SATA 3.0, my current setup has a 3.0 controller, a sata 3.0 drive and cable, poops out at less than 1.0 speeds, firmware issues and un-optimized drivers lead me to move the drive to a SATA 2.0 port. The drive issues on the 3.0 port eventually lead to it loosing connectivity. Bite that hard and I'm not likely to buy that brand again.
USB 3.0, no flaws or excitement. still not worth using a USB drive over my NAS on gigabit copper. Maybe thunderbolt will change my measuring stick, I'm guessing that other device options that TB open up are the real reason to get TB ports.
SSD's I'm in wait mode the few I've used didn't gain me anything above the RAID 0 setup I put OS on, they felt snappy for a while but they seem to be a picky choice and the cheap one degraded fast. The Intel trim function works as advertised by they cost more.
I'm still demanding more and more CPU/Graphics/Memory with CAD and simulation so I'm using any capability that comes, It does seem to have slowed with the introduction of Smart phones and tablets.
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Until I actually hear more about Windows 8 core architecture, and less about what the UI looks like, I can barely contain my lack of interest. If MS is finally addressing deep-down built-in architectural problems, fantastic! If not, it's just more of the same. People will get it when they buy new computers, like always, and use it because they aren't up to shopping alternatives. Maybe some will try to escape to 7 like they ran from Vista back to XP, or choose a different vendor for their OS, but it will be 99% business as usual.
Wow, though. I had no idea all those hardware standards were slated to come out so close together.
Wow, though. I had no idea all those hardware standards were slated to come out so close together.
I agree. That is why Windows 8 was last on the list. We can hope that "yet to be announced" are the features that will make Windows 8 a winner at home and in the workplace.
So far, the 'winner' feature for Windows 8 is that it will make your computer look like a cell phone. Of course, at this point, Windows 8 is still vaporware. By the time they delete half of the feature set (standard for new OS introductions by every one, it seems) and we get to see what really works, the shipping Windows 8 might bear only a resemblance in name to what we are being told to expect right now.
It may be just me, but I think it's Windows Millennium time again.
It may be just me, but I think it's Windows Millennium time again.
If Microsoft gets their wish, then you won't even have the option of back porting Windows 7 onto your new Windows 8 computer. That is the 'feature' that has the Linux world so much in an uproar right now.
Plus, the new 'Metro' system will mean that the new software won't run on XP, Vista or Win7, EVER.
I would look for the new 'safer' boot systems to be implemented in the worst ways possible. (That is about par for the course on new technology.)
Plus, the new 'Metro' system will mean that the new software won't run on XP, Vista or Win7, EVER.
I would look for the new 'safer' boot systems to be implemented in the worst ways possible. (That is about par for the course on new technology.)
Of course, having a passion for fast desktop PCs I still want a faster system, but I really don't need one. I have to admit though, an 8 core Bulldozer or a 6 core Sandy Bridge-E processor with a SandForce Driven SSD and Gen 3 USB, SATA and PCIe sounds like a nice Christmas present.
I have always enjoyed reading about new technologies for the desktop computer so this has been a lot of hard work but it has also been a labor of love to collect this information for you, TechRepublic reader.
1. USB 3.0 - The Intel X79 chipset scheduled for release in quarter 4 of 2011 is not expected to support USB 3.0. The Intel "Panther Point" Z77, Z75 and H77 chipsets are expected to support 4 USB ports. You will want USB 3.0 if you will be using external devices that transfer large amounts of data like external drives, external SSDs, flash drives and video or audio devices.
2. Thunderbolt - As I state in an article on my Web site , Thunderbolt is currently a Cadillac interconnect at a Cadillac price.
The data transfer rate for Thunderbolt Optical listed in the table is the current bandwidth. Faster data rates over optical cable are possible in the future. The shorter 2.0 meter cable length of the only Thunderbolt cable currently available may be to provide the full 10.8Gb/s bandwidth for the DisplayPort protocol v1.1a. According to the DisplayPort Web site: "2560 x 1600 (WQXGA resolution) is supported over all 2-meter DP Certified? cables. Some cables, due to their design, may be capable of supporting 2560 x 1600 resolution over lengths longer than 2 meters." WQXGA resolution is the highest resolution supported by DisplayPort v1.a.
