[marty370]

SPE are cores, u only have to go to IBM site and in there description of Cell they state both PPE & SPE are cores.

SPE can run along side PPE or SPE's can work on ther own. As they have ther own Kernel, memory, and memory controller.

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Core partners, Part 1: Build high-performance apps for multicore processors

See how RapidMind delivers a single-source development platform for Cell/B.E. applications
Michael McCool (mmccool @rapid mind.net), Founder and Chief Scientist, RapidMind

Summary: The RapidMind Development Platform provides a simple single-source mechanism to develop portable high-performance applications for multicore processors. In particular, you can use it to develop applications that fully exploit the power of the Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.) processor's unique architecture by writing only one, single-threaded C++ program using an existing C++ compiler. In this article, author Michael McCool takes you on a guided tour of the RapidMind Development Platform.

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Date: 01 May 2007
Level: Intermediate
Also available in: Russian

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Before discussing the RapidMind Development Platform -- which can be used to develop applications for the Cell/B.E. processor that are able to effectively exploit the architecture by letting you write a single, single-threaded C++ program using an existing C++ compiler -- let me explain why Cell/B.E. processors and the RapidMind platform combine to make a good application development environment.

Introducing RapidMind and Cell/B.E.

The nine cores in the Cell/B.E. processor include:

One standard "host" core, the PPU, which uses the PowerPC® architecture.
Eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs) which are vector co-processors highly tuned for numerical computation.

The PPU is a general-purpose processor and is capable of running traditional operating system and application code. However, most of the computational performance of the Cell/B.E. processor resides in the more specialized SPEs. Each SPE core has a number of unique features, including a large vector register file, a vector ALU, and an explicitly managed high-speed local memory. The Cell/B.E. processor also includes a number of features that allow the PPU and the SPEs to communicate and synchronize with each other.

Why RapidMind on the Cell/B.E. processor?

To use the RapidMind platform on the Cell/B.E. processor, it is not necessary to understand the details of the SPE cores or perform any SPE-specific programming. It is only necessary to write a single-source, single-threaded program using an existing C++ compiler (such as g++) and run it on the PPU. This program only needs to include a single header file and link to the RapidMind platform library.

To execute a computation on the SPEs, it should be expressed as a data-parallel computation and executed using the RapidMind platform. The interface to the RapidMind platform is implemented as a library that integrates cleanly with existing IDEs and build environments. Although it is used as a library, the RapidMind platform can also be thought of as a high-performance, embedded parallel programming language with its own code management and parallel runtime. It is possible to express arbitrary computations with the RapidMind interface and have these execute at performance levels rivaling that of native hardware-dependent tools, but with a simple, maintainable, and portable programming model.

The RapidMind interface is based on a small set of types. These types mimic standard C++ types -- floating point numbers, arrays, and functions -- making it straightforward to port existing code. However, computations expressed using RapidMind types can be collected into computationally intense kernels, dynamically compiled directly to optimized SPE machine language, and run in parallel under the management of a sophisticated runtime system that includes automatic load balancing and synchronization with the host. The RapidMind platform automates most of the low-level tasks involved in using the additional high-performance SPE cores, making it easier to take advantage of the extreme computational performance provided by the Cell/B.E. processor for a range of applications.

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-rapidmind/

[ps3hacker12]

Originally Posted by marty370 SPE are cores, u only have to go to IBM site and in there description of Cell they state both PPE & SPE are cores. SPE can run along side PPE or SPE's can work on ther own. As they have ther own Kernel, memory, and memory controller. Quote: developerWorks® Technical topics Evaluation software Community Events Search developerWorks developerWorks Multicore acceleration Technical library Core partners, Part 1: Build high-performance apps for multicore processors See how RapidMind delivers a single-source development platform for Cell/B.E. applications Michael McCool (mmccool @rapid mind.net), Founder and Chief Scientist, RapidMind Summary: The RapidMind Development Platform provides a simple single-source mechanism to develop portable high-performance applications for multicore processors. In particular, you can use it to develop applications that fully exploit the power of the Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.) processor's unique architecture by writing only one, single-threaded C++ program using an existing C++ compiler. In this article, author Michael McCool takes you on a guided tour of the RapidMind Development Platform. View more content in this series Tag this! Update My dW interests (Log in | What's this?) Skip to help for Update My dW interests Date: 01 May 2007 Level: Intermediate Also available in: Russian Activity: 8926 views Comments: 0 (View | Add comment - Sign in) Average rating 4 stars based on 10 votes Average rating (10 votes) Rate this article Before discussing the RapidMind Development Platform -- which can be used to develop applications for the Cell/B.E. processor that are able to effectively exploit the architecture by letting you write a single, single-threaded C++ program using an existing C++ compiler -- let me explain why Cell/B.E. processors and the RapidMind platform combine to make a good application development environment. Introducing RapidMind and Cell/B.E. The nine cores in the Cell/B.E. processor include: One standard "host" core, the PPU, which uses the PowerPC® architecture. Eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs) which are vector co-processors highly tuned for numerical computation. The PPU is a general-purpose processor and is capable of running traditional operating system and application code. However, most of the computational performance of the Cell/B.E. processor resides in the more specialized SPEs. Each SPE core has a number of unique features, including a large vector register file, a vector ALU, and an explicitly managed high-speed local memory. The Cell/B.E. processor also includes a number of features that allow the PPU and the SPEs to communicate and synchronize with each other. Why RapidMind on the Cell/B.E. processor? To use the RapidMind platform on the Cell/B.E. processor, it is not necessary to understand the details of the SPE cores or perform any SPE-specific programming. It is only necessary to write a single-source, single-threaded program using an existing C++ compiler (such as g++) and run it on the PPU. This program only needs to include a single header file and link to the RapidMind platform library. To execute a computation on the SPEs, it should be expressed as a data-parallel computation and executed using the RapidMind platform. The interface to the RapidMind platform is implemented as a library that integrates cleanly with existing IDEs and build environments. Although it is used as a library, the RapidMind platform can also be thought of as a high-performance, embedded parallel programming language with its own code management and parallel runtime. It is possible to express arbitrary computations with the RapidMind interface and have these execute at performance levels rivaling that of native hardware-dependent tools, but with a simple, maintainable, and portable programming model. The RapidMind interface is based on a small set of types. These types mimic standard C++ types -- floating point numbers, arrays, and functions -- making it straightforward to port existing code. However, computations expressed using RapidMind types can be collected into computationally intense kernels, dynamically compiled directly to optimized SPE machine language, and run in parallel under the management of a sophisticated runtime system that includes automatic load balancing and synchronization with the host. The RapidMind platform automates most of the low-level tasks involved in using the additional high-performance SPE cores, making it easier to take advantage of the extreme computational performance provided by the Cell/B.E. processor for a range of applications. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-rapidmind/

