November 8, 2007

AMD to demo FireStream processor

by Jan Harris

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AMD to demo FireStream processor
AMD will demonstrate its FireStream 9170 processor at the SC07 supercomputing show in Reno, Nevada, November 10â€“16, 2007.

The 9170 is based on the concept of ’stream computing’ and provides the ‘parallel’ performance more usually associated with a graphics chip.

Parallelism allows data to flow down multiple outlets, rather than being channelled through a single path. This means that the chip can run at slower speeds, resulting in cooler temperatures.

Parallelism has been used in graphics processing units (GPUs) for several years, but its complexity when it comes to programming has been a barrier to using the technology in PC processors.

AMD has designed the FireStream 9170 processor to bridge the gap between an easy to programme PC processor and a GPU, which provides superior performance, but requires special programming techniques.

Robert Feldstein, vice president of engineering for AMD, describes the FireStream 9170 as a high-end graphics chip with a lot more memory than usually ships with those products.

The 9 chip has 2GBs of memory and double-precision floating point units. Programming requires a software developer’s kit and AMD advises that only limited amounts of code should be ported to run on the device.

The FireStream 9170 is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2008, priced at $1,999.

AMD hopes to eventually integrate the technology directly onto a PC or server processor.

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