3. SATA Revision 3.0 -
Serial ATA International Organization: Serial ATA Revision 3.0 - That's a mouthful. Give me a break.
SATA revision 3.0 functionality:
- Asynchronous Notification
- ClickConnect
- eSATA
- HotPlug capable
- Link Power Management
- Native Command Queuing (NCQ)
- Staggered Spin-Up
- xSATA
SATA Revision 3.1 features
- SATA Universal Storage Module (USM) - Provides removable SATA storage solutions on consumer devices
- mSATA - SATA for mobile devices
- Zero-Power Optical Disk Drive ODD - Eliminates power consumption of an idle optical disk drive
- Required Link Power Management - More efficient power management
- Queued Trim Command - Allows TRIM to operate without impacting normal operation
- Hardware Control Features
Wikipedia states that Intel's X79 chipset will support up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s ports and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports but Tom's Hardware is now saying that the X79 chipset will have 4 SATA 3Gb/s ports and 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports.
5. SSDs and SSD Toolbox - Intel's SSD toolbox had to be pulled when first introduced when incompatibilities with Windows 7 were discovered.
7. AMD Bulldozer - The AMD site does not list the FX-4100 as of October 12, 2011. Add to that the fact that I could only find three of the four models sans the 4100 at Newegg. I did find it in stock at PC Superstore . It has been spotted on some European retailers Web sites. The FX-8150 was already sold-out on the day of launch, but more are on the way
by boat 
.
8. Intel DX79SI and DX79TO motherboards first to support Sandy Bridge-E . X79 motherboards from othe manufacturers have been announced.
10. Windows 8 - I wanted to see a makeover of the Windows UI, specifically a replacement for the Start Menu and said so in this article. But an interface that looked more like a tablet than a PC wasn't what I had envisioned. I don't want my PC to look and behave like a tablet. If others agree with me, Microsoft is going to have a tough time selling Windows 8. Besides, I just can't see hundreds of people huddled in cubicles waving their hands in front of their monitors as if to invoke a Djinn to spring forth from of the monitor.
I have downloaded a copy of the pre-beta (which is a smart move by Microsoft), but I haven't installed it. A confidentiality clause keeps me from writing about what I see. What I have seen so far has encouraged me to avoid Windows 8 altogether which is a sad statement for a technology nut and Tech Writer to admit.
The disappointing news that the Intel X79 chipset will support neither Thunderbolt nor USB 3.0 means that you may want to wait a little bit longer before making that big PC purchase. Of course motherboards with USB 3.0 are available now accomplished with 3rd party chips.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but a weak economy is a good time to buy a new PC if you can get a great price.
I have always enjoyed reading about new technologies for the desktop computer so this has been a lot of hard work but it has also been a labor of love to collect this information for you, TechRepublic reader.
1. USB 3.0 - The Intel X79 chipset scheduled for release in quarter 4 of 2011 is not expected to support USB 3.0. The Intel "Panther Point" Z77, Z75 and H77 chipsets are expected to support 4 USB ports. You will want USB 3.0 if you will be using external devices that transfer large amounts of data like external drives, external SSDs, flash drives and video or audio devices.
2. Thunderbolt - As I state in an article on my Web site , Thunderbolt is currently a Cadillac interconnect at a Cadillac price.
The data transfer rate for Thunderbolt Optical listed in the table is the current bandwidth. Faster data rates over optical cable are possible in the future. The shorter 2.0 meter cable length of the only Thunderbolt cable currently available may be to provide the full 10.8Gb/s bandwidth for the DisplayPort protocol v1.1a. According to the DisplayPort Web site: "2560 x 1600 (WQXGA resolution) is supported over all 2-meter DP Certified? cables. Some cables, due to their design, may be capable of supporting 2560 x 1600 resolution over lengths longer than 2 meters." WQXGA resolution is the highest resolution supported by DisplayPort v1.a.