They are NOT the same as cores. Cores can run independently, SPEs rely on a core.


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[marty370]

Originally Posted by ps3hacker12 They are NOT the same as cores. Cores can run independently, SPEs rely on a core. Sent from my me at home from my fingers typing the above message... using Tapatalk

SPE's are Cores, they can run independently of the PPU/E. Thats the reason why they have ther own kernel, ram, data bus, and memory controller. SPE's can do either, run with or without PPU/E help.

[Prince Valiant]

Originally Posted by Fl3th3r How did they come from IBM to AMD?a quadcore CPU(now when 8 cores is cheap) and HD 7670 for 10 years lifespan?what the hell?pretty sure nextgen aiming for 1920x1080(if not bigger,considering Sony themself just announced their 4k resolution devices) 60@fps good luck with that specs.

When did that happen :S?

[metalfacedoom23]

I'll definitely be getting it no matter what, I have pretty much every home console ever created. I took a quick look at the specs and if they are not just a rumor should be interesting to see how it all pans out. Referring to what others are saying in comparison of the console vs. PC, there not in the same market nor should they be. Macs sell more then PCs do and they cost more and have lower ends parts/specs, PC can also boot MacOS easily and do every single thing a Mac can do but it doesn't change the fact the Mac out sells them year in year out. Sony is not aiming to have the best video card or highest end parts, they make it you buy it end of story or give your money to Microsoft or Nintendo to have the company implement the same policies with worse content and systems. Even the new Nintendo next gen console coming out (apparently the Wii didn't count) looks obsolete already.

[ps3hacker12]

Originally Posted by marty370 SPE's are Cores, they can run independently of the PPU/E. Thats the reason why they have ther own kernel, ram, data bus, and memory controller. SPE's can do either, run with or without PPU/E help.

Not true, An XeCPU thread is like a standard PC processor thread, and can do what a standard PC processor does, only with some extra vector power and with less efficient memory accessing that benefits from developer guidance. There's two threads to a core and they share resources, so having 6 threads is not the same as having 6 cores. They allow a core to be used more efficiently with less waste, which results in something like (rought ballpark figure) a 20% boost in performance.

A Cell SPE is a processor that works quite differently to standard PC processor in that it works entirely in it's own local storage. It's optimized for floating point/vector work and lacks branch prediction and convenient memory access. To work on data you have to specifically fetch it. Being small means lots can be fit onto a chip, giving 8 on the current version of Cell (one inactive in PS3). The SPE forgoes a lot of developer nicities to try and overcome the principle bottleneck of modern processors which is that RAM can't supply data as fast as processors can process it. Working in the SPE's local storage and using efficient memory prefetching, Cell should avoid slow main memory accesses and so keep running with less stalls.


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[ps3hacker12]

Originally Posted by Prince Valiant When did that happen :S?

That's what I'm thinking too. The only announcement Sony made on future resolutions is shown in their roadmap, where they show 1200p screens commonly appearing in June 2014.


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[vgturtle127]

I hope everyone realizes that these rumors are just that...rumors. Not only that, but anyone who knows anything about hardware knows that AMD CPU's and GPU's don't have as much power or potential as Intel and Nvidia stuff. Plus Sony wouldn't abandon their companies to save money, they would buy cheaper parts. They have licensing contracts to think about. Nvidia and Intel and Samsung and IBM will give them money towards the next project if they continue to use their products. Not that I claim to know this for a fact, mind you, but it just wouldn't make any sense. At least not in my experience. Especially when you consider all of Sony's software is based on Linux, too. It won't look like all the stuff that's been posted on the internet, and it will be more powerful than everyone thinks too. I remember Sony thought the PSX (NOT the PS1, the PSX) would have a quad-core CPU at 3.002GHz and a GPU with 1GB DDR3. Man, that didn't happen. Hell, nobody bought the thing when it came out. People already had PS2's. Anyway, just my professional 2 cents.

[mcmrc1]

hmm i think i will never buy a sony product again maybe after a week they disable the second video card on your console :D