NVIDIA: soon to rain on x86 parade?

Here it goes: http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inqu [...] e-x86-chip

Quote :

THE HOT RUMOR going around IDF is one that we discussed a long time ago when Nvidia bought Stexar: that the company will do an x86 part. The background whispers say that the part will be announced next week at Nvision, but we don't see that happening.

The problem NV has is that both major x86 players have a lock on the technology, and they don't want any new players in the mix. NV is basically locked out unless Intel and AMD both decide to be magnanimous, and we would not recommend holding your breath waiting for this to happen.

That leaves the lawsuit option open, and again, it is hard to imagine them being that self-destructive. Any attempt to enter the market without a license would bring down Intel legal on them like flying monkeys blackening the sky. It would get ugly. Really ugly. Expensive too.

So, in the end, the rumors fly, and there might be an attempt to try. Bad rhyming poetry aside, I can't see how it would slide. The chances are slim to none. But... who knows, next week, we just might see one.

Perhaps it might get interesting.

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AMD's MHz run faster than anyone else's - e-kenmac (courtesy from The INQUIRER)

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Poor news source. Just a week or so ago they posted a story that Nvidia was pulling out of the chipset business. Nividia not only vigorously denied it, they even demanded a retraction.

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Reply to snarfies1

snarfies1 wrote :

Poor news source. Just a week or so ago they posted a story that Nvidia was pulling out of the chipset business. Nividia not only vigorously denied it, they even demanded a retraction.

Many sites have reported this possibility. Guess DigiTimes was the first one. Also, don't forget that Nvidia didn't get a QPI license for Nehalem.

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AMD's MHz run faster than anyone else's - e-kenmac (courtesy from The INQUIRER)
Reply to dattimr

This seems about right. I'm sure nVidia will atleast attempt to get an X86 license, but it will be very surprising if it works. They pretty much hit the exact truth of it, I guess the inquirer does something right every once and a while.

Reply to The_Blood_Raven

hmm, long term plan they must have. short term i think they need to focus on other matters.

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Reply to strangestranger

nV-VIA hookup will happen eventually, and when it does I will be the first in line.

Reply to themyrmidon

dattimr wrote :

Many sites have reported this possibility. Guess DigiTimes was the first one. Also, don't forget that Nvidia didn't get a QPI license for Nehalem.

Wrong, nVidia has a QPI licence and in exchange X58 motherboards can have an nForce 200 chip added to allow for SLi.

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Reply to B-Unit

nVidia may want to try a x86 chip but they have to get the license from Intel to do it.

But even if they do get one I will be skepticle of their ability to produce a chip with such little experience in the field. More than likely they will go around buying technologies from the big companies like the IMC and x86-64.

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Reply to jimmysmitty

The inquirer are loosing it, they are talking about why a rumour wont happen? who cares?

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Reply to chookman

It seems a little late in the game to be getting in on x86 production. As dies continue to shrink, it'll take fewer and fewer fabs to produce the world's supply of chips. I'd imagine the competitive challenges for nVidia in this situation would arise more out of intangible goodwill sorts of concerns rather than R&D or manufacturing hurdles.

Reply to Metrazol

dattimr wrote :

Here it goes: http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inqu [...] e-x86-chip

Quote :

THE HOT RUMOR going around IDF is one that we discussed a long time ago when Nvidia bought Stexar: that the company will do an x86 part. The background whispers say that the part will be announced next week at Nvision, but we don't see that happening.

The problem NV has is that both major x86 players have a lock on the technology, and they don't want any new players in the mix. NV is basically locked out unless Intel and AMD both decide to be magnanimous, and we would not recommend holding your breath waiting for this to happen.

That leaves the lawsuit option open, and again, it is hard to imagine them being that self-destructive. Any attempt to enter the market without a license would bring down Intel legal on them like flying monkeys blackening the sky. It would get ugly. Really ugly. Expensive too.

So, in the end, the rumors fly, and there might be an attempt to try. Bad rhyming poetry aside, I can't see how it would slide. The chances are slim to none. But... who knows, next week, we just might see one.

Perhaps it might get interesting.

Good another player would be healthy for the industry less Intel's legal machine running them into the ground but I honestly think it would be good it would also get a grasp on Intels hold on the industry which could be good or bad, props if they can get it off the ground.

Word, Playa.

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Reply to spud

spud wrote :

Good another player would be healthy for the industry less Intel's legal machine running them into the ground but I honestly think it would be good it would also get a grasp on Intels hold on the industry which could be good or bad, props if they can get it off the ground.

Word, Playa.

Not wanting to troll this post, but i must agree, another player in the x86 would be great. Legally well, we shall see about it.
People still play Protoss vs Zerg vs Terran. I guess a third player with a different approach to the x86 market will only make it healthy.

