https://www.anandtech.com/show/16438/new-intel-ceo-making-waves-rehiring-retired-cpu-architects [p] [logo2] [ ] [search] Welcome Log out Login Register [icon-twitt] [icon-faceb] [icon-rss] * ABOUT * BENCH * FORUMS * PODCAST [logo_resp] [ ] [search] ABOUT BENCH FORUMS PODCAST LOGIN REGISTER PC ComponentsV * CPUs * GPUs * Motherboards * SSDs * Cases/Cooling/PSUs * Memory * NAS * Storage Smartphones & tabletsV * Smartphones * Tablets * Huawei * HTC * Samsung * Google/Android * Microsoft * Apple * SoCs SystemsV * Notebook Reviews * Desktop Reviews * Mac Reviews * Ultrabooks ENTERPRISE & IT GUIDESV * Best CPUs * Best SSDs * Best Laptops * Best Android Phones * Best Video Cards * Best PSUs * Best Motherboards * Best Gaming Laptops * Best Mechanical Keyboards * Best Consumer HDDs DEALS * Home> CPUs [ ] Menu * PC ComponentsV + CPUs + GPUs + Motherboards + SSDs + Cases/Cooling/PSUs + Memory + NAS + Storage * Smartphones & tabletsV + Smartphones + Tablets + Huawei + HTC + Samsung + Google/Android + Microsoft + Apple + SoCs * SystemsV + Notebook Reviews + Desktop Reviews + Mac Reviews + Ultrabooks * Enterprise & IT * GuidesV + Best CPUs + Best SSDs + Best Laptops + Best Android Phones + Best Video Cards + Best PSUs + Best Motherboards + Best Gaming Laptops + Best Mechanical Keyboards + Best Consumer HDDs * Deals * TRENDING TOPICS * Trade Shows * CES 2021 * Intel * CPUs * AMD * Mobile * Laptops * Asus * GPUs * Home> * CPUs New Intel CEO Making Waves: Rehiring Retired CPU Architects by Dr. Ian Cutress on January 21, 2021 5:05 AM EST * Posted in * CPUs * Intel * Nehalem * Pat Gelsinger 45 Comments | Add A Comment 45 Comments + Add A Comment [nehalem_67] We're following the state of play with Intel's new CEO, Pat Gelsinger, very closely. Even as an Intel employee for 30 years, rising to the rank of CTO, then taking 12 years away from the company, his arrival has been met with praise across the spectrum given his background and previous successes. He isn't even set to take his new role until February 15^th, however his return is already causing a stir with Intel's current R&D teams. News in the last 24 hours, based on public statements, states that former Intel Senior Fellow Glenn Hinton, who lists being the lead architect of Intel's Nehalem CPU core in his list of achievements, is coming out of retirement to re-join the company. (The other lead architect of Nehalem are Ronak Singhal and Per Hammerlund - Ronak is still at Intel, working on next-gen processors, while Per has been at Apple for five years.) [DSC01343_5] Hinton is an old Intel hand, with 35 years of experience, leading microarchitecture development of Pentium 4, one of three senior architects of Intel's P6 processor design (which led to Pentium Pro, P2, P3), and ultimately one of the drivers to Intel's Core architecture which is still at the forefront of Intel's portfolio today. He also a lead microarchitect for Intel's i960 CA, the world's first super-scalar microprocessor. Hinton holds more than 90+ patents from 8 CPU designs from his endeavors. Hinton spent another 10+ years at Intel after Nehalem, but Nehalem is listed in many places as his primary public achievement at Intel. [Glenn] On his social media posts, Hinton states that he will be working on 'an exciting high performance CPU project'. In the associated comments also states that 'if it wasn't a fun project I wouldn't have come back - as you know, retirement is pretty darn nice'. Glenn also discloses that he has been pondering the move since November, and Gelsinger's re-hiring helped finalize that decision. His peers also opine that Glenn is probably not the only ex-Intel architect that might be heading back to the company. We know a few architects and specialists that have left Intel in recent years to join Intel's competitors, such as AMD and Apple. [Glenn] There are a few key things to note here worth considering. First is that coming out of retirement for a big CPU project isn't a trivial thing, especially for an Intel Senior Fellow. Given Intel's successes, one would assume that the financial situation is not the main driver here, but the opportunity to work on something new and exciting. Plus, these sorts of projects take years of development, at least three, and thus Glenn is signing on for a long term despite already having left to retire. Second point is reiterating that last line - whatever project Glenn is working on, it will be a long term project. Assuming that Glenn is talking about a fresh project within Intel's R&D ecosystem, it will be 3-5 years before we see the fruits of the labor, which also means creating a design aimed at what could be a variety of process node technologies. Glenn's expertise as lead architect is quite likely applicable for any stage of an Intel R&D design window, but is perhaps best served from the initial stages. The way Glenn seems to put it, this might be a black-ops style design. It also doesn't specify if this is x86, leaving that door open to speculation. Third here is to recognize that Intel has a number of processor design teams in-house and despite the manufacturing process delays, they haven't been idle. We've been seeing refresh after refresh of