Scumbria, I said: "AMD doesn't do SMP or RAS. No SMP, no RAS, no server business. It's that simple."
You said: "Do you think that statement is true for K7 and Alpha?"
Well, I was only talking about AMD. But, about Alpha, obviously, it is the CPU chip of choice by some server vendors. The server vendors that base their design around the SMP architecture, I don't know. That may lock out Alpha, unless it has its own SMP architecture.
As for the K7, I don't know. What is it? What are its design specs? I read on this thread that it's at this or that development stage in the schedule, but no-one says what it's supposed to be. I poked around the AMD home page, and did find this, from Jerry:
The AMD-K7 processor will offer industry-leading x86 processor performance. The plan of record at AMD is
to deliver the K7 processor in a module mechanically interchangeable with Intel1s single-edge connector - Slot
"1" - module. The AMD-K7 processor will enable us to offer products with clock speeds in excess of half a
gigahertz, and will feature the ultra high-performance advanced bus protocol of the Alpha EV-6.
We plan to describe the AMD-K7 processor here next year, and to demonstrate it at Comdex 1998. Volume
production will follow in 1999. Meanwhile, work has begun on the AMD-K8 processor.
Fine, but what is it architecturally? I guess I could write to AMD to find out what the K7 is all about, besides socket compatibility, clock speed and bus type. And, sure, it's not released yet. That means non-disclosure, etc.
Still, can someone on this thread describe the K7? Now I'm really curious.
Tony
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