do processor companies supress technology??

we all hear that the govt or the military has technology that decades ahead of mainstream which they surpress for reasons "of national security" etc, but do you think that companies like advanced micro devices (AMD) and Intel are in on it too? AMD released their first 64bit processor last year, and intel started releasing 64bit versions of their prescott processor pretty quietly around march time, known as EM64T, i think, at speeds of 3.20GHz, 3.40GHz and 3.60GHz (the fastest one was priced at $637).

I used to think this was the case since it makes business sense that if you had a 500GHZ 256bit processor (LOL) would you rather release it for sale now (and it would have to go out at a reasonable market price and cant be more than $1000 on the release day if you want to reach the masses) or, release it bit by bit over years and years and set up your company for life? Making people keep on buying new motherboards to support the new processor upgrading their operating system from 32bit, after bill gates has sold enough rubbish 32bit OS's, to 64bit etc, Makes sense doesnt it?

However, then you hear about how AMD has been running at a loss for the last 3 years anyway so if they had so much advanced techhnology then why not stay even further ahead of Intel and release 64bit 2yrs ahead of them?

Anyways, thanks for any feedback.

I'd love to see a conversation about computers (hardware and software) going with an ATS attitude and wasnt sure where to post this since most the other posts in science and technology seemed really complex in nature, but i'm pretty sure it belongs here. Btw you think i could post a thread on linux and M$ in this section too or somewhere else? We all use our pc's notebooks a lot (i know i do) so its def worth exchanging knowledge on them.

[edit on 16/9/04 by el_illumbrato]

Ya, they're being supressed. Why? well you basically said it yourself - money. Its also about supply and demand, how many people really need an athlon xp 3200+ to work on word documents and send emails? Not many so instead of just releasing everything they have its basically released in increments. This helps the other industries that push the processor speeds (i.e gaming industry, graphics industry) to make as much money as possible.

yeah, there isnt really a conspiracy. they know everyone knows. its just about business and money.

Ofcourse, the companies supress the technology, its a way to control the market. If they were to make big leaps than people probably wouldn't go and get a processor that is only incrementally better than the last. We are at this moment using very outdated computer technology, while the govenment itself have free reign of: Quantum computers, moletronics, optronics,etc. Take a good look at D.A.R.P.A's computer history for example, they finished researching quantum computers in the early 90's, and same goes with numorous other technologies.

As my teacher once said: "What we are seeing now is a controlled release of computing technology, Intel has Pentium 50's by now"

planned obsolesence comes really comes into play here. its one thing if u make a product, than improve the technology 8 months later, and make a profit by selling new machines that are slightly faster. its another thing to sell a product, have the new version already made, so ur all set to go when u role out 4 months later. also makes you seem like you're more cutting edge, if u supposedly come up with these thigns faster than the others.

Software is limiting CPU speeds as well as our commerical operating systems.

Software is decades behind processor technology. We still dont have software that reacts and wraps itself around hardware, it's currently the other way around.

Games are a big driving factor behind current home computer technology. Hell, look at the new Doom 3. You need like a 3Ghz processor to play at decent speeds, as well as 1024 ram and a 256Mb video card.

Games like the above "force" upgrades.

I think the big issue in todays technology is ram. We have been using these large sticks of silicon for ages. Sure, we improve upon it. From DIMM all the way to DDR. But the upgrades just entail faster internal bus speeds that decrease bottlenecks. A CPU can only perform as fast at the ram. We need to leap past this, soon we will.

i think the big issue in todays technology is ram. We have been using these large sticks of silicon for ages. Sure, we improve upon it. From DIMM all the way to DDR. But the upgrades just entail faster internal bus speeds that decrease bottlenecks. A CPU can only perform as fast at the ram. We need to leap past this, soon we will.

hold up mate, doesnt ddr-II memory take us past the 400mhz top off speed we had previously with pc3200 ram?

Hell, look at the new Doom 3. You need like a 3Ghz processor to play at decent speeds, as well as 1024 ram and a 256Mb video card.

Games like the above "force" upgrades.

but doomIII was meant to be in development for years! Surely they didnt plan this 3years ago that theyd "force" the upgrade by making a really power consuming enginve for the game, but maybe they was wanted to make the game as amazing as possible? I admit im cynical about the software companies like m$ etc and also some games corporations who make you buy the game and like 3 expansion packs after some of which dont even have decent mission but which are the equivalent of pricey patches for the games! Or include what should have been in the game originally like multiplayer...

