NVIDIA Analyst Day: Jen-sun Goes to the Mat With Intel
by Derek Wilson on April 11, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
New Spin on Computer Marketing
Beyond all the FUD fighting, NVIDIA talked about a new push toward marketing computers not in terms of CPU speed or GPU model number or whatever the spec of the week may be, but in terms of what the computer is designed to do. NVIDIA, OEMs, and retailers have all gotten behind the idea that it would be a good practice to start building and marketing their systems not as low-end, midrange, or high-end, but as gaming computers, multimedia computers, workstations, or business application computers.
If system builders choose to balance CPU and GPU power to favor specific applications rather than just throwing all low-end components, all midrange components, or all high-end components at a system, they can deliver much better bang for the buck to people looking to use their PC for a specific purpose. NVIDIA refers to this idea as the Optimized PC Initiative. It's kind of a side note and not an NVIDIA centric line of thought, but it is an idea that could really help the uninitiated understand what they are getting when they purchase a system. In fact, this is one of the areas that really impressed us with the Gateway P-6831 FX notebook: that it is balanced for great midrange gaming performance.
Final Words
No one can deny Jen-sun's love for his company and his hardware, but while his presentation was impressive and impassioned, we must not discount Intel's ability to compete. They are impressive in capability (they've got a lot of brilliant engineers over there) and size (they've also got a lot of money). We also can't forget that Intel is a silicon company. They've got absolutely huge resources to dedicate to producing the most bleeding edge silicon base to house their ICs. With the sheer size and power requirements of today's GPUs, every little bit helps. The combination of Intel engineers building a massively parallel floating point engine to match the power of the GPU, and then fabbed on Intel silicon could be a huge coup if they are only willing to really commit to the task and put their money (and their minds) where it matters most.
Now that both Intel and NVIDIA have hit the mat and acknowledged each other as true competitors, we hope to see some huge things happen in terms of computer graphics and massively parallel floating point computing in general. Today marks the beginning of a new era in the desktop PC world: the beginning a battle between the world's greatest silicon company and the world's greatest dedicated IC design house.
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panfist - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
There is a special place in my heart and in gaming history for John Carmack, but I don't think he's necessarily the one to trust when it comes to forecasting the industry anymore.Doom3 the single player game was disappointing, and the engine never really had a big hit game, either.
Now maybe if Valve or Epic weighed in with similar comments...
StormEffect - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
It was called Prey and it was fairly successful.Sunrise089 - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
In addition, while there wasn't one crazy breakthrough hit (and on the PC, what really is these days?), I would guess that in total installed copies of Doom 3, Quake 4, Prey, and Quake Wars is pretty competitive to some of the other contemporary engines.Conroe - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
If Intel could integrate a GPU that actually could run games what do you think would happen to nvidia? He sounds a little frightened to me.jtleon - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
Why is it in Jen-sun's best interest to draw attention to Intel's failed IGP?Consider the end user experience - I tried using Intel's IGP - and became so horribly frustrated that I abandoned the IGP altogether in disgust! As a competitor, Jen-sun cannot buy such a powerful motivator to drive customers to nVidia (or ATI), right?
Jen-sun should be praising Intel for their IGP, and encourage them to continue the "good" work for nVidia! Don't ridicule Intel - Don't dare them to beat you.
Jen-sun mis-managed this Financial Meeting and cannot retract his indignation - He has challenged Intel to a Dual, and he cannot win!
Regards,
jtleon
Griswold - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
"He has challenged Intel to a Dual, and he cannot win!"A dual what? Dual-core maybe?
Its spelled d-u-e-l.
jtleon - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
Thanks Griswold...saw the mistake as I hit the Post button - unfortunately this site does not offer an "edit" after the fact!poohbear - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
thanks for pointing out the obvious to all of us w/ a grade 3 and above education Griswold. Now, do us all a favor and go "fuk" yourself, and dont tell me how to spell fuk on the internet. Thank you very much.jtleon - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
No doubt Jen-sun is very afraid. Intel could buy his entire engineering team - should they so choose.However, such fear is a vital ingredient (always has been) to generate true innovation. We should be worried if Jen-sun is not afraid.
Regards,
jtleon
Lonyo - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link
Intel are arguably a long term company.It may be that no one can see anything happening in the near future, but give it time and we will see things shifting I am sure.
They are in it for the long haul, but they also want to show they are making short term steps to get there.
The Atom is by no means a finished platform, nor does it operate where Intel are aiming for, but it's a start on the road.