Skylake lead Intel's portfolio, and while the first iterations of the 10nm Cove cores come to market, Intel's internal design teams would have been working on the next generation, and the next generation after that - the only barrier to deployment would have been manufacturing. I recall a discussion with Intel's engineers around Kaby Lake time, when I asked about Intel's progress on IPC - I requested a +10% gen-on-gen increase over the next two years at the time, and I was told that those designs were done and baked - they were already working on the ones beyond that. Those designs were likely Ice/Tiger Lake, and so Intel's core design teams have been surging ahead despite manufacturing issues, and I wonder if there's now a 3-4 year (or more) delay on some of these designs. If Glenn is hinting at a project beyond that, then we could be waiting even longer. Fourth and finally, one of the critical elements listed by a number of analysts on the announcement of Gelsinger's arrival was that he wouldn't have much of an effect until 3+ years down the line, because of how product cycles work. I rejected that premise outright, stating that Pat can come in and change elements of Intel's culture immediately, and could sit in the room with the relevant engineers and discuss product design on a level that Bob Swan cannot. Pat has the opportunity to arrange the leadership structure and instill new confidence in those structures, some of which may have caused key architects in the past to retire, instead of build on exciting projects. As we can see, Pat is already having an effect before his name is even on the door at HQ. Today is also Intel's end-of-year financial disclosure, at 5pm ET. We are expecting Intel's current CEO, Bob Swan, to talk through what looks to be another record breaking year of revenue, and likely the state of play for Intel's own 7nm process node technologies. That last point is somewhat thrown into doubt given the new CEO announcement and if Gelsinger is on the call. It is unknown if Gelsinger will participate. Related Reading * Intel Appoints Pat Gelsinger as New CEO, From Feb 15th * An Interview with Intel CEO Bob Swan: Roundtable Q&A on Fabs and Future * Robert Swan Named CEO of Intel Tweet PRINT THIS ARTICLE * Post Your Comment [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Please log in or sign up to comment. [ ] [Submit Comment] [ajax-loade] POST A COMMENT 45 Comments View All Comments * jamesindevon - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link One of the three senior architects of the P6 was Bob Colwell. He wrote this about the other two: "I can't imagine a team that would be unable to get along with somebody like Glenn Hinton. Glenn is just a great guy to be around. I think David Papworth is too. For somebody at that level, to not have an ego problem is remarkable and those guys don't. It's not that they don't have an ego. They know they're good at it but they don't use that as a stick over anyone else's head. No "shut up, I'm the king". It doesn't happen. So it was really a blast to work with those guys." Reply * jamesindevon - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link The source of that quote is an "Oral History of Robert P. Colwell" PDF, a transcript of an interview with him. I wanted to post a link, but the comment system thought that was spam. Pity. It's a great and extremely illuminating read, with some fascinating insights into Intel history. Reply * Ian Cutress - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link Page 144 of http://newsletter.sigmicro.org/sigmicro-oral-histo... Reply * Ian Cutress - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link This is fun reading. Dang, I had plans to work today. Reply * dwbogardus - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link Colwell is great fun to read, but even more fun to hear in person. I heard him tell some great "war stories" at two Intel patent award dinners... Reply * phr3dly - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link Good grief. No kidding. I'll save this for tonight. A bit humorous that on a random page I flipped to he's discussing how great Rani Borkar was. And it's true. Of course BK chased her away and she's now at Microsoft recruiting whatever talent remains in Hillsboro. Reply * thedillyo - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link Should "Given Intel's successes" be "Given Hinton's successes"? Reply * forextor - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link Normally in situation like this people get young fresh blood instead of same 'ol same 'ol... why not steal apple's cpu architects? Reply * Valantar - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link Because Qualcomm already did? