Hi Fred, and ALL, Article...Intel to make Server chip!!
techweb.com
Feb 02, 1997 Intel To Craft A Server Chip
(2/3/97; 8:17 a.m. EST)
By Ken Yamada, Computer Reseller News
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Intel plans to unveil this week that it is sampling a new chip to boost enterprise server performance.
The new chip, called the i960 RD I/O processor, will be incorporated in a technology Intel has been pushing called the I2O architecture. The chip, which Intel has priced at $80, along with the new architecture, will speed system performance by 50 percent to 75 percent, the company said.
The chip and new architecture initially will be incorporated in a new Pentium Pro motherboard from Micronics Computer Inc., Fremont, Calif.
The Santa Clara-based chip maker currently has made available sample versions of the chip to OEMs and plans to begin shipping in June.
I2O technology "is another hot area for vendors or VARs to create differentiation for their servers," said Tim Kearns, a marketing manager in Intel's enterprise computing I/O division.
The inclusion of a dedicated powerful I/O subsystem, provided by I2O, in the server allows many network operating system functions to be handled by the I/O processor instead of by the host CPU, helping to eliminate bottlenecks and boosting scalability of the host processor.
I2O is designed to increase interoperability and integration of storage and network interfaces in enterprise servers. The architecture provides a common I/O framework with a robust, extensible driver interface for servers and adapter cards, according to Intel.
Although no systems manufacturer has unveiled servers incorporating Intel's new chip and the I2O architecture, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq are expected to use the technology, Intel said. Both companies have been active participants on committees formed to establish I2O as a standard.
Intel is hoping all the major server vendors will adopt the new chip and I2O over the next year, Kearns said.
The i960 RD chip is a high-performance, dedicated I/O subsystem incorporated directly into the server motherboard, Intel said. Similar to the channel processor in a mainframe computer, the I/O subsystem redirects interrupt-intensive I/O tasks away from the host CPU and frees host resources such as memory and system buses, resulting in faster overall system performance and throughput. The intelligent I/O subsystem also allows I/O to increase with processor performance increases.
For the first time, the i960 RD chip will enable multiple functions to be handled directly in the I/O subsystem, according to Intel. As a result, server and motherboard system providers may offer their customers a wide range of capabilities, such as online backup, security, compression and system management, as integral parts of the system, Intel said. Other foreseeable benefits include better manageability and lower system maintenance.
The i960 RD processor integrates a 2.1 PCI-to-PCI bridge with an i960 RISC processor core. The bridge unit expands the number of PCI slots in the system, allowing client class adapter cards to be added to the system and extending overall system value for IT managers.
Also integrated into the processor is a messaging unit, two address translation units, an integrated memory controller and an I/O advanced programmable interrupt controller bus interface unit. Other features of the i960 RD I/O processor include 66MHz performance, a 4-Kbyte two-way associative instruction cache, 2-Kbyte direct mapped data cache and 1-Kbyte on-chip random access memory.
Micronics' new I2O-ready motherboard is based on Intel's 440FX PCIset and Intel's new i960 chip. Evaluation units of the board, called M6DPd, will be made available this month. The company will begin shipping the boards once Intel begins shipping the processor, expected by early in the second quarter, Micronics said.
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Yes Fred, they are relentless, and thier pace seems to be quickening!!
Regards, Michael |
