Are you guys familiar with AC97 which has something to do with adding DSP chips to the standard PC? It is apparantly being pushed by Intel and Microsoft.
I was just looking at this overview on DSP chip applications and how they are growing. There is the question of how many applications will fall under this umbrella. Can a Pentium be used to take over some DSP applications such as modems?
Here's link to the fluff piece that is suppose to get you to buy the report for $5000. It doesn't really answer anything. fwdconcepts.com
Here's an excerpt, With the introduction of practical host signal processing (HSP) and hot new media processors on the horizon, what effects will they have on the market for programmable digital signal processors (DSPs)? Will these new approaches change the market for function-specific DSPs-like 56 kbps modems? And what of Pentium-numbing DSP algorithms like MPEG video, AC-3 audio, full-duplex speakerphone and videoconferencing? Is HSP the best approach? Are HSP limitations the key to why Intel and Microsoft are pushing the AC '97 program which adds a DSP "controller" to the computer box? And do set top boxes, DVDs, cellular telephones, and hard disk drives worry about Pentiums or PowerPCs invading them? This study addresses the full spectrum of DSP and the market dynamics affecting application of DSP technology to real-world issues.
This was interesting to me as I was very impressed with the recent announcement by ARM licensing DSP technology to Cirrus and Lucent, followed by Cirrus saying they could consolidate 3 or 4 chips used to control HDD's into one. Now this article alludes to the idea that maybe the control of HDD's and many other devices could be controlled by a DSP from the motherboard, or even a function of a more powerful Pentium with embedded DSP?
Well, one has to be doubtful of a Pentium solution, but the Cirrus chip sounds like it will be the direction of the future.
Can we see a single DSP on the motherboard come in to takeover multiple applications? Is this important?
Regards,
Mark |