3. SATA Revision 3.0 -
Serial ATA International Organization: Serial ATA Revision 3.0 - That's a mouthful. Give me a break.
SATA revision 3.0 functionality:
- Asynchronous Notification
- ClickConnect
- eSATA
- HotPlug capable
- Link Power Management
- Native Command Queuing (NCQ)
- Staggered Spin-Up
- xSATA
SATA Revision 3.1 features
- SATA Universal Storage Module (USM) - Provides removable SATA storage solutions on consumer devices
- mSATA - SATA for mobile devices
- Zero-Power Optical Disk Drive ODD - Eliminates power consumption of an idle optical disk drive
- Required Link Power Management - More efficient power management
- Queued Trim Command - Allows TRIM to operate without impacting normal operation
- Hardware Control Features
Wikipedia states that Intel's X79 chipset will support up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s ports and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports but Tom's Hardware is now saying that the X79 chipset will have 4 SATA 3Gb/s ports and 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports.
5. SSDs and SSD Toolbox - Intel's SSD toolbox had to be pulled when first introduced when incompatibilities with Windows 7 were discovered.
7. AMD Bulldozer - The AMD site does not list the FX-4100 as of October 12, 2011. Add to that the fact that I could only find three of the four models sans the 4100 at Newegg. I did find it in stock at PC Superstore . It has been spotted on some European retailers Web sites. The FX-8150 was already sold-out on the day of launch, but more are on the way
by boat .8. Intel DX79SI and DX79TO motherboards first to support Sandy Bridge-E . X79 motherboards from othe manufacturers have been announced.
10. Windows 8 - I wanted to see a makeover of the Windows UI, specifically a replacement for the Start Menu and said so in this article. But an interface that looked more like a tablet than a PC wasn't what I had envisioned. I don't want my PC to look and behave like a tablet. If others agree with me, Microsoft is going to have a tough time selling Windows 8. Besides, I just can't see hundreds of people huddled in cubicles waving their hands in front of their monitors as if to invoke a Djinn to spring forth from of the monitor.
I have downloaded a copy of the pre-beta (which is a smart move by Microsoft), but I haven't installed it. A confidentiality clause keeps me from writing about what I see. What I have seen so far has encouraged me to avoid Windows 8 altogether which is a sad statement for a technology nut and Tech Writer to admit.
The disappointing news that the Intel X79 chipset will support neither Thunderbolt nor USB 3.0 means that you may want to wait a little bit longer before making that big PC purchase. Of course motherboards with USB 3.0 are available now accomplished with 3rd party chips.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but a weak economy is a good time to buy a new PC if you can get a great price.
I remember a few years ago I was talking with some friends and I was telling them about a computer I was planning on building with all the "latest and greatest" of parts. One guy seem less than interested and told me that just because I hadd all that great stuff the programs of then didnt use the full capasity of all those "cool parts". I thought about it and told him that he was indeed right but if we where to venture into the automobile world we see cars and trucks with "cool parts" that make them stronger and faster. Yet, government laws prevent them from going, in most cases, over 70 mph. So why make such cars or trucks? Why? Bragging rights. Just like automotive junkies gather with thier friends to boast about how fast or how strong thier car or truck is, us computer junkies like to gather with our friends and boast that our computer has XX RAM or has XX proccesor speed.
"The core wars between AMD and Intel continue, but realistically, how many of those Bulldozer ???cores??? can you keep busy in a world of single-threaded apps?"
The joy of having multiple cores is being able to run multiple apps at full power at once. That's what multi-core processors were originally made for: multitasking!
If you're like me, you may be farming profession mats in WoW or another MMO whilst watching a HD movie on another monitor and having another program compileing code in the background.
And not all apps are limited to single thread usage. Many higher-end production suits fully support multi-thread.
Granted, an average user will be able to get by just fine with a single or dual core machine, but some of us heavy multi-taskers can top out a high-end CPU easily.
The joy of having multiple cores is being able to run multiple apps at full power at once. That's what multi-core processors were originally made for: multitasking!
