Tech
NVIDIA responds to Intel's Larrabee GPU
Intel's forthcoming multi-core Larrabee graphics processing unit (GPU) promises a chip "with comparable performance to GPUs on the market at that time." The upcoming chip has raises the hackles of fierce GPU competitors ATI and NVIDIA.
NVIDIA PR sent me an email with "a couple of things to bear in mind" about Larrabee:
- With current multi-core X86 processors struggling to scale from 2 to 4 cores, how well will the *same* X86 architecture scale to 32 cores?
- If Ct is the answer to this, then why not leverage it now for the millions of customers who are struggling to get more performance from current CPUs?
- Again, if this is the same familiar X86 architecture we are used to, will applications written for today's CPUs run unmodified on Larrabee?
- Similarly, will apps written for Larrabee run unmodified on Intel multi-core CPUs?
- How will Larrabee not severely damage Intel's CPU business?
Apple currently uses an NVIDIA GPU in the MacBook Pro (GeForce 8600M GT) and offers several choices in GPU for the Mac Pro including the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT and the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT.