In the other thread you asked when (in project time lines) might be a good time to approach Gabe. I think you just answered that. ;) Get the simulator working smoothly and the basic building blocks "working" so to speak, then once you have a good estimate of projected power envelope / performance characteristics you are good to go.
That being said, a Ping there way is certainly tempting. Gary On Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 12:37 PM, Timothy Normand Miller <[email protected]>wrote: > I have different short-term goals for the simulator and reference design. > For the simulator, the number of stream multiprocessors is just a > configuration parameter. We can scale it to be as large as we want and > simulate any existing GPU's timing characteristics. > > For the reference design, I'm going to code up one SP. Then convert that > to one SM. Then build multiple SM's into a thread processor. In steps. > In this case, the target is something like PowerVR's 4-core GPU used in > smartphones. My reference design will execute 64 threads at once in a > single SM, 4-wide SIMT, where the pipeline depth is 14 and there are 16 > quads of threads run round-robin in a barrel processor. This is all > RTL-level stuff, but with some work, it could be synthesized and run on > FPGA or merged into another design on ASIC. > > > On Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 3:31 PM, gary sheppard <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Just need to get a Reference Point end goal jotted down, so you know what >> it is you are working towards. How much performance does this GPU need? How >> energy efficient does it need to be? Does it need Compute for physics? Once >> those end goals are jotted down then it is time to hit the grind. Digging >> in before you have a set of goals might actually slow things down? >> >> When Can I Buy One ;) >> Gary >> >> >> >> On Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 11:19 AM, Timothy Normand Miller < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Steam is a business that wants to sell games, and they have found that >>> Linux is a good platform. They have gotten help from the graphics card >>> vendors, but they've also had complaints. If there were an >>> open-architecture GPU, that they could directly influence, this MIGHT >>> provide them with some advantages that could positively impact their bottom >>> line. Or not. They still have to support other graphics cards with >>> proprietary drivers. Is it worth their time to support yet another, even >>> if it's easier to support? But it's not easier, because to maximize their >>> benefit, they'd have to help develop it. >>> >>> Whatever deal we strike with them, our graphics solution has to be a >>> _direct_ source of revenue for them. They should not only profit from >>> selling more games but also from selling graphics cards. I'm uncomfortable >>> with the idea giving them full ownership. But having them profit from >>> every chip sold (with limitations) is a viable approach. I think that we'd >>> actually make MORE money from licensing the design as an IP core -- if they >>> got in on the ground floor, they could also make millions in revenue from >>> licensing from companies like Apple, Nokia, and Samsung embedding the >>> design in their smart phones. >>> >>> But do you see how far ahead of things I'm getting? A lot of this >>> discussion is nothing but hot air. I have a reasonable path towards >>> developing something with short-term utility, and what I need right now is >>> help on development. Steam might be sensible to not listen to us until we >>> have a complete set of masks for a complete GPU in 32nm process technology. >>> Nothing is stopping us from getting there besides a bunch of distractions. >>> >>> Mind you, someone probably thought the whole Steam idea was a >>> distraction, while I think it's a good idea, so I'm not saying to stop >>> brain-storming. I'm just saying that we should divert more of our energy >>> towards developing an energy-efficient GPU. The more we get distracted by >>> pie-in-the-sky ambitions, the longer it'll take us to make something even >>> mediocre. First, we do the things we can do now, with the resources we >>> have, and then we use those to achieve something else. >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Dec 8, 2012 at 1:23 AM, Gregory Carter <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> Itemized List >>>> >>>> 1) I would not suggest asking for profits of the game revenue. >>>> 2) I would suggest the method for accumulating capital for the design >>>> process be directly integrated into the Steam Checkout process for gamers. >>>> The idea is to get Windows gamers to donate as well as Linux. :-) >>>> 3) Cobranding possibility with Steam games (Nice Animation that comes >>>> up that says "Works Best with Open-Graphics") for Steam games to make >>>> average joe look for that card with the projects name on it. Also bring up >>>> the possibility of selling the card with games made by Steam developers. >>>> >>>> 4) I would offer to provide free cards to Steam developers early. In >>>> consideration of