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│ Merced ║
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Hewlett-Packard Company (HP)
plans to start production of computers
new architecture, in which there will be
new 64-bit processors used
Merced, designed jointly with Intel.
As already reported, the new processor
will be released to the market in 1999.
Initially he will have a working
speed 600 MHz. Already by 2000
it is planned to increase the speed to 1 GHz.
It is assumed that performance
Merced 1 GHz will be over 100
the well-known SPECfp95 test. For comparison,
Pentium Pro processors can
demonstrate level now
productivity is about 6.7. During that time
while the chip will be “overclocked” to 1 GHz, Intel
is going to develop the technology to such an extent
degree that the cost of its production
will drop to $100. This should
make Merced the most widespread
processor in industrial and household
devices. In addition to normal acceleration
clock speed Merced must perform
up to 8 teams simultaneously. Processors
Pentium Pro canexecute up to 3 commands.
The processor will reportedly be able to
process words with very long
commands (VLIW - Very Long Instruction
Word), in which, in fact, there will be
many commands are enabled at the same time.
Merced is expected to become
release based on the same
physical and chemical technology, which
used to release P6 processors.
Merced will provide transparent execution
all programs that run on
x86 processors. For this there will be
an application emulator has been developed, which itself
in itself is not so simple. It is expected that
Merced with emulator will provide
performance for x86 applications
more than Willamette can give -
the last one currently planned
to the release of 32-bit processors,
which will operate at the clock frequency
400 MHz.
The main feature of the transition from
architecture IA-32, characteristic
x86 processors, to architecture, conditionally
called IA-64, will be what
processor microinstructions that control
processing the external command stream,
traditionally resident, will be taken out
chip limits. For modern processors
The IA-32 architecture is characterized by the fact that about
halfprocessor operating power
constantly busy with planning tasks
process of processing a stream of commands.
According to Tod Rees' explanations
Reese, HP's general manager for
software for open systems,
process control commands will be
go to a special compiler,
optimized code from which to start
right on Merced. Removal of firmware
process planning will free up
many processing components,
included in the general structure of Merced, which
Now they can be almost twice as effective
process a stream of external commands.
Experts say that in terms of importance
removal of funds from the processor itself
process control is comparable to transition
from CISC architecture to RISC.
HP is reported to be planning
release of two main lines of computers
Merced processors that will be launched
into production in 1999. First line
designed for Unix platforms. B these
devices can be combined up to 256
Merced chips, thus creating
supercomputers. To build them, HP
preparing to release his own set
microcircuits The second line will be
focused onWindows NT platforms -
for the mass market. These servers will be able
include from 4 to 16 Merced processors. B
Intel chipsets and
other manufacturers.
According to HP, Merced processors
will become widely used in work
stations, personal computers, in
application devices such as network
computers and mobiles kommyhukatopob.
There are considerations that
high-performance Merced processors,
being used in computers
Internet users will help you remove
load in network bottlenecks.
When did HP sign an agreement with Intel?
o joint development of the Merced processor
and decided to finally establish myself on
mass market, bets were placed on
Windows NT scaling capabilities and
to Microsoft's promises that the system will
continuously evolve following
processors. Windows NT Scalability
still not secured although Microsoft
continues to actively work in this
direction.
Thus, the only
universal operating system,
running on 64-bit processors,
is Unix.And even if Microsoft
will have time to release a 64-bit version
Windows NT before the chips hit the market
Merced, there will still be shortages
applications. And when does Intel release its
first 64-bit chip, what's planned
by 1999, the market will be 90% filled
32-bit applications. A this
means that the HP-UX system (a Unix clone
produced by HP) still has a long way to go
life. This, in turn, means that
There are many opportunities left for HP.
Due to interest in the processor
Merced, the last one caught everyone's attention
Compaq Computer deal
as a result of which for 3 billion dollars
Tandem Computers was acquired.
After this, Compaq immediately announced o
that will be the first supplier
servers based on Merced processors.
Compaq intends to bypass even HP, itself
close development partner of Intel
Merced. By purchasing Tandem, Compaq is much more
will make it easier for you to conquer the market
servers, since Tandem is known
release of limited quantities
highly specialized servers,
known as Himalaya.
With the release of Merced, Intel is much more
will complicate the life of DigitalEquipment
which has concentrated and continues
concentrate on your fastest
currently mainstream processors
Alpha. Merced will ensure code execution
for processors of IA-32 and IA-64 architectures
at the same time, which will not be very easy
replicate to competitors.
According to John Mashey,
designed the first one in 1985
commercial RISC processor MIPS R2000,
Merced's architectural solutions are quite complex
classify them by relating them to RISC or
CISC. IA-64 architecture of the Merced processor,
touching on all its essential details,
strikingly reminiscent of architecture
a normal 64-bit RISC processor.
Meishi believes that there will be a lot of Merced
simultaneously, which will not be very easy
replicate to competitors.
According to John Mashey,
designed the first one in 1985
commercial RISC processor MIPS R2000,
Merced's architectural solutions are quite complex
classify them by relating them to RISC or
CISC. IA-64 architecture of the Merced processor,
touching on all its essential details,
strikingly reminiscent of architecture
a normal 64-bit RISC processor.
Meishi believes that there will be a lot of Merced
problems. Rumors have already appearedabout delays in
stages of the processor release plan. Not yet
released, it is already losing clientele.
Completely impossible at present
replace X86 with something in the desktop space
personal computers.
Igor Gordienko, operational editor
Computerra information
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