Russian Electronics: Semiconductor and Processors

kvs wrote:

sepheronx wrote:I noticed from this: http://mcst.ru/pozdravlenie-direktora-mcst-s-nastupayushhimi-prazdnikami

That Elbrus 1C is mentioned, and 1C would be a single core processor.  I am hoping that it will have a decent frequency of something similar to 1GHZ and I really hope they introduce this as a processor solderd to a pico board and sold as a competitor to Raspberry Pi!  I would seriously purchase dozens if not more of them to build my own routers, small form factor NAS (similar to those dlink USB powered ones) and home theater setups.  I seriously hope they do something like this, as this will create the domestic computer boom in Russia, as well as home built projects.  Actually, such systems are also used in creating other products like automated CNC style machines (Smaller ones), 3D printers, etc.

The Elbrus 1C and Elbrus 8C could be the products that will bring MCST into a new generation.

I just hope they decide to eventually drop the SPARC line of processors.  They are not needed anymore as VLIW processors are RISC processors much like SPARC's are.  Would be redundant.

The SPARC CPUs are for their military production lines.   They are quite useful for the products they are deployed in.

MCST is like a university department and not a corporation such as Intel or AMD.   Russia needs an actual corporation to
develop and sell microprocessor designs.  

I don't understand why an Intel clone design is not attempted.  I don't believe that the instruction set is patentable in
principle.  As long as the microprocessor does not copy the IC design of Intel parts, then it should be free from any
patent violation claims.  

The Elbrus design is really for scientific and engineering applications.  Since Russia will not have the weight to overcome
Intel and Microsoft in the consumer sector, they should have a domestic CPU that runs Intel instructions natively.  

sepheronx wrote:

kvs wrote:

sepheronx wrote:I noticed from this: http://mcst.ru/pozdravlenie-direktora-mcst-s-nastupayushhimi-prazdnikami

That Elbrus 1C is mentioned, and 1C would be a single core processor.  I am hoping that it will have a decent frequency of something similar to 1GHZ and I really hope they introduce this as a processor solderd to a pico board and sold as a competitor to Raspberry Pi!  I would seriously purchase dozens if not more of them to build my own routers, small form factor NAS (similar to those dlink USB powered ones) and home theater setups.  I seriously hope they do something like this, as this will create the domestic computer boom in Russia, as well as home built projects.  Actually, such systems are also used in creating other products like automated CNC style machines (Smaller ones), 3D printers, etc.

The Elbrus 1C and Elbrus 8C could be the products that will bring MCST into a new generation.

I just hope they decide to eventually drop the SPARC line of processors.  They are not needed anymore as VLIW processors are RISC processors much like SPARC's are.  Would be redundant.

The SPARC CPUs are for their military production lines.   They are quite useful for the products they are deployed in.

MCST is like a university department and not a corporation such as Intel or AMD.   Russia needs an actual corporation to
develop and sell microprocessor designs.  

I don't understand why an Intel clone design is not attempted.  I don't believe that the instruction set is patentable in
principle.  As long as the microprocessor does not copy the IC design of Intel parts, then it should be free from any
patent violation claims.  

The Elbrus design is really for scientific and engineering applications.  Since Russia will not have the weight to overcome
Intel and Microsoft in the consumer sector, they should have a domestic CPU that runs Intel instructions natively.  

MCST proved that their processors are capable of running for domestic use, besides supercomputing, workstations and servers.  Hence why a Single core processor meant to compete against Raspberry Pi would be beneficial in the long run as it would create a major demand.  Since they produced Angstrom, up to 65nm tech (I am pretty sure they can get even lower if they invest in Rusnano Lithography technology), they can produce the products in Russia itself.  But I agree, a company designed specifically for the domestic consumer market is the right move.  Issue is, AMD and Intel do have patents on their Instruction sets, thus if the company created does want to make a CISC processor, they would either have to come up with similar instruction sets or make their own entirely.  Since Intel and AMD copied from each other back in the 90's, outright breaking copyright laws, I am pretty certain the next company can do it.

SPARC processors are fine for certain applications, but I imagine that the VLIW of the Elbrus processor would be able to handle the same tasks even better.  Reducing to 1 design rather than two separate ones may be financially beneficial in the long run.  As well, creating a chip for the use of domestic market (Elbrus 2GM, Elbrus 1C and Elbrus 8C) is very much needed.  As I pointed out already, a company will be making NAS systems with it.  Elbrus 1C can effectively be used for creating routers, small NAS', raspberry pi alternatives, etc.  This alone can generate ridiculous amounts of revenue.  Since most of the software used for such technology are in Linux, it wont need to operate under x86 environment.

MCST can also act as a place to design new processors for companies who want to become like Intel or AMD.

kvs wrote:

sepheronx wrote:

kvs wrote:

sepheronx wrote:I noticed from this: http://mcst.ru/pozdravlenie-direktora-mcst-s-nastupayushhimi-prazdnikami

That Elbrus 1C is mentioned, and 1C would be a single core processor.  I am hoping that it will have a decent frequency of something similar to 1GHZ and I really hope they introduce this as a processor solderd to a pico board and sold as a competitor to Raspberry Pi!  I would seriously purchase dozens if not more of them to build my own routers, small form factor NAS (similar to those dlink USB powered ones) and home theater setups.  I seriously hope they do something like this, as this will create the domestic computer boom in Russia, as well as home built projects.  Actually, such systems are also used in creating other products like automated CNC style machines (Smaller ones), 3D printers, etc.

The Elbrus 1C and Elbrus 8C could be the products that will bring MCST into a new generation.