the fact open-graphics will produce a wide range of cards, >>>> low end, middle end, and high end. We want driver feed back from the >>>> developers early so grunts like me and others can fix things. >>>> >>>> 5) What will be the consequences of AMD or Nvidia pursuing a lawsuit >>>> against OpenGraphics for silly patent infringement? Corporations think >>>> competition is a sin, and prefer fascism. Take note of the Apple/SAMSUNG >>>> and other lawsuits based on design of product. >>>> >>>> Personally there is no way Nvidia and AMD will be able to compete >>>> against a fully open hardware stack. I also believe secret proprietary >>>> agreements are bullsh*t. The real reason why they want things secret is >>>> because not only do corporations hate competition, they steal others hard >>>> work like bandits. >>>> >>>> Keeping things proprietary covers their tracks and keeps them out of >>>> court. >>>> >>>> So I cannot understate the gravity of #3. >>>> >>>> 6) What sorts of protections can we institute to protect the capital >>>> from lawsuits so effectively if AMD or Nvidia don't like our design, they >>>> will get jack if they sue and win? Meanwhile, the project can continue >>>> without being affected from those a**holes. I mean where can the hosting >>>> site be for the project that will be far enough removed from the US >>>> Department of Commerce and other US corporations that want the project >>>> shutdown? >>>> >>>> What sort of organizational controls as an organization will be >>>> acceptable for the use of that capital/donations of the Steam >>>> community/Linux Community? >>>> >>>> -gc >>>> >>>> >>>> On 12/07/2012 11:17 PM, Dieter BSD wrote: >>>> >>>>> Gregory writes: >>>>> >>>>>> Maybe someone should write a letter to Steam and say: >>>>>> >>>>>> Dear Steam, >>>>>> >>>>>> Given how Microsoft is trying to screw everyone this Xmas with >>>>>> Windows 8, and seeing you had such bad luck with the Video blobs from >>>>>> vendors, but good luck with the open source stuff...really only one >>>>>> thing is missing. >>>>>> >>>>>> An open source card, which, you have a vested interested in helping >>>>>> fund >>>>>> or develop with the community. >>>>>> >>>>>> If you please put on your Steam page a percentage of how much of the >>>>>> profits for the Linux games goes to a Chip Foundry fund so you and the >>>>>> community can get Graphics hardware with 3D capabilities that are >>>>>> decent, we would wuv you. >>>>>> >>>>> Not a bad idea. All we need is someone with ueber diplomatic skills. >>>>> Which isn't me, unfortunately. Anyone have ueber diplomatic skills? >>>>> Anyone happen to be friends with people from Steam? >>>>> >>>>> Here's my feeble attempt: >>>>> >>>>> Dear Steam, >>>>> >>>>> We at the Open Graphics Project have read about the trouble Steam >>>>> has been having with binary blobs, and your relative success with >>>>> FLOSS. >>>>> We are working on developing a graphics card that is completely >>>>> documented, >>>>> so that FLOSS OSes can have proper device drivers that work correctly. >>>>> >>>>> As you are doubtlessly aware, the lack of a properly documented >>>>> graphics card is a major sore point in the FLOSS community. Sponsorship >>>>> of a "Steam Powered" graphics card would generate an enormous amount of >>>>> goodwill. We look forward to discussing the possibility of working >>>>> together >>>>> with you at your convenience. >>>>> >>>>> ------ >>>>> >>>>> Ok, perhaps some diplomatic wizard can fix that up. >>>>> >>>>> What do we need to do to prepare, in case they are actually interested? >>>>> Will they want a demo of the OGD1? A detailed business plan? >>>>> Something else? >>>>> ______________________________**_________________ >>>>> Open-graphics mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://lists.duskglow.com/**mailman/listinfo/open-graphics<http://lists.duskglow.com/mailman/listinfo/open-graphics> >>>>> List service provided by Duskglow Consulting, LLC (www.duskglow.com) >>>>> >>>> >>>> ______________________________**_________________ >>>> Open-graphics mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://lists.duskglow.com/**mailman/listinfo/open-graphics<http://lists.duskglow.com/mailman/listinfo/open-graphics> >>>> List service provided by Duskglow Consulting, LLC (www.duskglow.com) >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Timothy Normand Miller, PhD >>> Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Binghamton University >>> http://www.cs.binghamton.edu/~millerti/<http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/~millerti> >>> Open Graphics Project >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Open-graphics mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://lists.duskglow.com/mailman/listinfo/open-graphics >>> List service provided by Duskglow Consulting, LLC (www.duskglow.com) >>> >> >> > > > -- > Timothy Normand Miller, PhD > Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Binghamton University > http://www.cs.binghamton.edu/~millerti/<http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/~millerti> > Open Graphics Project > >
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