The cell BE is not ideally suited for general purpose computing; replacing your CPU with one would be absurd.
The cell was designed for pure multi-threaded tasks (for example, decoding multiple mpeg4 streams simultaneously) by using programmable SPUs (similar to the programmable shader units found on all modern GPUs); it can handle general purpose computing, but that is not what it is best at.
A standard x86 cpu, on the other hand, is optimized for general purpose software (like running a word processor or handling OS related tasks) by incorporating elements conducive for those needs (like branch predictors and large L1/L2 caches).
This is why the cell is finding its way into high-end home entertainment systems and blade servers. That's what it was made for.
The N9 has arrived. What we can say from our first experience is that we're in the presence of a fantastically designed device with a gorgeous AMOLED screen and some highly responsive performance.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
The cell BE is not ideally suited for general purpose computing; replacing your CPU with one would be absurd.
The cell was designed for pure multi-threaded tasks (for example, decoding multiple mpeg4 streams simultaneously) by using programmable SPUs (similar to the programmable shader units found on all modern GPUs); it can handle general purpose computing, but that is not what it is best at.
A standard x86 cpu, on the other hand, is optimized for general purpose software (like running a word processor or handling OS related tasks) by incorporating elements conducive for those needs (like branch predictors and large L1/L2 caches).
This is why the cell is finding its way into high-end home entertainment systems and blade servers. That's what it was made for.