Intel demonstrates 48-core processor

Intel demonstrated a new concept processor which packs a staggering total of 48 cores on a single chip. Called a Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC), Intel hopes that they will eventually power massive data computers and even take on human-like capabilities such as hearing and speaking.

Probably the biggest surprise though, would be that this 1.3 billion transistor processor uses between 25 and 125 watts of power, which is comparable with the current generation of desktop processors. Built using a 45-nanometer manufacturing process, Intel Chief Technology Officer Justin Rattner admits that each core is not that powerful by itself. However, they pack a lot of power collectively, Rattner told CNET.

For now, Intel has managed to boot Windows and Linux on SCC systems. Of course, the largest challenge with massive multi-core processors is not so much the availability of sheer computational capabilities, but how to allow programmers to efficiently tap into them. While hardly new in supercomputers and specialized scientific applications, getting parallelism into everyday applications using current programming paradigms will be no walk in the park.

For now, Intel hopes that academics and programmers will start thinking of this problem. To this end, Intel plans to make up to 100 SCC systems available to its partners and academia.

Ultimately, you can be sure that processors with 48 cores won't be the end of it. Indeed, a principal engineer with Intel's Microprocessor Technology Lab was overheard as early as mid last year saying "developers should start thinking about tens, hundreds, and thousands of cores now."

For more on this story:
- check out this article at CNET News
- check out this article at PC World

Related Articles:
Intel takes new approach to spurring SSD adoption
Intel to launch Atom processors soon
Intel to introduce new 'microserver' standard