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48-Core Chips Could Redefine Mobile Devices

Posted by timothy on from the absolute-power dept.

CWmike writes "Intel researchers are working on a 48-core processor for smartphones and tablets, but it could be five to 10 years before it hits the market. Having a 48-core chip in a small mobile device would open up a whole new world of possibilities. 'If we're going to have this technology in five to 10 years, we could finally do things that take way too much processing power today,' said analyst Patrick Moorhead. 'This could really open up our concept of what is a computer... The phone would be smart enough to not just be a computer but it could be my computer.' Enric Herrero, a research scientist at Intel Labs in Barcelona, explained that with the prototype chip someone could, for instance, be encrypting an email while also working on other power-intensive apps at the same time — without hiccups. Same for HD video. Intel's Tanausu Ramirez said it could also boost battery life. 'The chip also can take the energy and split it up and distribute it between different applications,' he said. Justin Rattner, Intel's CTO, told Computerworld that a 48-core chip for small mobile devices could hit the market 'much sooner' than the researchers' 10-year prediction."

4 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. Desktop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's put a 48-core processor on a desktop or laptop before we talk about tablets or phones...

    1. Re:Desktop by ByOhTek · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because desktops have one less criteria to meet than tablets and phones - they don't have nearly as small of a power envelope.

      The desktop, therefore could be seen as a logical step in the progression to getting it on the phone/tablet.

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    2. Re:Desktop by Type44Q · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This will then be your primary computing device that follows you around.

      This will then be your primary computing device that:

      A) you leave on the roof of your car.
      B) gets dropped in the toilet.
      C) you spill your beverage on.
      D) gets chewed up by your dog.
      E) you get mugged for.
      F) you leave in your hotel room.
      G) you have confiscated by the authorities (should you find yourself at the wrong place/time)
      H) gets reverse-engineered/stress-tested by your toddler

      Shall I continue? Seriously; fuck all this smartphone nonsense; give me a borderline-disposable Nokia 2600-series and I'll happily call it a day! :p

  2. projected uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Core 1-12 : DRM
      - these cores will check all audio/video/ebook files for copyright infringement

    Core 13-24 : TPM
      - these cores will implement TPM and secure the DRM portion

    Core 25-37 : Genuine Advantage Checking
      - these coes will check that the system state is valid, and all license keys are valid and updated

    Core 38-40 : Virus Checking
      - these cores will implement malware checks and virus checks

    Core 41-47 : OS and Sandboxing/Security
    - these cores will run the base os, and run all applications in sandbox mode

    Core 48 : User Application
    - this core will be available for running user applications in the performance reduced sandbox mode. Priority is given to cores 1-47, in order of decreasing priority.