Reverse Multithreading CPUs

microbee writes "The register is reporting that AMD is researching a new CPU technology called 'reverse multithreading', which essentially does the opposite of hyperthreading in that it presents multiple cores to the OS as a single-core processor." From the article: "The technology is aimed at the next architecture after K8, according to a purported company mole cited by French-language site x86 Secret. It's well known that two CPUs - whether two separate processors or two cores on the same die - don't generate, clock for clock, double the performance of a single CPU. However, by making the CPU once again appear as a single logical processor, AMD is claimed to believe it may be able to double the single-chip performance with a two-core chip or provide quadruple the performance with a quad-core processor."

I suggest a compromise

[Quaoar]

I believe that one and a half cores, sideways-threaded, is the way to go.

Sounds familiar

[Anonymous Coward]

Didn't they do this on Star Trek once to get more power or something?

Re:Huh?

[mrscorpio]

......these amps go to 11!

Re:I suggest a compromise

[mctk]

Of cores!

may not want to go back.. yeah right

[igotmybfg]

However, by the time the technology ships - if it proves real, and ever becomes more than a lab experiment - the software industry will have had several years focusing on multi-threaded apps, and it may not want to go back.

Hah, yeah right, we started parallel programming just this semester and already I want to kill myself. "May not want to go back"? I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Gotta love these CPU companies...

[__aaclcg7560]

First, they get the software industry's licensing panties in a knot because users only want to pay a license fee for one physical chip instead of paying for each processor on the chip. Now, twisting the panties in other direction, they want to reverse all that by representing multiple processors as one virtual processor. Would that be covered by a multi or single processor license agreement? Do I still get free wedgie with that one?

Re:I suggest a compromise

[PunTrollCritic]

Score -1 Punny

I know...

[Expert Determination]

Hyperthreading makes one core look like two. Reverse hyperthreading makes two cores look like one. So if we chain reverse hyperthreading with hyperthreading we can make one core look like one core but have twice as many features for the marketing department to brag about.

Re:Sounds familiar

[aliens]

No that was Ghostbusters. They crossed the streams.

Not True!

[Gorimek]

We have always been at war with hyperthreading!