Multi-Way Programmable Shader Pipelines: RSX

[centerofadmiration]

Could someone with technical know-how explain a little ( or alot ) about this RSX feature that Nvidia called the " heart " of the RSX design? Alot has been written about everything else it seems about the RSX but nothing has been said about what exactly this archictecture design actually means in the real world.

So could anyone explain it to me?

 

[KimB]

As far as I know, the only main difference between the GeForce 7800 GTX and the RSX that will be in the Playstation 3 is in the interface between the GPU and CPU.

 

[Razor1]

its pretty much a buzz word (multi way programmable shader pipelines), the architecture resembles the g70.

 

[TurnDragoZeroV2G]

Just fancy wording to impress the masses.

Hey, if it works...

 

[centerofadmiration]

How does the architecture resemble the G70? From what I've been able to read and seen the RSX wasn't even finished until last month, which means the RSX had 6 months more development since E3 and has been in development since after the G70.

I dunno, I don't buy the buzzword stuff. There has to be something unique to it, or SOMETHING to it lol.

 

[Razor1]

How does the architecture resemble the G70? From what I've been able to read and seen the RSX wasn't even finished until last month, which means the RSX had 6 months more development since E3 and has been in development since after the G70.

I dunno, I don't buy the buzzword stuff. There has to be something unique to it, or SOMETHING to it lol.

From what I've heard its exactly like the g70 just on Sony's .09 process. Really hasn't been much info on this chip yet though, they might have added some new features to it, but really don't think they did too much since nV really didn't have much time to create the RSX chip.

 

[TurnDragoZeroV2G]

A different process, no PureVideo, addition of Turbocache and a FlexI/O interface?

Even if it doesn't sound like much, it is when it comes to taping out a solid chip. Doesn't mean the underlying structure isn't the same, or of the same lineage, as G70. And I believe these were the exact comments that came from NV at E3, as far as I remember. Same parent architecture and such.

 

[centerofadmiration]

From what I've heard its exactly like the g70 just on Sony's .09 process. Really hasn't been much info on this chip yet though, they might have added some new features to it, but really don't think they did too much since nV really didn't have much time to create the RSX chip.

Nothing I've read points to a G70 besides the MHz of the processor and the transistor counts ( but Nvidia just says 300m+, nothing specific ). And Nvidia has had since early 2002 to create the RSX compared to early 2003 on the ATI Xenos processor. Public announcement of the calloboration of Nvidia and Sony said they had been working together for 2 years putting the start of the RSX at early/mid 2002 area.

And wouldnt building a processor from the ground up to run at 90nm instead of 110nm change the overall architectural choices a good deal?

 

[TurnDragoZeroV2G]

ATI and MS have been working together for far longer than that.

Not necessarily on Xenos, but they've been working together for quite a while.

And transistor-for-transistor they can be totally different, coming up on two different processes. But that's not the level we're talking about, anyhow. If you feel you have a good pipeline structure, you may not feel the need to go changing it around completely.

 

[centerofadmiration]

How many transistors do pipelines usually take up anyhow? I know, im question happy this Christmas Day

 

[ToxicTaZ]

RSX is a cut down 90nm G71?

Is not the RSX just a cut down verson of the 90nm G71?

- 90nm RSX @550MHz (24-pipe?)
- 90nm G71 @750MHz (32/24-pipe?)

I gess we will all know about it on Jan 5/2006

http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_26082.html

CES 2006 1/5 - 1/8, 2006


Catch NVIDIA at the Consumer Electronics Show 2006!

CES 2006: January 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Stop by the NVIDIA booth (#36200) located on the upper level of the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall. This year NVIDIA will showcase the latest technologies which enable users to experience an unparalleled High Definition experience – in PC games, video, and DVD playback.

All the new 90nm Nvidia's GPUs are going to be there!

G71/RSX, G72, G73

To show off there new driver too!

Forceware 90xx

 

[Razor1]

How many transistors do pipelines usually take up anyhow? I know, im question happy this Christmas Day

Oh 10 mill or so. But it really depends on what is the pipeline.

 

[Pete]

Has NV referred to RSX pipes as "multi-way programmable" from the beginning? Is that what spawned rumors of Cell doing the vertex duties? B/c it sounds like unified shaders to unedumacated me.

Edit: Thanks, Jawed.

 

[Jawed]

It just means that the pixel shader hardware is superscalar. 6800U is superscalar.

Jawed

 

[zidane1strife]

As far as I know, the only main difference between the GeForce 7800 GTX and the RSX that will be in the Playstation 3 is in the interface between the GPU and CPU.

Uhmm, the 7800s have been out for months, the cell's been out even longer(aka, flexio interface), the sony/nvidia announcement was over a year ago, iirc, and rsxs if available might've just recently began to trickle to a few dev.s.