But i also like to think that some of the programmers for the games are hardcore gamers who want to do it for the fans because they themselves are fans!

I work for the local govt and if we got so advanced techonology then why are we stuck using pentium III's at work? Also like i said, what about amd running at a loss for 3 years? how have they profited from withholding the technology?

thanks for the comments everyone

[edit on 17/9/04 by el_illumbrato]

illumbrato, I believe the fastest consumer ram is now 800Mhz effective? Correct me if im wrong.

And the comment about Doom 3, would you be surprised if Nvidia payed them money to support their newest, most hightech 3D card? Isn't this kind of like what I said? Remember, Id is KNOWN to always work better on Nvidia.

illumbrato, I believe the fastest consumer ram is now 800Mhz effective? Correct me if im wrong.

um, im not too sure but as far as i know the fastest ram out (in terms of a single dimm) is pc4500 ram which runs at 550MHz.

Id is KNOWN to always work better on Nvidia.

what do u mean by Id??

also, i know nvidia and m$ had a lil thing going and of course they had a deal with xbox, so i know that m$ do make xp run "best" with nvidia, but doomIII too?
I'm happy enough here with my ati (mobility) radeon 9700 pro, its good enough for me and im not upgrading (to 9800 not nvidia) until my pc actually locks up playing an intensive game. (although since its a notebook it means i got to build a new notebook in that eventuality).

[edit on 17/9/04 by el_illumbrato]

Originally posted by Sigma
Ofcourse, the companies supress the technology, its a way to control the market. If they were to make big leaps than people probably wouldn't go and get a processor that is only incrementally better than the last. We are at this moment using very outdated computer technology, while the govenment itself have free reign of: Quantum computers, moletronics, optronics,etc. Take a good look at D.A.R.P.A's computer history for example, they finished researching quantum computers in the early 90's, and same goes with numorous other technologies.

As my teacher once said: "What we are seeing now is a controlled release of computing technology, Intel has Pentium 50's by now"

You really think that the govt has a working quantum computer?? I find it really hard to believe as there have only been a few people that have got a few q bits working for a few millionths of a second.


I do agree that what see in the computer industry is a slow controlled release, and its done on purpose for a few reasons. The first is that they like to fully test everyting and work all the kinks out of it before they mass market it. Companies also like their R&D depts to be a few generations ahead of whats currently on the market. This gives them time to work on the next big breakthrough that will keep the market buying. I once heard a joke about how this is also to give people enough time so that if R&D cant stay ahead of the curve than the marketing department will have enough time to do so

I dont think this is true because the processor market is very competative they would want to release the best tested stuff asap. Look at intel being shafted by AMD when they released 64bit CPUs it took intel a while to come up with a 64bit cpu of their own and the Athlon 64 outpreformed the P4EE in many benchmarks. Thats pretty good for a cpu a fraction of the cost. Same with GFX card industry. They are all working round the clock to out do their rivals.

There is milatary/medical science technology,and there is civilian technology. There is no need for a home computer to have a processor larger than say 1ghz, with 512 RAM and a 40 GB HDD. All home pc's are used for really are surfing for porn, saving pictures, storing mp3's and playing some games. Mind you I am stating basic pc, ok?

The technology we are seeing in Bluetooth and other wireless technologies has been in operation for years in the milatary and in other business/medical specific applications. But until there is a need , and a market, with money to be made, we as the general public will not see it as new technology. My uncle worked for Martin Marietta for over 20 years, and he stated that what the general public sees is about 10-20 years backdated, and in some cases more. Quantam computing is interesting though....

So, Until Doom 4 arrives, or Full-Life 2.5 and another rendering card is needed, it will be demand and control of technology given out bit by bit. DARPA's projects, as are other skunkworks(lockheed/martin) and blackshop outlets at major contracting sites are a good place to start to look at what we will se in the future.

esdad71
There is no need for a home computer to have a processor larger than say 1ghz, with 512 RAM and a 40 GB HDD. All home pc's are used for really are surfing for porn, saving pictures, storing mp3's and playing some games.

What! I just bought The Sims 2 and that uses over 3.5 gigs, so how can you say 40 is enough?

