Rys from Beyond3D has been experimenting with ATI's Linux drivers, and based on some findings in the X Server log, he believes ATI may be readying a new line of products -- dubbed "FireStream" -- based on the R580 GPU. The real news is not a new product based on the R580 could be in the works, but that he speculates that it could be for general purpose (GP) GPU computing acceleration. Way back in October, we were briefed at an ATI event on GPGPU projects that were in the works, and Stanford University has a Folding@Home client on the way for ATI GPUs (see here) as well. This is still speculation at the moment, but Rys' comments and findings are rather convincing.
"Using R580 and with unique device IDs of 724E and 724F, at least as far as the Linux driver is concerned and confirmed on ATI's vendor ID page, these FireStream products appear to be distinct boards with R580, but with a different purpose than 3D graphics acceleration."
Marco Chiappetta
Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com