If you're like me, you may be farming profession mats in WoW or another MMO whilst watching a HD movie on another monitor and having another program compileing code in the background.
And not all apps are limited to single thread usage. Many higher-end production suits fully support multi-thread.
Granted, an average user will be able to get by just fine with a single or dual core machine, but some of us heavy multi-taskers can top out a high-end CPU easily.
... for a 6 or 8 core processor. I really wonder if the reason that the FX-8150s are selling so fast is so that the "Average Joe" can brag about it. And then there are those of us with "latest and greatest syndrome". I am a terrible multitasker and gave up trying years ago.
I am a terrible multitasker and gave up trying years ago.
Don't worry about it. The scientists have investigated the performance of people who 'multitask'. The results, They really don't.
You can do one thing well, or 3 or more things poorly. Humans don't have brains designed for 'Multitasking'.
There are problems that do better with multitasking, but most commercial programs are written sequentially. There are really not very many programming languages for real multitasking. There are even fewer programmers who understand the mathematical operations for multitasking.
Letting you computer run different programs in the background on different processor cores is probably the best you can do for it in the next five years or so.
Linus Torvalds (of Linux) said once that after eight cores, the single command kernel system has a serious fall off in performance. Tests have shown the same thing true for Windows and big Unix systems. The 64 way systems out there use the processors to divide the work up between different users, or different parts of the whole table. Graphics is probably the area where most people can actually use more than say 4 cores. But, the graphics processors out there often use 8 or more 'simple' processors. So your 4 way computer may already be a 12 way really. Meanwhile, Intel and AMD and probably Arm will continue to try to find reasons for us to buy chips with more and more cores.
Since there are only modest gains possible in silicon chips, adding more cores is what they can do. Physics determines what the limits of the material are. We reached that with silicon years ago. The next big speed jumps will happen when they finally get the carbon chips rolling.
You can do one thing well, or 3 or more things poorly. Humans don't have brains designed for 'Multitasking'.
There are problems that do better with multitasking, but most commercial programs are written sequentially. There are really not very many programming languages for real multitasking. There are even fewer programmers who understand the mathematical operations for multitasking.
Letting you computer run different programs in the background on different processor cores is probably the best you can do for it in the next five years or so.
Linus Torvalds (of Linux) said once that after eight cores, the single command kernel system has a serious fall off in performance. Tests have shown the same thing true for Windows and big Unix systems. The 64 way systems out there use the processors to divide the work up between different users, or different parts of the whole table. Graphics is probably the area where most people can actually use more than say 4 cores. But, the graphics processors out there often use 8 or more 'simple' processors. So your 4 way computer may already be a 12 way really. Meanwhile, Intel and AMD and probably Arm will continue to try to find reasons for us to buy chips with more and more cores.
Since there are only modest gains possible in silicon chips, adding more cores is what they can do. Physics determines what the limits of the material are. We reached that with silicon years ago. The next big speed jumps will happen when they finally get the carbon chips rolling.
This sort of article is just the thing I've been looking for. The one thing that would make it better is moving the estimated dates up to the headings. About half of the items are estimated to be in the market by summer next year. The rest stretch out a little longer. So someone who is looking to maximize their performance potential may be willing to wait a few months to get that extra feature. (Yes, I know, there is always some wonderful new tech thing just around the corner)
Now with SSDs becoming generally available (even if they still are bleeding edge) that leaves video as the main remaining bottle neck (or is there some other memory bus that is worse?) in WEI (Windows Experience Index ) scores. Can you do a followup with some upcoming video related improvements. (Yes, I know that Thunderbolt is one of those technologies.)
Since Win8 is essentially "vaporware" at this point, no feature is "for sure" yet, is this list the place to promote it as tech to look for? And isn't it's GA release date at best out in late 2012 - 2013?
I'll be passing on the link to this article to friends for the next year or so.
Now with SSDs becoming generally available (even if they still are bleeding edge) that leaves video as the main remaining bottle neck (or is there some other memory bus that is worse?) in WEI (Windows Experience Index ) scores. Can you do a followup with some upcoming video related improvements. (Yes, I know that Thunderbolt is one of those technologies.)
