Late last year, we covered an Intel CPU with 48 cores on a single chip. That sounds impressive, but a new prototype makes this looks like child's play.
Scottish researchers have built a 1000-core processor (yes, three zeros) that runs 20 times faster than current chip and uses less power. Amazingly, this chip approaches the maximum mesh diameter before the chip-network connecting the cores negatively impacts performance.
The research team used the greener field programmable gate array (FPGA), a specific integrated circuit design typically configured by the consumer after manufacturing, to build the chip. Since consumers can configure the FPGA, the researchers were able to use some creative program to integrate 1000 cores and divide the processing load among all 1000. Given the 1000-core processor's unique customizable nature, it's actually more energy efficient than your typical modern multi-core CPU.
Back in November, Intel said that a 1000-core processor is possible to build, but the scientists from the University of Glasgow beat Intel to the finish-line.
Given the extent of this discovery it is sure to revolutionize the way computers work. I can't wait to have one of my own so that I can do 3D fluid dynamics from my laptop instead of needing that silly super computer
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"Risk and survive. Stall and die. Jump and rise. Fail and learn. Defeat your insecurities. The unknown is not comfortable. Nothing is missing. Creativity is the sheer and pure manifestation of intelligence mixed with a high dose of imagination. Be inventive when facing delicate requests, unmanageable deadlines and unreasonable expectations. Learn to do with what you don't have and pretend you can." ~Carole Guevin, PixelTable
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