Sun Microsystems had been working on a low-power server x86 chip that could power cloud or hyperscale datacenters, according to a media report. Unfortunately, it seems that the chip was scrapped after Oracle acquired Sun.
There is a great demand towards low-power microprocessors for ultra large datacenters that consist of thousands of servers. Recently Advanced Micro Devices launched a lineup of low-cost low-power quad-core and six-core Opteron central processing units (CPUs) that specifically targeted servers for cloud/hyper datacenters. Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of chips, also has a number of processor models that are created for the same type of applications.
At present AMD and Intel generally have no rivals for x86-based low-cost low-power microprocessors. The only company to also design x86 chips is Via Technologies, whose market presence is negligible. Both AMD and Intel tailor their Opteron or Xeon chips, which power high-end and mainstream servers, for new applications, what is the most efficient way of manufacturing CPUs for them, but such chips may not be the most efficient possible for cloud solutions. But what about an x86 chip that is designed for cloud/hyperscale datacenters from the ground up?
No comments:
Post a Comment