Since Win8 is essentially "vaporware" at this point, no feature is "for sure" yet, is this list the place to promote it as tech to look for? And isn't it's GA release date at best out in late 2012 - 2013?
I'll be passing on the link to this article to friends for the next year or so.
Hello Ron.
Please download the PDF version to see the "availability dates" in a nice, neat table format.
I may do additional hardware articles in the future but I can't promise anything now. Since high-end graphics cards are not typical staples of an IT professional's gear I don't know how appropriate that topic would be for TechRepublic. I agree that bleeding edge graphics is an interesting subject to follow.
"Tech to look for" is a good way to put the status of Windows 8. It's too big to ignore and too immature to get excited or depressed about at this early date.
Thank you for the comments and for sharing this article with your friends.
Please download the PDF version to see the "availability dates" in a nice, neat table format.
I may do additional hardware articles in the future but I can't promise anything now. Since high-end graphics cards are not typical staples of an IT professional's gear I don't know how appropriate that topic would be for TechRepublic. I agree that bleeding edge graphics is an interesting subject to follow.
"Tech to look for" is a good way to put the status of Windows 8. It's too big to ignore and too immature to get excited or depressed about at this early date.
Thank you for the comments and for sharing this article with your friends.
I'll put this one in my saved teck email folder but looks like I will wait for the next build till mid 2012, then hopefully when I'm watching hd movie and trying to complete a few other things my wait times will be reduced and heck I may miss the movie!
Under #9: DDR4 SDRAM, it says:
"begin mass production of DDR4 SDRAM in the second half of 2102."
I'm sure you meant 2012. Still very interested to see DDR4 become a reality...
"begin mass production of DDR4 SDRAM in the second half of 2102."
I'm sure you meant 2012. Still very interested to see DDR4 become a reality...
The purpose of this article is well taken, I consult with people on hardware purchases and no two have the exact same needs.
I can see a lot of use for thunderbolt among my clients, I may find myself telling them to hold off until it goes a bit more mainstream. (people seem to like being told NOT to spend money these days, anyway )
I personally went with 8 cores (i5) and although everything runs like lightning on it, I have come to realize I don't really need 8 cores. 4 would have been sufficient, and maybe even more efficient.
But there's work and then there's bragging rights, the bane of wallets everywhere... =\
I can see a lot of use for thunderbolt among my clients, I may find myself telling them to hold off until it goes a bit more mainstream. (people seem to like being told NOT to spend money these days, anyway
)I personally went with 8 cores (i5) and although everything runs like lightning on it, I have come to realize I don't really need 8 cores. 4 would have been sufficient, and maybe even more efficient.
But there's work and then there's bragging rights, the bane of wallets everywhere... =\
Power consumption is a major cost when an organization has thousands of systems drawing juice 24/7, or even a family with several computers doing the same. That doesn't even touch on 3rd world countries.
To get what you want, abandon Windows and the Intel/AMD world. ARM or an even simpler processor architecture is what you need.
Physics dictates that the power used by a chip is a function of the number of gates, the voltage of the gates, the operating current of the gates and the switching speed of those gates. To reduce the wattage, you can reduce the voltage (currently around 1.5 V in efficiency based processors), decrease the gate current, or reduce the gate switching speed.
Reducing the voltage below 1.5 V results in rapid increases in error rates. Reducing current is a function mainly of the path length. Path lengths are already optimized to keep switching current at the minimum level attainable.
That leaves switching speed as the only large gain possible to increase efficiency in silicon chips. current high speed chips run at less than 10 GHZ. Running them higher literally melts the chip. To get speeds of over 2 GHZ, very aggressive cooling strategies are needed. At around 6 to 7 GHZ, we are reaching the limits of water or oil based cooling.
So, to get the higher efficiencies you want, you need to run a much slower processor. That is what cell phones do. You will probably not be running any current State-of-the-Art games on it. You may not be able to do more than a limited set of activities. But that is where you will be. Tablets and cell phones give you that and have the kind of power levels you are talking about.
