Intel shows off CPU with 48 cores

[Hefemeister]

Intel researchers have created an experimental many-core processor with 48 cores. The so-called single-chip cloud computer (SCC) features 24 dual-core tiles with 384KB L2 cache per core and is made on a 45nm HKMG process

The SCC chip features four integrated DDR3 memory controllers, there's one memory controller per six tiles and they can address up to 64GB DDR3 memory. The two cores on each tile communicate through a message buffer, and routers allow each tile to share data with other tiles. Also interesting is the power-efficient design, each tile can run at a different frequency and there are six banks of four tiles that can run at different voltages.

The 48-core chip features a total of 1.3 billion transistors and measures 567 square millimeters, power consumption is said to be between 25W and 125W. Intel said about 100 or more of these experimental chips will be made for research facilities, with the goal of developing new software and programming models for the many-core future.

Researchers from Intel Labs demonstrated an experimental, 48-core Intel processor, or "single-chip cloud computer," that rethinks many of the approaches used in today's designs for laptops, PCs and servers. This futuristic chip boasts about 10 to 20 times the processing engines inside today's most popular Intel® Core™-branded processors.

The long-term research goal is to add incredible scaling features to future computers that spur entirely new software applications and human-machine interfaces. The company plans to engage industry and academia next year by sharing 100 or more of these experimental chips for hands-on research in developing new software applications and programming models.

Very interesting indeed. 25 to 125W to power this baby. Wow.

Intel shows off CPU with 48 cores

 

[james.wired]

Insanity. Time to power an AI army or 4.

 

[gurusan]

 

[Burn]

^Lol. And I thought my 8 were crowded... 48 is sick

 

[Peter.Cort]

Must cost a ****-ton to make...

 

[philbar71]

lol, "many core future"

 

[Yami]

Will it actually have any noteable performance difference from quads/hectas or is it just a big number to sound impressive as Intel seem to be fond of?

 

[yzmxer608]

I don't want to know the price, hopefully it's not just a marketing gimmick to have that many cores right now.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Sadly, this IMO should be implemented soon... Sure, it sounds incredibly expensive, but in a data center, this will help cut over all costs, by lowering cooling costs, reducing the over all footprint of the building, and lower electrical costs, while providing FAR FAR more processing capabilities.

I could also see chips of this nature eventualy being used in high end routers with multiport WAN setups, but you must also remember, this is something that is very early in development, and may never see the light of day.

 

[Harper]

But will it run Crysis?