Intel Nehalem Demo Systems

by Anand Lal Shimpi on 8/19/2008 6:46 PM EST
Comments Locked

24 Comments

Back to Article

  • supremelaw - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    We have a patent pending on a method to install
    any OS into a user-defined region of RAM.

    Coupled with native OS features and/or
    third-party software like RamDisk Plus,
    keeping the most recently used working set
    in high-speed RAM will not only eliminate
    slow disk I/O for OS tasks, but
    the speed increase is already known
    to be rather dramatic.

    We observed 2,700 MB/second doing a "raw read"
    with PerformanceTest version 4.0 from a RAMDISK
    using Corsair DDR2-800 / PC2-6400 XMS2 SDRAM:

    http://www.supremelaw.org/systems/io.tests/RAMDISK...">http://www.supremelaw.org/systems/io.tests/RAMDISK...

    Start with 18 DIMM slots @ 8GB = 144GB total.

    Then, format C: as a ~30GB memory-resident file system,
    install Windows XP, Vista etc. into that partition,
    and the system still has 144 - 30 = 114GB of hi-speed
    RAM available for system and application software tasks.

    It's a simple concept with very far-reaching potential.

    Sincerely yours,
    /s/ Paul Andrew Mitchell, Inventor and
    Webmaster, Supreme Law Library

    All Rights Reserved without Prejudice
  • ShroudedNight - Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - link

    I have a (theoretical) system to install any OS into a user-defined region of RAM too. It's called a kernel hack allowing user-specified virtual memory mappings + a virtual machine. Done.

    Please God, I hope this patent gets thrown out for "obvious" if not "prior art"
  • aeternitas - Saturday, August 23, 2008 - link

    I like how your 4bit graph is in jpeg. Next time, 'invent' a clue too.
  • melgross - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    I'm actually a little disappointed at the number of memory slots.

    My older Mac Pro has 8. Buying 8GB RAM modules, even assuming they will be available will cost far too much now. Even 4GB modules are up on price, but are easier. I have all 8 filled with 2GB sticks, and was hoping to at least be able to do the same when the new one comes out. I'd love to see 9 slots.
  • SocrPlyr - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    Your older Mac Pro is a Xeon based system, which means it is meant for workstations/servers. Look at the server system, it has 18 slots (18x8GB=144GB). If Apple kept with those types of parts they would have no problem with doing 9 slots. Also this would be a decent step up for enthusiasts to have 6 slots as current boards only have 4. I am hoping down the road low end boards come with 3 as it will allow for definite performance increases when adding more RAM (each time you add a stick it gives you another channel). This will make lower end systems easy to get not only the boost from more RAM but also the extra channels (I am betting that OEMs only fill 2 DIMMs).
  • anonymous x - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    wow, they sure like antec cases, terrible cabling though.
  • bibblelabs - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    That 16 way utilization graph isn't exactly inspiring.

    It should look something like the one in this video:
    http://www.bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/b5-16wi...">http://www.bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/b5-16wi...

    Eric

  • kilkennycat - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    ......of their first-gen 45nm (Shanghai etc) systems ????

    Naw, just marketing bluster about how great IBM's 22nm node will be 4 years in the future. Zero publicly visible 45nm AMD CPUs.

    Do I detect really desperate grasping at straws? First-gen 45nm AMD vs true 2nd gen Intel shipping at the same time. No recovery of AMD huge development costs on their 45nm efforts --- Intel can well afford to deliberately sink AMD by polishing up all the price/performance arrows in their quiver.

  • AggressorPrime - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    That 144GB system was using 111GB to do something, what needs 111GB of RAM?
  • 9nails - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    Windows XP x64 infected with MalWare can use up to 111 GB RAM!
  • Mclendo06 - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    Solving a FEA problem with a few million degrees of freedom using a direct sparse solver could chew through 111 GB of RAM. I max out 4 GB at about 250,000 DOFs on my workstation, and I don't think that memory requirement scales linearly with that sort of problem.
  • Ramos22 - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    That my friend would be a server build..
  • spuddyt - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    apart from vista?
  • ElFindo - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    If your Vista takes up 111GB you're doing something very, very wrong. Not to mention filled to the brim with spyware and the like.
  • JonnyDough - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    Next time try to note hints of sarcasm on the internets. Yes, that too was sarcasm. Touché.
  • AssBall - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    I shudder to think how much that many 8GB DD3 modules dents the bank account. Interesting though.
  • strikeback03 - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    but they call it "affordable"...
  • spuddyt - Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - link

    Is running an ATI card.... (I mean I wasn't really expecting larrabee or anything, but it just amused me)
  • JonnyDough - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    Just because Intel and AMD both make entire platforms doesn't mean that they can't use a high end vid card for benchmarking bro. If you work at a factory that makes parts for Ford I would still expect you might still drive a Lamborghini home. Of course, that would pretty much make you the CEO of that little auto part franchise in which case you might also run an Intel setup with an AMD graphics card. If you own a Lamb, then you would also probably want the fastest PC available, which currently is an Intel processor with an AMD graphics card. Now quit acting so surprised.
  • 9nails - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    The system with 6 RAM slots? I wonder if that's a server product. I haven't seen that many RAM slots in a consumer desktop in a while.
  • Gasaraki88 - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    6 ram slots is the standard for Nehalem. They will probably make a low cost version with less slots.
  • Casper42 - Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - link

    You couldn't bother to rotate the pics the proper direction before posting them huh guys?

    http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=3531">http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=3531
  • FireTech - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link

    You could just tilt your head 90degrees...
  • JonnyDough - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - link

    If you have to tilt your head then you shouldn't care about these slides. Instead, you should be concerned with getting yourself a rotating/swiveling LCD monitor and go ahead and dump that big CRT you bought in '93 that is taking up all your desk space. I'm not sure which is worse, wrist cramps from having your keyboard on your knees or neck cramps from having to turn your head sideways. Upgrade!

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now