juanrga (nospam.delete@this.juanrga.com) on August 16, 2014 4:55 am wrote:
.....
>
> Microprocessor report estimates that Cavium 80W (estimated) SoC will score 350 on SPECint_2006. They
> give 320 score for the 95W Xeon E5-2470 v2. Regarding efficiency, Microprocessor report writes:
>
>

Compared with Xeon, ThunderX could deliver 50% to 100% more performance per watt and per dollar,
> particularly when considering the additional chips that Intel needs to complete the server design.
> Integrating the system fabric switch, a feature that Calxeda also provided, further reduces system
> (rack-level) cost compared with a Xeon-based design. These advantages should be enough to gain
> design wins against Intel, particularly in a server market
> that is hungry for an alternative to the x86 giant.

Well Intel's willingness to use its cash to crush any opposition and subjugate its partners into clients hasn't exactly gained it a lot of friends in the electronics and computer industry. However that is pretty much immaterial as far as end users are concerned. I really don't see that the customers in the server market are 'hungry for an alternative'. And it is the customers who hand over the money.