for shipping delays for the Xserve G5.

IBM's chip yields "are not quite where we would like them to be," said John Kelly III, senior vice president and group executive of IBM's Systems and Technology Group. "Lately, our defect densities have improved quite rapidly. We expect to do a better job to meet the demand of our customers," he said during a conference call on Wednesday (May 12).
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Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2004/05/14/ibm-processor-yields/
3GHz barrier

But will they yield a Dual 3GHz announcement at the Developers conference?
 
PowerMacMan said:
Maybe they're trying to reach the promised 3Ghz...
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That is accurate, however they currently have only been able to produce 3 chips running at 1ghz... apple is in the process of welding these 3 together to make a prototype 3ghz G5 for WWDC.
 
greenmonsterman said:
That is accurate, however they currently have only been able to produce 3 chips running at 1ghz... apple is in the process of welding these 3 together to make a prototype 3ghz G5 for WWDC.
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so a dual 3 GHz machine would actually have 6 cpu's :p

I just hope I'm not disappointed in June - waiting a whole year for an upgrade seems a bit much....I hope its worth the weight.

D
 
greenmonsterman said:
That is accurate, however they currently have only been able to produce 3 chips running at 1ghz... apple is in the process of welding these 3 together to make a prototype 3ghz G5 for WWDC.
Click to expand...

Just a prototype, or will it be an actual product by WWDC? (Will you be able to buy it)
;)
 
So we get a new rumor every time a news site does an article even if the article is based on the same information source as a previous rumor
:confused:
 
According to the chart, IBM has lowered the delta in terms of defect rates over the last year and is close to its target yields in the plant.
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If this is true, this is *very* good news--that's more impressive than just "we're improving."
 
fussball said:
These supply problems scare me, I worry that we will see moto. all over again :(
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I need to remind everyone, that even though making processor chips out of silicon is NOT rocket science, it is still a pretty difficult process to do. ;)
 
dopefiend said:
Yup, switch to x86!
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Yeah, Intel hasn't had ANY problems with their 90nm process... :rolleyes:


Sounds like IBM is getting a handle on the problems, and we'll see some PowerMac updates soon! (hopefully!)
 
Phatpat said:
Is there anything Apple can do to prevent things like this slamming them to a halt?

I'm curious.
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No. Unless they want well established and stable chips (read slower.) Cutting-edge hurts.
 
dopefiend said:
Never mentioned Intel.... :rolleyes: ( <---- ha :p )
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Actually, this isn't as crazy as it seems.

IIRC, AMD's K7 (Athlon) and K8 (Athrlon-64) architectures are actually a proprietary RISC architecture with an x86 emulation layer over the top. It may well be possible for them to make these with a PPC emulation layer instead.

I have no idea, however, how well these would compete against a real PPC. I would be really surprised if they can match a G5, but they might be able to match a G4's performance.

Of course, designing any such a CPU would be expensive and time-consuming, and it would be hard to make the business case for AMD to even consider such a project.

I believe TransMeta's Crusoe chip is similar - and its CPU emulation is loaded as software, so you don't need to spin new hardware. But it has never been known for high performance. Crusoe's big claim to fame is low power consumption. But it's another possibility, at least for low-end laptops.
 
YES

Phatpat said:
Is there anything Apple can do to prevent things like this slamming them to a halt?

I'm curious.
Click to expand...


Pray!

:p

Does Intel HAVE a 90nm chip - guess I missed that rumor! Sigh now only my wife will know I'm perfect - cause you now certainly know my flaw - missed an intel rumor
 
Uh...okay...

Umm....about the emulation over a RISC core, so does Intel....

Also, I don't think there is sufficient financial motivation for alot of companies to go start building PPC chips, even if it is just putting an emulation layer over their current core.

- Kelson


shamino said:
Actually, this isn't as crazy as it seems.

IIRC, AMD's K7 (Athlon) and K8 (Athrlon-64) architectures are actually a proprietary RISC architecture with an x86 emulation layer over the top. It may well be possible for them to make these with a PPC emulation layer instead.

I have no idea, however, how well these would compete against a real PPC. I would be really surprised if they can match a G5, but they might be able to match a G4's performance.

Of course, designing any such a CPU would be expensive and time-consuming, and it would be hard to make the business case for AMD to even consider such a project.

I believe TransMeta's Crusoe chip is similar - and its CPU emulation is loaded as software, so you don't need to spin new hardware. But it has never been known for high performance. Crusoe's big claim to fame is low power consumption. But it's another possibility, at least for low-end laptops.
Click to expand...
 
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