Exercise 7.18 AMD has recently announced that they will be integrating a graphics processing unit with their x86 cores in a single package, though with different clocks for each of the cores. This is an example of a heterogeneous multiprocessor system which we expect to see produced commericially in the near future. One of the key design points will be to allow for fast data communication between the CPU and the GPU.

Presently communication must be performed between discrete CPU and GPU chips. But this is changing in AMD’s Fusion architecture. Presently the plan is to use multiple (at least 16) PCI express channels to facilitate intercommunication.

Intel is also jumping into this arena with their Lar rabee chip. Intel is considering using their QuickPath interconnect technology.

7.18.1 [25] <7.7> Compare the bandwidth and latency associated with these two interconnect technologies.