Oh, and the screen size must be kept very small and resolution must be limited too. On a tablet, the screen and the sound system have a significant power draw too.
You are probably looking at a cell phone sized device.
Physics dictates that the power used by a chip is a function of the number of gates, the voltage of the gates, the operating current of the gates and the switching speed of those gates. To reduce the wattage, you can reduce the voltage (currently around 1.5 V in efficiency based processors), decrease the gate current, or reduce the gate switching speed.
Reducing the voltage below 1.5 V results in rapid increases in error rates. Reducing current is a function mainly of the path length. Path lengths are already optimized to keep switching current at the minimum level attainable.
That leaves switching speed as the only large gain possible to increase efficiency in silicon chips. current high speed chips run at less than 10 GHZ. Running them higher literally melts the chip. To get speeds of over 2 GHZ, very aggressive cooling strategies are needed. At around 6 to 7 GHZ, we are reaching the limits of water or oil based cooling.
So, to get the higher efficiencies you want, you need to run a much slower processor. That is what cell phones do. You will probably not be running any current State-of-the-Art games on it. You may not be able to do more than a limited set of activities. But that is where you will be. Tablets and cell phones give you that and have the kind of power levels you are talking about.
Oh, and the screen size must be kept very small and resolution must be limited too. On a tablet, the screen and the sound system have a significant power draw too.
You are probably looking at a cell phone sized device.
Maybe it's hardware limitations, but why do the vendors mix new with the old? If they are going to supply USB3 and SATA3.x, why don't they make all the ports USB3 or SATA 3.x? That way, I don't have to look too closely at the port I'm plugging the device into. I know not every device can benefit from the higher speeds, but at least I can just plug it in without worrying about whether it's in a 2 or 3 port.
You hit it correctly that the majority of the enterprise will not adopt these technologies. For the cube dweller that uses email, a web based ERP, and occasional spreadsheet, they clearly don't need Win8 or a bulldozer cpu. Yet, I discuss with department managers all the time about what they think they need, verses what their CFO's are willing to pay for.
While you suggest the cube dweller should look at replacing their "relic", you forget, they don't have the authority to do so, that's up to the CFO who is driven purely by profit. They don't care that cube resident is using an 8 year old pc. It still works and they get their job done. On the other hand, if it still works and they are productive, do they need more than 2 cores? I wish i had the answer.
While you suggest the cube dweller should look at replacing their "relic", you forget, they don't have the authority to do so, that's up to the CFO who is driven purely by profit. They don't care that cube resident is using an 8 year old pc. It still works and they get their job done. On the other hand, if it still works and they are productive, do they need more than 2 cores? I wish i had the answer.
mass production of DDR4 SDRAM in the second half of !!!!2102!!!! (see in original text)
With the way my budget has been these past 6-7 years. my next "upgrade" PC will be whatever castoffs I can find in the recycling bin, or whatever someone is selling at a tag sale because they just *had* to upgrade their gaming rig. All this grand posturing with new technology is fine, but the way the economy is going, no one will have the money to actually buy any of it.
Why as a computer enthusiest am I getting excited? I keep hearing that the PC Market is dead, but AMD, Intel and Nvidia keep pushing newer and faster. My question is when will I get a game to push these new technologies? Do I still need to go back to my 5 year old Crysis game to see if my new hardware can take it?
PS, TigerDirect claims that you can only use 9xx series motherboards for the new FX chips. My MSI can take it, (870A- G54) says so on the website. Plus my other beef is with both Newegg and TD, why do they always show top of the line Intel systems agains AMD "barebones" systems? I guess that equal competition hasn't favored well in advertising dollars.
PS, TigerDirect claims that you can only use 9xx series motherboards for the new FX chips. My MSI can take it, (870A- G54) says so on the website. Plus my other beef is with both Newegg and TD, why do they always show top of the line Intel systems agains AMD "barebones" systems? I guess that equal competition hasn't favored well in advertising dollars.