I just hope they decide to eventually drop the SPARC line of processors.  They are not needed anymore as VLIW processors are RISC processors much like SPARC's are.  Would be redundant.

The SPARC CPUs are for their military production lines.   They are quite useful for the products they are deployed in.

MCST is like a university department and not a corporation such as Intel or AMD.   Russia needs an actual corporation to
develop and sell microprocessor designs.  

I don't understand why an Intel clone design is not attempted.  I don't believe that the instruction set is patentable in
principle.  As long as the microprocessor does not copy the IC design of Intel parts, then it should be free from any
patent violation claims.  

The Elbrus design is really for scientific and engineering applications.  Since Russia will not have the weight to overcome
Intel and Microsoft in the consumer sector, they should have a domestic CPU that runs Intel instructions natively.  

MCST proved that their processors are capable of running for domestic use, besides supercomputing, workstations and servers.  Hence why a Single core processor meant to compete against Raspberry Pi would be beneficial in the long run as it would create a major demand.  Since they produced Angstrom, up to 65nm tech (I am pretty sure they can get even lower if they invest in Rusnano Lithography technology), they can produce the products in Russia itself.  But I agree, a company designed specifically for the domestic consumer market is the right move.  Issue is, AMD and Intel do have patents on their Instruction sets, thus if the company created does want to make a CISC processor, they would either have to come up with similar instruction sets or make their own entirely.  Since Intel and AMD copied from each other back in the 90's, outright breaking copyright laws, I am pretty certain the next company can do it.

SPARC processors are fine for certain applications, but I imagine that the VLIW of the Elbrus processor would be able to handle the same tasks even better.  Reducing to 1 design rather than two separate ones may be financially beneficial in the long run.  As well, creating a chip for the use of domestic market (Elbrus 2GM, Elbrus 1C and Elbrus 8C) is very much needed.  As I pointed out already, a company will be making NAS systems with it.  Elbrus 1C can effectively be used for creating routers, small NAS', raspberry pi alternatives, etc.  This alone can generate ridiculous amounts of revenue.  Since most of the software used for such technology are in Linux, it wont need to operate under x86 environment.

MCST can also act as a place to design new processors for companies who want to become like Intel or AMD.

I think this BS patent can be circumvented.   The Intel instruction stream should be trivially remapped by the Russian RISC CPU in a translator
implemented in silicon.   The trick is to have the Russian CPU be a RISC species like the Intel and AMD chips.   The Elbrus is just too drastically
different from the Intel/AMD RISC designs so binary translation has to be extensive and at the end of the day you have to get the code and
optimize it and compile it for the Elbrus to get good performance.  

A clone Russian RISC CPU would be basically what AMD does.   AMD produces its own IC designs to execute the Intel instruction set to which
obtained rights a long time ago.  Mapping from the Intel instruction set to a native instruction set that is almost identical in silicon is definitely a
way to beat the US Patent Office racket.    

indochina wrote:don't forget Transas company

AlfaT8 wrote:sepheronx, got a question for you, is there a Russian equivalent to the Raspberry Pi on the market or in the works, it would be a great way to get Elbrus processor on the market?

Put into production the first series servers "Elbrus 4.4", working on the basis of processors "Elbrus-4C", developed by the MCST. Its creators claim that "Elbrus 4.4" - this is the first server that is fully developed in Russia on the basis of domestic same processor.
Russian developer of computer systems PJSC "INEUM them. Bruk "for the first time publicly announced the start of production servers proprietary" Elbrus 4.4 ". The work was conducted in close cooperation with ZAO "MCST" developers processors "Elbrus".
"Elbrus 4.4" is built around four (or optionally two) quad-core "Elbrus-4C", performed in the topology of 65 nm. This is the latest model of the processor, developed by MCST. Start of serial production of his future successor, eight-«Elbrus-8C" with the topology of 28 nm is expected early next year.
Server "Elbrus 4.4" is made in the 19-inch height 1Unit body with the ability to supply buildings and 2Unit 3Unit. It has a capacity of up to 200 Gflops peak and supports up to 384 GB of RAM.
"Elbrus 4.4" is suitable for the assembly of the blade clusters. To join the server to the cluster in PJSC "INEUM" developed network Interconnect 10G class 2D torus topology with a capacity of up to 64 servers.
According to CNews, assembling motherboards servers "Elbrus" engaged FSUE "October". By now the time put into production a series of "Elbrus 4.4" in the amount of several dozen pieces.
MCST traditionally tries to avoid references to the names of its government customers. As a representative told CNews MTsSTKonstantin Trushkin, interest in purchasing these servers showed "major oil and gas companies" and the security forces.
Server "Elbrus 4.4" - not the first computing device, designed and built based on processors MCST. Thus, for example, are known PC "Monokub" and specialized computer systems "Sivuch" that are based on the previous generation "Elbrus-2C +".

Austin wrote:I am just wondering how wide spread is the use MCST Chips in Russia ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Center_of_SPARC_Technologies

kvs wrote:The persistence and development of the Elbrus architecture shows that there is a long term commitment to it.
To me it is also clear that it is being coordinated with the development of high resolution IC manufacturing capacity,
which is now at 65 nm.  Really, it is the fabrication infrastructure that is the important element here.  Russia is
not merely waiting for second hand equipment from the west.   The 65 nm capacity was developed in house from
90 nm equipment.   But Rosnano is also financing the development of laser lithography, which will put Russia at
the leading edge of the field.  

The older Elbrus CPUs were manufactured in China.   The 8C and higher core versions I expect to be produced in Russia.