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= -lq6vZcWLDM Reply * The Hardcard - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link that is not necessarily the end of it. Company loyalists won't move at all. However, once you switch companies it gets easier to do it again. Not unlike murder. Reply * 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * > PIPELINE STORIES + Submit News AT Deals: Corsair Harpoon Pro Gaming Mouse $19 at Amazon [dell_revea] New Intel CEO Making Waves: Rehiring Retired CPU Architects AT Deals: The 29-Inch LG 29BN650-B Drops $100 to $199 * Intel Announces Phantom Canyon: Tiger Lake and Turing Tango in 3rd Gen Enthusiast NUC * MediaTek Announces Dimensity 1100 & 1200 SoCs: A78 on 6nm * AT Deals: HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro Mouse $39 at Amazon * Samsung Introduces 870 EVO SATA SSDs: 128L TLC With an Updated Controller * Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 870: An 865++? * Intel Unveils Panther Canyon NUC11 Family: Tiger Lake Comes to NUCs * AT Deals: BlackWidow Elite Keyboard Just $99 * HP at CES 2021: New ProBook 635 Aero G8 With Ryzen 5000 Mobile * CES 2021: ASUS Updates TUF Gaming A15 & A17, Adds Ryzen 5000 & GeForce RTX 30 Series Hardware TWEETS [twiiter_bi] * IanCutress: Note that is despite Intel saying Xeon Ice Lake is 'ramping' * IanCutress: #IntelFY2020Call Lower Xeon XCC volume in Q1 2021 Gross profit margin ~58.0%, down 4% YoY * IanCutress: @AdoredTV Something like that. I expect them to parade peak MTr/mm2, although most logic won't be on that density * IanCutress: @AdoredTV No, you need EUV there. EUV isn't really a barrier, it's how you put the stuff together * IanCutress: @AdoredTV Just like 10nm had too many scaling factors at once and had to step back * RyanSmithAT: Not that I necessarily expected differently. But Newegg in particular is the bellwether for video cards. So if they... https://t.co/ew83qxQWIm * RyanSmithAT: Because apparently I'm a masochist, I'm (still) doing my weekly check on the state of the video card market. The pr... https://t.co/xpdLP8A2Z8 * RyanSmithAT: @mikeev @Rajaontheedge Fo' sho! I had a long chat with some GPU driver devs a few years back - these days they're w... https://t.co/vNwO2YHNr3 * RyanSmithAT: RT @Rajaontheedge: GPUs are one of the most complex chips to build - they are a collection multiple subsystems that interact with each othe... * andreif7: @jonmasters @IanCutress @HPC_Guru @Rajaontheedge GPUs aren't one IP block, it's a dozen different blocks that mostl... https://t.co/wskkHdDNfn * andreif7: @jonmasters @IanCutress @HPC_Guru @Rajaontheedge Partly yes, but from a practicality standpoint it's also that thos... https://t.co/WF8FA4uIuB * andreif7: @jonmasters @IanCutress @HPC_Guru @Rajaontheedge It's a resource problem. GPU drivers *working at all* today is a m... https://t.co/0cVR7ld8iR * RyanSmithAT: @IanCutress It's kind of in the wrong direction. But if they have it scheduled right after Computex... * andreif7: @JeffSmith888 @FPiednoel @TheKanter @trav_downs @DominikLiberda @bitmagicio @thecomp1ler @lemire You never caught m... https://t.co/xWzYMhYTzX * andreif7: @stuntpants It's an important step to actually admit you're behind and Apple has the better products to actually move forward. * ganeshts: @owentparsons @karolgrudzinski @anandtech The LAN port on the far right is a 2.5Gbps one. * ganeshts: Thanks to @crambob for the opportunity to discuss my thoughts on performance evaluation of various computing aspect... https://t.co/QsynLxMfFx * ganeshts: Plenty of Wi-Fi 6 routers with similar features makes it tough for new market entrants to differentiate. The QHora-... https://t.co/lPUNpN2ug9 * ganeshts: @mguthaus Nice configuration! Curious about the intended use-case(s) / number of parallel jobs. I've always found i... https://t.co/2qGkXGKhfv * ganeshts: @davezatz I am curious about the total area of the roof, the cost (inclusive of the Powerwalls), and the lead time... https://t.co/Xx4vky7YCq Follow @ANANDTECH [twitter_do] LINKS * Home * About * Forums * RSS * Pipeline News * Bench * Terms of Use * Contact Us TOPICS * CPUs * Motherboards * SSD/HDD * GPUs * Mobile * Enterprise & IT * Smartphones * Memory * Cases/Cooling/PSU(s) * Displays * Mac * Systems * Cloud * Trade Shows * Guides FOLLOW * [icon-faceb]Facebook * [icon-twitt]Twitter * [icon-rss2]RSS The Most Trusted in Tech Since 1997 * About * Advertising * Privacy Policy purch Copyright (c) 2021. All rights reserved. * TOPICS * FOLLOW * ABOUT [gryBg1] * CPUs * Motherboards * SSD/HDD * GPUs * Mobile * Enterprise & IT * Smartphones * Memory * Cases/Cooling/PSU(s) * Displays * Mac * Systems * Cloud * Trade Shows * Guides [gryBg1] [icon-faceb]Facebook [icon-twitt]Twitter [icon-rss2]RSS [gryBg1] About Advertising Privacy Policy Contact Us Terms of Use Show Full Site Copyright (c) 2021. All rights reserved. BENCH * [bench_li_p]CPU * [bench_li_p]SSD * [gpubench20]GPU 2013 * [bench_li_p]GPU 2012 * [bench_li_p]Smartphone 2011 * [bench_li_p]Mobile TOPICS * CPUs * Motherboards * SSD/HDD * GPUs * Mobile * Enterprise & IT * Smartphones * Memory * Cases/Cooling/PSU(s) * Displays * Mac * Systems * Cloud * Trade Shows * Guides FOLLOW [icon-faceb]Facebook [icon-twitt]Twitter [icon-rss2]RSS ABOUT * About * Advertising * Privacy Policy * Contact Us * Show Full Site * Copyright (c) 2021. All rights reserved. Log in Don't have an account? Sign up now Username [ ] Password [ ] Remember Me [ ] [LOG IN][ajax-loade] Lost your password? We've updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site's updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Quantcast