I've been waiting for a new interface/bus to the cpu chip for some time now. I mean with Ram running so fast and processors more than able to keep up, when will we go to 40 - 80 GB of memory on board or in chip so that we can have true instant boot. This would help the OS vendors as well because there would be less theft, when its already loaded/burned on a chip. I'm just saying even with new PCIe standard access times are in the 10-100s of miroseconds, with chip speeds in the sub-nanoseconds. This is where real performance gains will be.
But that didn't sell well.
I'd like the OS on a PCIe card slot. Firm coded with a write toggle dip switch.
or make the card so it only upgrades/writes when booted into a utility that only functions as an upgrade path.
Tired of ghosted disks.
I'd like the OS on a PCIe card slot. Firm coded with a write toggle dip switch.
or make the card so it only upgrades/writes when booted into a utility that only functions as an upgrade path.
Tired of ghosted disks.
Your enemy is the Speed of Light bus speeds are limited by the path length. The signal needs to be able to travel all the way across the machine and back, plus the time it takes for processing the signal.
The easiest solution for this is to shorten the path lengths. That means a smaller motherboard, and shorter cables. Faster speed hard drives will also be needed.
It's really a very complicated problem, but the basic limitation is still that pesky speed of light. There are a lot of speed up tricks being used, such as pre-fetching data, but the real show stopper is still the light speed limits. Using a standard speed of 3*10^8 for the speed of light, and figuring a 2.5 GHZ machine, I get a 12 CM path length. As the signal needs to travel all the way down the bus and back, that means that the maximum motherboard/system size is really just 6 CM. About 2 1/2 inches. I know, we all have 'faster' computers than that, but the truth is that those speed demon machines spend 95% of their time waiting. That's why my 5GHZ Alienware doesn't seem to run any faster in doing simple memory intensive tasks than my old K6-350 did 12 years ago. (That was my CAD station back in the day. The Alineware isn't really any faster as a CAD station. It does do a lot more intensive and attractive graphics, though.) So, even though it's an order of magnitude faster, it still isn't faster for many tasks.
The easiest solution for this is to shorten the path lengths. That means a smaller motherboard, and shorter cables. Faster speed hard drives will also be needed.
It's really a very complicated problem, but the basic limitation is still that pesky speed of light. There are a lot of speed up tricks being used, such as pre-fetching data, but the real show stopper is still the light speed limits. Using a standard speed of 3*10^8 for the speed of light, and figuring a 2.5 GHZ machine, I get a 12 CM path length. As the signal needs to travel all the way down the bus and back, that means that the maximum motherboard/system size is really just 6 CM. About 2 1/2 inches. I know, we all have 'faster' computers than that, but the truth is that those speed demon machines spend 95% of their time waiting. That's why my 5GHZ Alienware doesn't seem to run any faster in doing simple memory intensive tasks than my old K6-350 did 12 years ago. (That was my CAD station back in the day. The Alineware isn't really any faster as a CAD station. It does do a lot more intensive and attractive graphics, though.) So, even though it's an order of magnitude faster, it still isn't faster for many tasks.
All I want my computer to do is cold-boot in under 30 secs and ready to do work. Screw the nik-naks, screw the ding-dongs, screw the bells and whistles, screw the eye-ball candy. Just let me start working in under 30 seconds ... PLEASE!
I have Windows 7 stripped to the bare bones. Still takes over a minute to finish booting up. Ridiculous! My old Windows 95 system came closest ... 42 seconds.
I have Windows 7 stripped to the bare bones. Still takes over a minute to finish booting up. Ridiculous! My old Windows 95 system came closest ... 42 seconds.
The memory check takes more than 30 seconds, even in Linux.
True, it runs in the background, but to get it smaller, you will need a computer with smaller memory. What I see is needing more and more memory.
Of course, if you are willing to live with memory corruption and system crashes, you can always turn off the memory checks. Linux does allow that.
True, it runs in the background, but to get it smaller, you will need a computer with smaller memory. What I see is needing more and more memory.
Of course, if you are willing to live with memory corruption and system crashes, you can always turn off the memory checks. Linux does allow that.
