Brett (ggtgp.delete@this.yahoo.com) on January 28, 2017 3:33 pm wrote:
> NickK (redhavoc.delete@this.yahoo.co.uk) on January 23, 2017 2:36 pm wrote:
> > > It's all very well analysing the docs you reference but in this
> > > case, there is a much easier way to get the information.
> > >
> > > http://www.anandtech.com/show/8706/imagination-announces-powervr-series7-gpus-series7xt-series7xe
> >
> > From what I understand Apple has most, if not all, of the software development in house. A GPU being a
> > difficult beast on its own I would not be surprised if ImgTech
> > supplies some of the very low level interfacing
> > software/driver of the GPU and Apple creates all the clever stuff on top (driver/compiler).
> >
> > Concerning the GPU hirings that Apple has done until recently,
> > they were always high level architects/managers
> > rather than people doing the dirty work of implementing a GPU. I would not be surprised if they were giving
> > a direction in the software teams, and deciding the special 'ingredients' they wanted in their hardware.
> > Similar to what Sony/Microsoft have done to their latest generation consoles with AMD.
>
> OMG, you must be a PC guy and think Apple would CLONE an existing NVidea/AMD decade old now obsolete
> design. Thus Apple would need a bunch of mid-level and low level employees from NVidea/AMD.
>
> Was the Macintosh a CP/M clone just like DOS? Was the Apple disk controller a copy of a typical disk
> controller? Was the iPad just like Windows Mobile? Was the iPhone just a clone of a flip phone?
>
> Wavefront technology is not efficient, it was just least worst when dealing with memory
> that is ~80 cycles away. The iPad Pro is the only iDevice that renders from ram, all the
> other iDevices render from L3 cache. One huge massively ported cache that is far away
> is not great either, something crazy like distributed ram could work really well.
>
> When/if Apple produces a GPU it will hit you like Apple's 64 bit ARM, you will look at
> the performance and die size and thermals and you will go WHAT THE F*CK IS THAT!?!
>
> > Also any IP going into an apple product will need to be released
> > about a year before it will make to the product
> > itself. It needs to be implemented into a chip (it would take
> > 2-3 of months once all IP is collected), manufactured
> > in the Fab (another couple of months), and then build at
> > least in a development platform for further software
> > development, optimisation and testing. I would not be surprised
> > if this testing development process takes about
> > 5-6 months from the rumors I hear. Finally there needs to
> > be a production ramp up of the final product before
> > release so that they have adequate numbers, but that could overlap with the previous stage.
> >
> > Also Apple has the muscle and influence to dictate to ImgTech what becomes public and what
> > not. They may also pay a premium for it, and apple is knows as paying well for services
> > and silicon. I would not be surprised that the 'free' precision conversion is an exaggeration
> > from apple, as some power would be spend, and possibly a cautious approach from ImgTech
> > for the same exact reason. Both may see this from completely different angles.
> >
> > I would be brave and rule out 5s, 6, 6s and 7 as an apple designed GPU. given the recent hirings,
> > I would not be surprised if they may have bought a license to get the a current design and start
> > making their own derivatives, and potentially we could see their in-house GPU in the 2018 line.
> > If they start from scratch then I would expect the in-house chip to be delivered 2019-2020.

Given that "Apple confirms that they are ditching Imagination within two years" it is time to look at our respective predictions on that happening, above.

Apple's decision not to bother with a variable length instruction set for ARM64 is also clear, with the big changes in portable bitcode, and that bitcode is required. ARM64 was never a long term plan, and is on the chopping block next.

Dear Apple security, I have not talked to anyone that is so much as a friend of a friend of an Apple employee in well over a decade. Just like a lowly Lieutenant in the army before a battle that sees signes that a specific target is going to be attacked, opens his mouth about it and is hauled into the generals office suspecting a leak, there was none. You can check my email and my phone records and my empty Facebook and my lack of Twitter, etc.

Life is going to suck if I finish my game and it is successful, because I will have to shut my mouth. Like everyone else shut their mouths about doing a six wide x86 chip here for the past four years.