[desktop-discuss] Offering x64 based (host && guest) SunPCI board for Solaris x86/x64 as (affordable) product ever explored? _/_ WAS: OS's in VM

[Martin Bochnig]

Garrett D'Amore wrote:
> On Wed, 2007-08-29 at 21:14 -0500, Shawn Walker wrote:
>   
>> On 29/08/2007, Garrett D'Amore <garrett at damore.org> wrote:
>>     
>>> On Wed, 2007-08-29 at 20:16 -0500, Shawn Walker wrote:
>>>       
>>>> On 29/08/2007, Martin Bochnig <mb1x at gmx.com> wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>> Martin Bochnig wrote:
>>>>>           
[...]

>>>> I'd love to see the reverse product. SPARC-on-a-card for my x86 ;)
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> Both devices have a substantial hurdle to overcome, which is the 25W
>>> power budget for PCI.  For PCIe the budget is higher, but IIRC its only
>>> on the order of 75W.
>>>
>>> You might have to some kind of creative power management to make it
>>> work.
>>>       
>> Why wouldn't the solution that seems to work for video card
>> manufacturers work? i.e. plug a molex connector into it.
>>     
>
> That might work.  (Though I must say I hate the trend by the video
> manufacturers to yank all available wattage... but that's another rant.)
>
> One concern though, is even those molex connectors have a limit.  Apart
> >from the extra PCIe connectors (which I thought is where the 75W came
> from, but I migth be wrong), I don't know what the maximum power draw
> is.  I know that I wouldn't like to have another 300W drawing....
>
> Its true generally that modern processors have got more efficient.  But
> it is also true that pretty much all of the modern x64 processors are
> *still* pulling huge amounts of power.  They just *do more* with it.
> (With the exception of the ULV Core Solo parts, which might work out.)
>
> 	-- Garrett
>   

In one way or another, possible would it be, the how is less important 
at this point, as Sun doesn't appear to have such plans, unfortunately:  
http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/an_pk/3605
Where it reads:
--->>
"PCI Express is the next revolution in graphics add-in card-interconnect 
standards. This specification, significantly increases bandwidth between 
the central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) by 
enabling a balanced distribution of bandwidth to those applications that 
require it the most. The /PCI Express x16 Graphics 150W-ATX 
Specification/ provides additional electrical power for PCI Express 
graphics beyond that supported by the existing PCI Express x16 
specifications. The new maximum power levels supported by this 
specification are 25W (low-profile card), 75W (standard size), and 150W.

A PCI Express x16 Graphics 150W-ATX add-in card can draw a maximum of 
75W through the standard connector, as specified in PCI Express CEM 1.1. 
Up to 75W additional power is provided through a 6-pin wire-to-board 
connector. Therefore, the maximum total power that must be provided to a 
PCI Express x16 Graphics 150W-ATX add-in card is 150W."
<<---
 
In my opinion Sun would be well advised to offer products like SunPCI 
(whether x64:x64 or x64:SPARC).
I mean, to clone VMware (with all its performance tweaks) can be 
considered close to impossible (would cost billions and many years). But 
offering an add-in board has two advantages to Sun, in my view:
#0) Time2market is fast and cheap
#1) Performance will clearly beat VMware  (at the costs of some higher 
power consumption of overall box).


My two Cents ...

--martin