I look forward to a small program that simultaneously streams mobile phone screen signals to PC and gains control over mobile phone (using PC keyboard and mouse) from a PC connected via USB. That even, if implemented as ROMware inside a LCD monitor with USB ports (connect phone, keyboard and mouse), can fast convert a mobile phone into a virtual computer workstation in no time.
An Android phone can do that without any physical connection. However, the size of the keyboard and the screen for I/O is a real killer.
USB 3: See how well it works and plays with USB 2 and USB 1 devices coexistent. Not a major factor in the purchase decision for now.
Thunderbolt (aka Light Peak): So intel and Apple have developed another competitor to USB, another "we don't want to play nice with others" interface. How many peripherals use FireWire? Lots if you have an apple. Not many if you don't. And Thunderbolt is completely incompatible with FireWire, so you'll be left with more junk in the bone yard.
SATA 3 - buggy for now, a bane not a boon, according to early reports.
SSD - price is coming down, a cool toy. Jury is still out on long-term reliability compared to magnetic media. Hard facts, not simulator projections. I can't remember how many "100 year MTBF" components I've replaced, and I'm nowhere near 100.
Bulldozer and Sandy Bridge-E: see how good they really are, and whether there are drivers that will actually use the capabilities of the technology. (Remember multi-core and XP? It didn't buy you anything because the OS couldn't use it.)
DDR-4: Why bother listing something as "don???t expect to see DDR4 memory in desktops anytime soon"?
Windows-8: another MS vaporware. Called Beta, really more like Alpha. How many more years until it is really released? Does TR get kickbacks for singing the Microsoft song?
I had great hopes from the title of the article. It was another disappointment.
Thunderbolt (aka Light Peak): So intel and Apple have developed another competitor to USB, another "we don't want to play nice with others" interface. How many peripherals use FireWire? Lots if you have an apple. Not many if you don't. And Thunderbolt is completely incompatible with FireWire, so you'll be left with more junk in the bone yard.
SATA 3 - buggy for now, a bane not a boon, according to early reports.
SSD - price is coming down, a cool toy. Jury is still out on long-term reliability compared to magnetic media. Hard facts, not simulator projections. I can't remember how many "100 year MTBF" components I've replaced, and I'm nowhere near 100.
Bulldozer and Sandy Bridge-E: see how good they really are, and whether there are drivers that will actually use the capabilities of the technology. (Remember multi-core and XP? It didn't buy you anything because the OS couldn't use it.)
DDR-4: Why bother listing something as "don???t expect to see DDR4 memory in desktops anytime soon"?
Windows-8: another MS vaporware. Called Beta, really more like Alpha. How many more years until it is really released? Does TR get kickbacks for singing the Microsoft song?
I had great hopes from the title of the article. It was another disappointment.
I find it interesting that all the hardware you're talking about is physically connected. A few years ago the talk was of everything becoming wireless, and certainly WiFi has made inroads - obviously - but still we depend on copper. When can I look forward to seeing the end of the spaghetti under my desk?
Simple little answer in just three letters.
RFI
Imagine the interference if a phone center, say had 100 users all using around 5 devices that must be connected to one and only one hub, and then had to connect to several servers, and around 10 or so printers, scanners, and so forth.
Now, multiply that by about 10 times more.
Behold, GIGO!
RFI
Imagine the interference if a phone center, say had 100 users all using around 5 devices that must be connected to one and only one hub, and then had to connect to several servers, and around 10 or so printers, scanners, and so forth.
Now, multiply that by about 10 times more.
Behold, GIGO!
"Will reaching out to touch a monitor eight hours a day cause physiological pain or even harm?"
Really? In a world where many folks do manual labor for 10/12 hours a day, they're worried occasionally raising your arm might hurt you? These guys need to get out more. Gesture control is the way of the future, and as long as keyboards are still part of our data entry, the gestures will only be a small part of the over all operation.
Really? In a world where many folks do manual labor for 10/12 hours a day, they're worried occasionally raising your arm might hurt you? These guys need to get out more. Gesture control is the way of the future, and as long as keyboards are still part of our data entry, the gestures will only be a small part of the over all operation.
DDR4 SDRAM in the second half of 2102.....LOL dont think I or my current PC will live that long!
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