iTnews
  • Home
  • News
  • Technology
  • Hardware

Sun eyes 256-threaded server

By Tom Sanders
Aug 22 2007 7:10AM
Follow google news

Sun Microsystems is working on a version of its T2 processor for use in two-way and four-way servers, the company is set to reveal today at the Hot Chips conference at Stanford University in California.

Sun eyes 256-threaded server
Codenamed Victoria Falls, the chip's die area and power use is "comparable" to the T2, or Niagara 2 processor, according to slides of the presentation by Stephen Phillips, a distinguished engineer at Sun.

The main difference, however, is that Victoria Falls allows for two-way and four-way servers, whereas Niagara 2 is limited to single-processor systems.

Given the eight cores with eight threads each for the current T2 processor, a four-way system will be capable of executing 256 calculations simultaneously.

Sun had previously leaked titbits of information about Victoria Falls, but Tuesday's presentation will provide the most details yet.

The expansion into two-way and four-way systems poses a challenge for the chip's memory management.

Data can now be stored in either external memory or on another chip's cache memory. But, as the chip is forced to fetch data from outside the processor, overall performance can slow down significantly.

Sun plans to address these memory challenges by adding multi-chip coherence links that will route the processor to its externally stored data.

The two-way Victoria Falls chips are equipped with two so-called 'embedded coherence hubs' allowing data transmission rates of 65Gbps.

The four-way model offers double the amount of embedded coherence hubs, allowing for twice the transmission rate. The four-way systems also gain four external coherence hubs.

A two-way system performing an online transaction processing application will perform at a rate of 180 percent of a single processor system, Sun claimed.

A 'Java Business' benchmark came in at 185 percent and 'CPU intensive' application logged 192 per cent. Sun did not provide performance projections for its four-way systems.

Sun unveiled Niagara 2 earlier this month. Systems powered by Victoria Falls chips are scheduled to ship in early 2008.

Add iTnews as your trusted source

Add iTnews As Your Trusted Source Add iTnews As Your Trusted Source
Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright ©v3.co.uk
Tags:
eyeshardwareserversun

Related Articles

  • Kmart Group to expand RFID tagging to more products and to Target Kmart Group to expand RFID tagging to more products and to Target
  • Microsoft teases new era of AI-driven devices Microsoft teases new era of AI-driven devices
  • PsiQuantum to build computer at Moreton Bay PsiQuantum to build computer at Moreton Bay
  • US to invest in IBM, other quantum computing firms US to invest in IBM, other quantum computing firms
Join our WhatsApp Channel

Partner Content

Thomas Peer Solutions unveils data cloud platform and executive leadership forum for 2026
Partner Content Thomas Peer Solutions unveils data cloud platform and executive leadership forum for 2026
From test case to control tower: How DXC and ServiceNow are governing enterprise AI at scale
Promoted Content From test case to control tower: How DXC and ServiceNow are governing enterprise AI at scale
Intelligence × Trust: the equation that will decide Australia's AI winners
Promoted Content Intelligence × Trust: the equation that will decide Australia's AI winners
Agile isn’t the problem: why projects still fail, and what’s missing
Partner Content Agile isn’t the problem: why projects still fail, and what’s missing

Sponsored Whitepapers

Agile in the AI Era: why projects still fail
Agile in the AI Era: why projects still fail
When Technology Becomes the Blocker: Unlocking Real Outcomes from AI and Cloud
When Technology Becomes the Blocker: Unlocking Real Outcomes from AI and Cloud
High-volume data sources for AI-driven security analytics
High-volume data sources for AI-driven security analytics
How healthcare organisations can get more value from cloud
How healthcare organisations can get more value from cloud
1 in 3 companies lose SaaS data. Here’s how to prevent it
1 in 3 companies lose SaaS data. Here’s how to prevent it

Events

  • iTnews State of Security Breakfast iTnews State of Security Breakfast
  • iTnews State of Data & AI Breakfast iTnews State of Data & AI Breakfast
  • The 2026 iAwards The 2026 iAwards
  • Integrate 2026 Integrate 2026
  • Security Exhibition & Conference Security Exhibition & Conference
Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

Google says it has cracked a quantum computing challenge

Google says it has cracked a quantum computing challenge

Microsoft teases new era of AI-driven devices

Microsoft teases new era of AI-driven devices

Australian teen leaks pictures of new iPhone parts

Australian teen leaks pictures of new iPhone parts

Federal Court orders Google to pay $55 million for anti-competitive conduct

Federal Court orders Google to pay $55 million for anti-competitive conduct

techpartner.news logo
Sydney-based AI-cloud waste startup raises $3m
Sydney-based AI-cloud waste startup raises $3m
Brennan uses NiCE to modernise its contact centre
Brennan uses NiCE to modernise its contact centre
Impact Awards: Tecala slashes customer response times for fintech IQumulate
Impact Awards: Tecala slashes customer response times for fintech IQumulate
Interactive introduces private cloud platform
Interactive introduces private cloud platform
Digital61 expands cybersecurity portfolio
Digital61 expands cybersecurity portfolio
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.