People use there computers for far more purposes then just porn, pics, & mp3's, what about school or college homework, or business, everything from word processors to updating there web page to making spreadsheets, or keeping in touch with reletives or friends for free, Computers have an unlimited amount of uses.

As for computer technology, its pretty much at a standstill now because of heat. But there developing better ways to get rid of the heat and use less power but still have better power and performance.

I dont think the public is 10-20 years behind what they have, cause that doesn't make sense, because when they release something new, not to long afterwards they find some problems and then of course is when they release updates or patches.

So I would agree with boosted, in that they just take more time for testing these days, to make sure they dont have any big problems and might have to recall something.

Good point about the heat problem. They are getting rid of the standard case format we have now ATX, with BTX. BTX allows supports mobo's that have more "cooling sense" to them, like better place for RAM and PCI cards.

Well I am not sure if they have working quantum computers right now, but I have seen their project sheet and it says that they finished research into them a long time ago. If the rumors are true about certain govenment branches being 50 years ahead of the mainstream i.e. the shadow govenment, then yes I see it as being possible that they have them, even if they are primative. I could be wrong ofcourse, and I probably am on this point, but I see it as being something worth considering.

[edit on 18-9-2004 by Sigma]

Originally posted by Murcielago

What! I just bought The Sims 2 and that uses over 3.5 gigs, so how can you say 40 is enough?

Once again powered by the gaming industry, graphics intense games boost the supply and demand for computers with higher capacities.

People use there computers for far more purposes then just porn, pics, & mp3's, what about school or college homework, or business, everything from word processors to updating there web page to making spreadsheets, or keeping in touch with reletives or friends for free, Computers have an unlimited amount of uses.

Word processors are not power hungry applications - nor do word documents take up ample amounts of hard drive space. Same applies to spreadsheets, these are all minute programs in comparison to streaming video. Updating webpages is ALSO not memory intense and lastly keeping in touch with friends could be as simple as email, peer to peer chats or webcams. These arguments don't work simply because a 40 gig hard drive WOULD suffice for things except games and video. How many people here have completely topped off 40 GB with word documents, spreadsheets, web pages and tiny applications? This all applies to the home consumer, the buisness world is a bit different.

As for computer technology, its pretty much at a standstill now because of heat. But there developing better ways to get rid of the heat and use less power but still have better power and performance.

Its not so much at a standstill, we're still at a point where we can tolerate the amount of heat generated by a P4. We currently have prototype solutions for heat dissipation issues like microelectromechanical systems and microfluidics.

Linux - I was talking about what people use there pc's for (& not just what that other guy thought porn, pics, mp3's), So what I said was uses, not applications that would fill your hard drive.

Originally posted by Murcielago
Linux - I was talking about what people use there pc's for (& not just what that other guy thought porn, pics, mp3's), So what I said was uses, not applications that would fill your hard drive.

Sorry if I was a bit hostile in my last post. However even with all the multiple tasks most people might do, its still not enough to surpass the 120 GB limit. Don't you think?

What about the new processor called the cell, it will be capable of 1 teraflop which is venturing into supercomputer territory!

READ:

news.zdnet.co.uk...

[edit on 18-9-2004 by ufo3]

[edit on 21-9-2004 by ufo3]

my father worked (just retired not long ago) for AT&T back in the eighties...

ive seen FIRST-HAND the kinds of technology they had, even back then.

stuff like video phones and voice recognition devices, wireless tech, and alot of stuff that, at the time i was too young to comprehend. (stuff that even in the year 2k4 was way beyond what the mainstream population has now).

i remember walking thru this place with him one weekend and him pointing to a room that was electronically locked at all time. he would say "thats the 'think tank' the floor, walls and ceiling are made of a few feet of piano wire. you can go into that room and actually hear your eyelids moving when you blink. if you were to cough you would very likely blow out your eardrums."

i remember sitting in this fake (mock-up) office, the one with the video phones and what-not. he was showing me this 'bone-welder' they were working on. it used light or something to instantly heal broken bones. he claimed that they already had a working proto-type, he said they had successfully tested it on dogs...


all that in the early/mid-eighties...

so my answer:

WITHOUT A DOUBT, COMPANIES ARE SUPPRESSING TECHNOLOGY. (and they are, imo, hiding a hell-of-alot more than the government...

[edit on 9/18/2004 by Assassin]