
Alas we
can't play with it
Intel is handing out PCs equipped with an experimental
48-core CPU to a handful of lucky researchers.
The gear is being sent out as part of a research project
as the 48-core part might never become commercially available. Intel wants researchers who are likely to want it for
supercomputing tasks to give it a try.
The 48-core part includes tweaks that reduce memory and
communication bottlenecks inherent in all current x86 processors so it would be
very nice for home use. The 48-core part only draws between 25W and 125W, and
cores can be slowed down or shut off completely in order to save power.
It is not clear this point who is going to get Intel's
new machines to play with. Hopefully it will go to help worthy science
projects, although if Intel wants to assist my science attempts to calculate
the most likely lottery numbers it would be welcome.