In addition to ARM architecture, the X86 architecture, and one we can not ignore, and that is  IBM  's POWER architecture, although it is no longer so shine in everyone's sight, for various reasons, but had to keep pace with the X86 history can not be denied today we began to talk about POWER and IBM detailed the story.

 

In this world, especially in the highly competitive field of IT, not every successful company can be admired the world, but IBM has done this.

 

While IBM may provide a small printer to large mainframe hardware and software products as well as perfect a variety of services for these products are more stable and more efficient, but IBM also hope that this is the case heard from people at the mouth: IBM is a total solution solution provider.

 

Since it is a total solution provider, how can the lack of chip technology?


So, when Apple Computer Inc. encroach on ARM, IBM in 1990, launched a RISC-based system, run AIXV3 new product line RS / 6000 (now called IBM eServer p series).


The system architecture came to be known as Power (ie: Power1), 1991, AIM alliance of Apple, IBM, Motorola developed consisting of a microprocessor architecture. Power is part of the AIM alliance platform, and is the only part of so far. But Apple since 2005, will be its computer products to switch to Intel CPU, there are reasons explained later.

 

Power can be seen from the full name of its meaning: Enhanced RISC architecture to optimize performance. Later, IBM's Power made a new explanation, the following abbreviations are five words:
Performance (performance);
Optimization (optimization);
at Wisdom (intelligence);
Efficiency (efficiency);
Reliability (reliable).


PowerPC processors have a broad scope, ranging from high-end embedded CPU market, such as CPU Power4 server to. PowerPC processor embedded has a very strong performance, since it has excellent performance, low energy consumption and low heat dissipation. In addition, and like Serial integrated Ethernet controller such as I / O, and the embedded processor desktop CPU very significant differences exist. For example: 4xx series PowerPC processors lack floating-point operations, and also uses a software-controlled TLB for memory management, rather than using the reverse page table like a desktop chip.

 

PowerPC processor 32 (32-bit or 64-bit) the GPR (general purpose register) as well as PC (program counter, also referred to as IAR / instruction address register or NIP / next instruction pointer), the LR (link register), CR ( condition register) and the like various other registers. Some PowerPC CPU 64 as well as 32 the FPR (floating point register).


PowerPC architecture is a RISC (reduced instruction set computing) architecture of one example. Thus: All the PowerPC (including 64-bit implementation) using the 32-bit fixed-length instruction. PowerPC processing model retrieve data from memory, to operate it in the register, which is then stored back into memory. Almost no instruction (except load and store) is a direct memory operation.

 

The development of the facts prove: Power Architecture has become the IBM of a gold mine.


1. IBM gold 
we all know, is the IBM mainframe as the only adhere to the core business. And you want to talk about today is a continuation of IBM Power Architecture mainframe most important overall business.


To give you a more in-depth understanding of the importance of IBM's mainframe, IBM must make mention incredible speed grew up in a product, but also familiar with the history of IBM's development of a "shortcut", that is, at the end of 1961, IBM CEO Watson's second approved "S / 360" - to make a big success of the IBM product line revolutionary.

 

For customers, S / 360 is a flash in the pan; for IBM's competitors, it is a fatal blow.


In order to verify this conclusion, it is necessary to explain: What is the S / 360?


S / 360 represents a new approach.



Create a "gold mine" for IBM's Thomas Watson, the legendary small CEO--


First, it is a modern, high-performance integrated circuits built from the. This will make it also has more power, greater reliability and lower prices (compared to all similar products on the market). It will become part of the family computer - from very small to very large processor processor can spend it, so that customers can easily upgrade when they see the need. A processor for a developed software can run on any of a S / 360 processor. All of the computer peripherals - printers, tape drives, card readers and the like, and also any of a family compatible processor.

 


The picture shows the early S / 360 product ads


The cost of the revolution is enormous. Watson paid a $ 5 billion, but the S / 360 IBM quickly into a new area of ​​business - "host-centric," and a host of products to become the company's gold mine.


IBM's share of the computing market is in a rocket rise, competitors off guard, many obstacles will have disappeared. The company's annual revenue has continued to grow from 1965-1985 growth rate of 14%; gross profit also growing at an alarming rate - and roughly 60 percent of the rate of sustained growth; market share surprisingly broke through the 30% this huge benefits even came close to IBM involved in the "antitrust" lawsuit.

 

As another legendary president of IBM Gerstner said:


“没有系统 S/360 前，IBM 只是众多生产和销售电脑的普通公司之一。”


而如果失败，肯定没有了现在的 IBM，S/360 之于 IBM 就是如此重要。


尽管人们一直认为 IBM 是一个拥有数千种产品的综合性公司，直到 20 世纪 80 年代中期，IBM 都只是一家单一产品的公司——即只生产主机的公司，其他一系列的价值数十亿美元的产品都只不过是围绕主机产品而建造起来的。

 

2. PowerPC 的发展历程
关于 Power 架构的发展，可以上溯到 1980 年 IBM 发布的第一台 RISC 架构原型机，此后几乎每一年，IBM 都会推出一款或多款产品，下面按照时间的顺序，用一张图来概括地了解一下 Power 架构的发展简史。

 


Power 架构发展史图


作为对上图的补充，本节结束后，附加了 PowerPC 发展史的大事记，由于内容较多，建议读者酌情阅读。


关于 Power 架构发展，大体可以概括为如下两个时间段：


(1)20 世纪 90 年代
IBM、Apple 和 Motorola 开发 PowerPC 芯片成功，并制造出基于 PowerPC 的多处理器计算机。

此时，PowerPC 架构的特点是可伸缩性好、方便灵活。第一代 PowerPC 采用 0.6 微米的生产工艺，晶体管的集成度达到单芯片 300 万个。


1998 年，铜芯片问世，开创了一个新的历史纪元。


(2)21 世纪至今
2000 年，IBM 开始大批推出采用铜芯片的产品，如 RS/6000 的 X80 系列产品。
铜技术取代了已经沿用了 30 年的铝技术，使硅芯片在多 CPU 的生产工艺达到了 0.20 微米的水平，单芯片集成 2 亿个晶体管，大大提高了运算性能；而 1.8V 的低电压操作（原为 2.5V）大大降低了芯片的功耗，容易散热，从而大大提高了系统的稳定性。


芯片业务为 IBM 带来了丰厚的利润，同时拓展了自身业务的范围，在小型机市场，正式 Power 系列处理器力助 IBM 成为小型机的霸主。

 


Power 助 IBM 抢占小型机高地


IBM Power 系列处理器是 IBM 这家蓝色巨人的重要产品之一，凭借这柄利器，IBM 在小型机市场的华山论剑中力拔头筹。上图是权威咨询机构 IDC 09 年 5 月公布的关于小型机市场份额的数据图。