And what about x86-64 license ? It is still included in the base x86 ? it is a subject i don't really know.

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Reply to radnor

radnor wrote :

Not wanting to troll this post, but i must agree, another player in the x86 would be great. Legally well, we shall see about it.
People still play Protoss vs Zerg vs Terran. I guess a third player with a different approach to the x86 market will only make it healthy.

And what about x86-64 license ? It is still included in the base x86 ? it is a subject i don't really know.

Good question. From what I have read it looks like Intel got the x86-64 licence from AMD through a deal (funny, huh?), but I don't have any links to back that. However, if that is true, it's a clear sign that x86 and x86-64 mean different licences. Guess I'll google that.

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AMD's MHz run faster than anyone else's - e-kenmac (courtesy from The INQUIRER)
Reply to dattimr

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64):

Quote :

x86-64 was designed by AMD, who have since renamed it AMD64.[1] It has been cloned by Intel under the name Intel 64 (formerly known as EM64T and other names).[2] This leads to the common use of the names x86-64 or x64 as more vendor-neutral terms to collectively refer to the two nearly identical implementations.

Historically, AMD has developed and produced processors patterned after Intel's original designs, but with x86-64, roles were reversed: Intel found itself in the position of adopting the architecture which AMD had created as an extension to Intel's own x86 processor line.

Well, the article doesn't say anything about a "license". Perhaps it's not needed.

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AMD's MHz run faster than anyone else's - e-kenmac (courtesy from The INQUIRER)
Reply to dattimr

dattimr wrote :

Well, the article doesn't say anything about a "license". Perhaps it's not needed.

x86-64 is essentially the same as SSE - aren't they covered under the basic x86 license?

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Reply to Amiga500

Amiga500 wrote :

x86-64 is essentially the same as SSE - aren't they covered under the basic x86 license?

Legal fine print is a bitch, maybe Nvidia found a legal fox hole. This contract was made a long time ago. Lets wait and see.

------------------------------ Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read - Frank Zappa
Reply to radnor

x86-64 is basically just the original x86 design with 64bit extensions added on and are in a way just like SSE as they are just added onto the existing arch.

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Reply to jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty wrote :

x86-64 is basically just the original x86 design with 64bit extensions added on and are in a way just like SSE as they are just added onto the existing arch.

Alright, i did it. I know it is a mistake, but, i checked wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_x86_manufacturers

x86-processors for both regular PCs and embedded designs:

* Intel
* AMD
* VIA
* Transmeta (discontinued its x86 line)
* Rise Technology (acquired by SiS)
* IDT (Centaur Technology x86 division acquired by VIA)
* National Semiconductor (sold the x86 PC designs to VIA and later the x86 embedded designs to AMD)
* Cyrix (acquired by National Semiconductor)
* NexGen (acquired by AMD)
* Chips and Technologies (acquired by Intel)
* IBM (discontinued its own x86 line)
* UMC (discontinued its x86 line)
* NEC (discontinued its x86 line)

x86-processors for embedded designs only:

* ZF Micro (ZFx86 - Cx486DX SoC)
* Nvidia (M6117C - 386SX)
* ALi (x86 products went to Nvidia through the ULi sale)
* SiS (discontinued its x86 line)
* DMP Electronics (Vortex86SX-486SX compatible)
* RDC Semiconducters (R8610-486 compatible microcontroller)

Manufacturing-only of x86-processors designed by others:

* IBM (manufactures processors for ZF Micro and VIA; discontinued production for NexGen and Transmeta)
* TSMC (manufactures processors for VIA; discontinued production for Transmeta)
* UMC (manufactures processors for Nvidia; discontinued production for Rise, SiS, ALi and ULi)
* Fujitsu (manufactured processors for Transmeta; discontinued x86 production)
* National Semiconductor (manufactured processors for ZF Micro; discontinued x86 production)

Manufacturing and selling under its own name of x86-processors designed by others:

* IBM (designs by Cyrix; now this line is discontinued)
* SGS-Thomson (designs by Cyrix; discontinued x86 production)
* Texas Instruments (designs by Cyrix; discontinued x86 production)

Don't bash me yet, im still searching and continue to add. Im just amazed by the sheer amount that already made x86 CPUs. Ill keep searching.

EDIT: AMD64 ISA tecnically is a extension of x86. Legally i don't know. I read through the AMD white paper and nothing legal poped up. Ill keep searching.

EDIT nr2ertinent question, does TSMC has a manuifacturing ONLY license ? That might be part of the loop hole. And look better to that list. There might be several loopholes here. w00t !!Too many, but think of it.

Message edited by radnor on 08-21-2008 at 06:11:23 PM

------------------------------ Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read - Frank Zappa
Reply to radnor

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