Intel unveils 48-core SCC

By djh1697

Paragon (1695)

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03-12-2009, 22:06

At last Intel have followed the example of Konami!

Intel has unveiled a prototype chip that packs 48 separate processing cores on to a chunk of silicon the size of a postage stamp.

The Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC), as it is known, contains 1.3 billion transistors, the tiny on-off switches that underpin chip technology.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8392392.stm

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By flyguille

Prophet (3031)

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03-12-2009, 22:26

vapourware, because, you can drawn 100 cores on a single die, but, then to refrigerate it!!!!, come on!

By [D-Tail]

Ascended (8263)

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04-12-2009, 07:28

Who says all chips get hot? Check out the ARM Cortex for example.

Having said that, the Intel SCC is built from "IA cores", of which I presume support the x86 instruction set. Which is claimed to be highly energy-inefficient. Ah well...

By Leo

Paragon (1236)

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04-12-2009, 11:05

95% of that transistor count are for cache memory, they are really cold as compared to cores , since only one ram location is accessed at once.
so transistor activity in cache is many orders below those of cores.

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

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04-12-2009, 22:39

Impressive feat.... but really hardware will outgrow software capabilities in the decades to come, I think. Besides faster/more cores, what's really needed is memory, I/O and peripherals to keep up. And easy+reliable ways to build complex software that can fully use those capabilities. Your average Windows install or Linux distro has a busload of bugs in it. Also if you make a game, does it run 2x as fast on a 2-core system? 10x as fast on a 10-core system? 1000x as fast on a 1000-core chip (linear scaling on many-core system)? Don't think so, at some point the curve will flatten no matter how many cores you throw at it. Faster/more CPU cores does nothing to improve that situation (probably the contrary). For a fix here, think not-so-common or new programming languages, or new ways to connect those 1000 cores to each other & the outside world.

Who says all chips get hot? Check out the ARM Cortex for example.

Having said that, the Intel SCC is built from "IA cores", of which I presume support the x86 instruction set. Which is claimed to be highly energy-inefficient. Ah well...
Yeah and programmable logic is more energy-efficient than have a CPU do the work. And specialized, full custom IC's are even more energy-efficient. That's why we still have chipset, SATA controller chips and GPU's today.

What I'd really like to see, is a few (perhaps just 1) easy-to-learn-assembly-for CPU cores, to control user interface, and the general function of a machine. Coupled with an enormous mass of re-configurable logic (a la FPGA) that does the heavy lifting, and where all the various I/O ports are hooked up to input & outputs of that logic (as opposed to dedicated chips). With that logic being partially reconfigurable so that it's easy & efficient to add/change specific tasks. You open a video, and part of the logic gets re-configured to decode the video data in hardware. With a simple to understand OS to run this machinery, that never crashes, automatically updates itself, and works around hardware defects when they occur. With a user interface that is consistent (everything you learn, works the same everywhere) and doesn't need a manual, even for a 3-year old or the newest of newbie. And all of that in a rugged, pocket-sized, solar-powered device. </dream> Cool

Note that the above 'dream' involves "more" (transistors eg.), but nowhere does it involve "more cores". Mostly it would involve software development. oO

By konamiman

Paragon (1190)

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04-12-2009, 22:54

Wow, 48xSCC means 240 sound channels!! I can't wait for Konami making a MSX game with this super-SCC inside! Tongue