Nvidia reveals the 64-bit Denver core... with a fake die shot

**fellix_bg** · 03-09-2011, 12:33 PM

During his introduction speech at Financial Analyst Day 2011, Jen-Hsun Huang revealed an interesting slide to the semiconductor analysts - silicon die of nVidia's first CPU. Without further a due, picture below shows what nVidia presented as Project Denver 64-bit CPU core.

As expected, no die size or manufacturing process were disclosed - given that there is a lot of features subject to change - thus take this slide with a grain of salt.

Source

But look no further for sneaky details on the die-shot. It's a random patchwork from the official GF100 die photo. Wood screws not included.

**killerxp100** · 03-09-2011, 12:45 PM

Had no idea Nvidia was thinking about entering the cpu market. Sure would be interesting.

**SKYMTL** · 03-09-2011, 01:01 PM

Can you explain how the die shot is "fake"? You can really tell the difference between a GF100 transistor and a Project Denver transistor? I suggest you stop sensationalizing.

**jogshy** · 03-09-2011, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by fellix_bg

Source
But look no further for sneaky details on the die-shot. It's a random patchwork from the official GF100 die photo. Wood screws not included.

Why fake? It's hard to see any similarity with these colors:

On the other hand we know really nothing about Denver... it might use Fermi GPU cores... who knows !

**Particle** · 03-09-2011, 01:07 PM

It probably is fake, but what is important to keep in mind is that that isn't unusual. Conceptual visualizations for products under development aren't anything to attack a company for.

Realistically, Skymtl, I don't think nVidia is far enough into their project to be playing with silicon already. They just announced that they're working on it--they haven't even taped out afaik. They were looking at a launch in 2012 or something, right?

**Russian** · 03-09-2011, 01:26 PM

Actually, doing this has been on Nvidia's minds for a while. Considering that Nvidia said it will take 3-4 years to actually make a CPU... you'd realize that they've been working at this for years. If they really do plan on launching in 2012, then they probably already have silicon... possibly even working silicon, likely at this point with poor yields. We shall see.

**Particle** · 03-09-2011, 01:32 PM

First silicon doesn't usually come quite that early, Russian. If they haven't even tied down a design, I'm not sure what they would have fabricated.

**G.Foyle** · 03-09-2011, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Particle

If they haven't even tied down a design, I'm not sure what they would have fabricated.

Process or technology test vehicles, just like Intel makes SRAM cells on advanced nodes even though they never end up in any product.

**DarthShader** · 03-09-2011, 02:04 PM

1. Take a VERY close look at the 8SM group in the big Fermi photo.
2. Then shrink it horizontaly, to make it "tighter".
3. Blend in soem rectangles of variable colour at random.
4. ???
5. Denver CPU!

**nn_step** · 03-09-2011, 02:09 PM

Now if only they would provide proper information so, that one may be able to actually use said core. [I'm still trying to find proper documentation for the ABI]

**Particle** · 03-09-2011, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by G.Foyle

Process or technology test vehicles, just like Intel makes SRAM cells on advanced nodes even though they never end up in any product.

Test dies are one thing, but this is supposedly an actual CPU core. What you say is true, but it doesn't apply in this case when what this is supposedly an image of is explicitly not a test structure like a block of SRAM but a full CPU core.

**DarthShader** · 03-09-2011, 02:27 PM

A quick paint.NET job here I've done, only resizing, no colour improvements.

The 2 rightmost SM even get darker in the same fashion...

**Russian** · 03-09-2011, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Particle

First silicon doesn't usually come quite that early, Russian. If they haven't even tied down a design, I'm not sure what they would have fabricated.

That early? Its been nearly 2 years? But I agree, its not likely that they actually do have silicon. But its possible.

**eXa** · 03-09-2011, 03:36 PM

Haha, that looks stupid. Just a fermi with some color on top of it

**jogshy** · 03-09-2011, 03:57 PM

Oh, ok, I see it now! Yep, it looks like a Fermi's mockup.
The question is... was that silicon die posted at the official conference or made by an artist for BSN to illustrate the article? We should judge the official one, not the work of a web artist...
And the second one... perhaps the first prototypes of Denver are using Fermi as GPU... in the same way that AMD's Zacate/Llano use Radeon 6000 GPUs...

**Hornet331** · 03-09-2011, 04:03 PM

Just watch the NV webcast, its there.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....&p=irol-irhome

**-Boris-** · 03-09-2011, 04:05 PM

Just add some wood screws and you have the final product!

**jimbo75** · 03-09-2011, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

Can you explain how the die shot is "fake"? You can really tell the difference between a GF100 transistor and a Project Denver transistor? I suggest you stop sensationalizing.

And I suggest you stick to being nVidia's

.

**brandinb** · 03-09-2011, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by jimbo75

And I suggest you stick to being nVidia's

.

Why do people on these forums have no courtesy or respect?

**Caparroz** · 03-09-2011, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by DarthShader

A quick paint.NET job here I've done, only resizing, no colour improvements.

The 2 rightmost SM even get darker in the same fashion...

LOL!

Nice job, DarthShader.

**570091D** · 03-09-2011, 07:14 PM

why all the sesationalism here? amd freely admits to doing the same thing... no reason to give your competators a jump on what you're doing. :shurg:

the fact that nvidia is making a cpu should come as no supprise to anyone here, considering the fact that nvidia has been making mobile cpu's for years.... now they're just bringing the same tech to hpc

**cegras** · 03-09-2011, 07:42 PM

I seem to remember this being done with bulldozer?

**Hornet331** · 03-09-2011, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by 570091D

why all the sesationalism here? amd freely admits to doing the same thing... no reason to give your competators a jump on what you're doing. :shurg:

the fact that nvidia is making a cpu should come as no supprise to anyone here, considering the fact that nvidia has been making mobile cpu's for years.... now they're just bringing the same tech to hpc

Why the commotion... cause as usual marketing thiks consumers are dump...

At least nvidia could have used there dieshot phot of tegra2.. which is also based on arm... and wold look like this:

And probably wont look much different since denver is ARM...

**JkS** · 03-09-2011, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by DarthShader

A quick paint.NET job here I've done, only resizing, no colour improvements.

The 2 rightmost SM even get darker in the same fashion...

Wait till Charlile gets hold of this

Anyway I'm abit suprised they would use a fake shot, I'm pretty excited about the whole development of project Denver and I really hope it takes off.

**phantomferrari** · 03-10-2011, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by Hornet331

And probably wont look much different since denver is ARM...

i thought ARM wasnt going to support 64bit processors anytime soon?

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