IBM reveals hexa-core PowerPC 5.5GHz processor

Posted on Thursday, August 30 2012 @ 20:26 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
IBM introduced the zEnterprise EC12, a new mainframe with the company's new hexa-core 5.5GHz PowerPC processor. Full details at Bit Tech.
An application-tuned out-of-order superscalar chip, the unnamed zEC12 processor includes some serious technology beyond its eyebrow-raising stock clock speed. Perhaps its biggest improvement over IBM's previous processors - and those from competing companies - is support for transactional execution, a system which treats system resources in a similar manner to a transactional database system to eliminate the overhead of software locking systems.

Although this requires software support - with IBM declaring that it will be adding support for the transactional execution facility of the new chip in an upcoming update to its Java runtime environment - it promises to seriously improve the efficiency of many-core systems. With the top-end zEC12 system packing a whopping 120 cores, that's something which is key to keeping things ticking over.
IBM zEC12


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Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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