The Octoplier: A New SoftwareThe Octoplier: A New Software Device Affecting Hardware Device Affecting Hardware

Group 4Group 4

Austin BeamAustin Beam Brittany DearienBrittany Dearien

Warren IrwinWarren Irwin Amanda MedlinAmanda Medlin Rob WestermanRob Westerman

The Basis of a Cell ChipThe Basis of a Cell Chip

Every cell chip contains a Power Process Every cell chip contains a Power Process Element know as a Power PC970 Element know as a Power PC970 processing core.processing core.

This core is able to run Linux and other forms of This core is able to run Linux and other forms of readily available software.readily available software.

These consists of 8 Synergistic Processing These consists of 8 Synergistic Processing Elements (SPE’s) which run certain programsElements (SPE’s) which run certain programs

The difficulty here is each has a separate connection to The difficulty here is each has a separate connection to memory.memory.

How do we deal with this?How do we deal with this?

The Octoplier: a software development The Octoplier: a software development tool that will convert a single human tool that will convert a single human written program into several different written program into several different programs that run simultaneously on cells programs that run simultaneously on cells virtuous cores.virtuous cores.

This allows programs to be divided into parts by This allows programs to be divided into parts by the compiler through software, regulating the the compiler through software, regulating the SPE’sSPE’s

What will this do?What will this do?

It is designed to: It is designed to:

Increase Competitive AdvantageIncrease Competitive Advantage

Reduce hardware complexityReduce hardware complexity Produce faster clock cyclesProduce faster clock cycles

Increase predictability Increase predictability

Eliminate demand for independent engineeringEliminate demand for independent engineering

How it works…How it works…

Can run at speeds of up to 4GHz as well as run Can run at speeds of up to 4GHz as well as run 9 processing cores 9 processing cores (exceeding the previous 8)(exceeding the previous 8)

Removes the manual aspect of programming out Removes the manual aspect of programming out of the pictureof the picture

Develops better instructions in a high level Develops better instructions in a high level language for the SPE’s as opposed to the language for the SPE’s as opposed to the Power PC CorePower PC Core

Designates each tasks through a language Designates each tasks through a language designed in the chip.designed in the chip.

ParallelizationParallelization allows users to develop allows users to develop applications with a single shared memory applications with a single shared memory sourcesource

Where have I seen this?Where have I seen this?

Technology originally known as the Cell Technology originally known as the Cell Broadband Engine Broadband Engine

Sony’s Playstation 3 GamesSony’s Playstation 3 Games Toshiba High Definition TelevisionToshiba High Definition Television

Because videogames can also be good for Because videogames can also be good for technical computing, IBM and Mercury are technical computing, IBM and Mercury are developing Cell based systems includingdeveloping Cell based systems including

3D Imaging3D Imaging Radar Signal ProcessingRadar Signal Processing

Goals ofGoals of

Enhance programmability while continuing Enhance programmability while continuing to provide high performanceto provide high performance

Creating new software of writing code and Creating new software of writing code and distributing the programs as hardwaredistributing the programs as hardware

Create a wider use of Cell based serversCreate a wider use of Cell based servers

Octopliers in the FutureOctopliers in the Future

Could be seen in Could be seen in everyday technology everyday technology such assuch as

RegistersRegisters

CamerasCameras

Cell PhonesCell Phones

Soon to be released Soon to be released Playstation 3Playstation 3