Intel GoPC campaign

[craighazan]

Intels recent campaign against Apples M1 looks even more ridiculous on the news that The Perseverance rover that recently landed on Mars is powered by a 1990s iMac processor, a PowerPC 750 used in the original iMac G3.

 

[jpz4085]

Intels recent campaign against Apples M1 looks even more ridiculous on the news that The Perseverance rover that recently landed on Mars is powered by a 1990s iMac processor, a PowerPC 750 used in the original iMac G3.

It's just a marketing gimmick fueled by resentment over Apple ditching Intel processors. Predictable stuff. The Perseverance Rover isn't really relevant considering the extremely long certification process computer hardware has to go through to be considered space ready. Missions are planned years in advance using existing hardware that had to pass years more of testing and design changes, especially radiation hardening. The Hubble Space Telescope runs on a Intel 486 (even after servicing missions), the ISS has several systems using Intel 386 chips and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory has been using a VAX system based on a 1750A processor since being launched in 1999. Current off the shelf hardware wouldn't survive for very long in the environment of space.

 

[craighazan]

It's just a marketing gimmick fueled by resentment over Apple ditching Intel processors. Predictable stuff. The Perseverance Rover isn't really relevant considering the extremely long certification process computer hardware has to go through to be considered space ready. Missions are planned years in advance using existing hardware that had to pass years more of testing and design changes, especially radiation hardening. The Hubble Space Telescope runs on a Intel 486 (even after servicing missions), the ISS has several systems using Intel 386 chips and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory has been using a VAX system based on a 1750A processor since being launched in 1999. Current off the shelf hardware wouldn't survive for very long in the environment of space.

I appreciate your sensible answer But, a G3 iMac landed on Mars, not intel.

 

[jpz4085]

I appreciate your sensible answer But, a G3 iMac landed on Mars, not intel.

Yes, that is true. I didn't intend to contest that fact, I only wanted to point out Intel is in space too.

 

[craighazan]

In space yes, but not on Mars!. Anyone can launch a GoPro tied to a balloon to space, but you need a G3 iMac to land on Mars. Look what a souped up G3 iMac just did.

 

[UtterDisbelief]

Well I didn't know either CPU fact, so that was very interesting! Stunning how well the sky-crane worked. And of course, look how long Spirit and Opportunity survived on Mars and it seems to back-up that "hardening testing".

I had heard that my digital wrist-watch has more computing power than was in the Apollo 11 Command Module ... Which gives me that little warm glow when I look at it