Sun To Release 8-Core Niagara 2 Processor

An anonymous reader writes "Sun Microsystems is set to announce its eight-core Niagara 2 processor next week. Each core supports eight threads, so the chip handles 64 simultaneous threads, making it the centerpiece of Sun's "Throughput Computing" effort. Along with having more cores than the quads from Intel and AMD, the Niagara 2 have dual, on-chip 10G Ethernet ports with cryptographic capability. Sun doesn't get much processor press, because the chips are used only in its own CoolThreads servers, but Niagara 2 will probably be the fastest processor out there when it's released, other than perhaps the also little-known 4-GHz IBM Power 6."

Comments

5. Profit!

[nowhere.elysium]

Did anyone else notice TFA's mention of Sun's "bang up profits" of $329? Niagara for teh win! Seriously, though: the processor looks cool and all that, but how many of us are likely to seriously be able to play with one anytime soon? (And if anyone answers with 'I am!', I will happily trade jobs with you for a week)