Intel Demos 48-Core Microprocessor (PICS)

[gurusan]

http://www.guru3d.com/news/intel-demos-48core-microprocessor-photos/

Intel Demos 48-Core Microprocessor
By Hilbert Hagedoorn, December 3, 2009 - 9:29 PM

Developers from Intel Corp. deminstrated the world’s first central processing unit with 48 cores today. The processor is experimental and belongs to Intel Tera-Scale Computing Research program, but Intel claims that the chip has 10 – 20 times higher performance compared to existing Intel Core products.

The prototype chip contains 48 independently programmable cores – the largest number ever placed on a single piece of silicon. The microprocessor features new high-speed core-to-core data bus, which is very much needed for multi-core microprocessors, integrated memory controller and so on. What is interesting is that according to the world’s largest chipmaker the prototype only consumes 25W in idle and 125W under full workload, which is inline with today’s central processing unit. It is unclear which process technology is used to make the new prototype chip.

One of the distinct features of the new 48-core experimental chip will be its extreme programmability. Software applications will be able to automatically control the number of cores to use at any given time and operating systems will be able to assign certain cores for auxiliary tasks. Moreover, software will be able to manage power consumption, clock-speed of individual cores or even shut them down when not needed.

The experimental 48-core central processing unit (CPU) will help Intel and software developers to study management and scheduling mechanisms of explicitly multi-core microprocessors in order to get prepared to bring them onto the mass market. Next year, Intel plans to provide software developers more than a hundred of experimental chips for development of new software apps.

The main long-term goal of Intel’s Tera-Scale Computing Research is to enable extreme performance of multi-core CPUs and ensure that software developers have appropriate tools and experience to create programs that boast a higher level of interaction with human beings.

At present Intel has two major x86 processor design centers: in Hillsboro, Oregon and in Haifa, Israel, where all major processor designs are developed. The prototype 48-core microprocessor has been largely developed in Braunschweig, Germany, center that belongs to Intel Labs Europe. The processor core, high-speed core-to-core data bus as well as an optimized energy-efficient memory controller, specifically designed to work with multiple cores were developed in Germany, other parts were created in various Bangalore, India as well as Hillsboro, Oregon.

Thanks to efficient work of the German team, abilities of quick interaction between developers, and advanced simulation technologies that allowed to test the software and hardware solutions based on the new chip before it is released, the development time of the project was halved by two times, according to Intel.

Architectural, design and other details of the chip are projected to be revealed at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in February 2010 [via xbit labs]

 

[SfnX]

benchmarks

 

[Saundie]

I for one cannot wait to see processors with this many cores reach production. Being able to run a dozen VMs on one box, using 125w or less is a dream come true.

 

[raralis]

Wonder how long before they will be available to buy at affordable prices.

On a side note, AMD must be crapping their pants by now.

 

[JonJ678]

That's a bit mental. Fair play intel.

 

[xGaffner]

48 cores? wat

 

[reflux]

Core i7 just became obsolete.

 

[ReturnOfTheDude]

Can it handle Crysis?

 

[psychas]

Can it handle Crysis?

nah crysis uses only 4 cores. i bet u could play supreme commander without gpu as it can use 32 cores

 

[Devrij]

say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? That's going to be ridiculous. New socket I presume

 

[raralis]

Theoretically you should get more fps using this cpu alone compared to using an i7 + gpu.

I already feel like i wasted money buying an i7

 

[ReturnOfTheDude]

nah crysis uses only 4 cores. i bet u could play supreme commander without gpu as it can use 32 cores

Does the same apply for Supreme Commander 2?

 

[Admiral Huddy]

"48 independently programmable cores"

Say good bye to the GPU.

 

[clv101]

So the total package isn't going to able to use more than say 125W. With 48 cores that's just 2.6W per core. How many GFLOPS can we hope to get from 2.6W?

That's similar to a single core 2 GHz Z series Atom.

 

[domthecondom]

This is getting stupied I hope this is not out for a while

 

[IAmATeaf]

That things is mental, it'll need a socket 18216

 

[cavemanoc]

"48 independently programmable cores"

Say good bye to the GPU.

Don't GPUs already have over 100 cores - the only difference is that they are specialized or 'optimized' to give better performance in the very specific area in which they are needed - surely we would need both more cores, and a whole new programming language to even make these relevant in a gaming context - never mind competitive?

This is. however, very exciting from a server point of view. (And something AMD have been working on for a while) - the ability to have multiple cores, each very low power, that can switch on/off as required means you will have far better efficiency than the current generation of big, energy hungry cores... It will be interesting to see whether we see a split in server hardware and consumer hardware (along the lines of the Itanic - for those that remember it ) - with each area focusing more on their specific needs, and having a less 'jack-of-all-trades' approach.

 

[gazzamcg]

I'm still happy with my core 2 duo E8400 @ 3ghz.

 

[reygjabla]

That things is mental, it'll need a socket 18216

NaH! Its using socket 1366.

 

[mrtynewhale]

Ye was reading up on this - how long do you think it's going to be until developers are able to produce software that would take advantage of even half these cores? They can barely cope with trying to properly utilise quad core designs at the moment.

Very exciting on the other hand