Sun Processor Plans

Sun showed a version of the UltraSparc IV+, code-named Pantherthat will include new high-speed cache memory the current UltraSparc IV lacks.Sun expects the UltraSparc IV+ to double performance over UltraSparc IV. Sunfirst incorporated of on-chip cache in its UltraSparc IIIi "Jalapeno" processorfor mid-range computers that debuted in 2003. The UltraSparc IIIi+ will havequadruple the on-chip cache, or 4MB. UltraSparc IIIi+ and IV+ will be built with90-nanometer features. Sun's UltraSparc IV combines two UltraSparc IIIprocessors on a single slice of silicon, a so-called dual-core design techniqueIBM and HP already adopted and that Intel and AMD will.

Sun also discussed its longer-range chip plans that are betterable to juggle multiple instruction sequences, called threads. Sun's dual-coreUltraSparc IV can handle two simultaneous threads. Another chip, code-namedNiagara, will be able to handle 32 simultaneous threads using eight cores thatcan each handle four threads, but it won't be able to execute a single thread atmaximum speed. For maximum single-thread performance, Sun will rely on the"Rock" family of processors, which also will be able to execute multiplethreads. In addition the new generation of chip multithreading will provideextra optimization for Java code processing.