48-Core Chips Could Redefine Mobile Devices 285
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."
Desktop (Score:5, Insightful)
Let's put a 48-core processor on a desktop or laptop before we talk about tablets or phones...
excessive (Score:2, Insightful)
It's just Larrabee (Score:4, Insightful)
Keep floggin' that dead Larrabee horse, Intel.
3 options, pick any 2. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Desktop (Score:3, Insightful)
Fully agree:
5 years ago, the top of the line Intel consumer desktop CPU's had 4 cores.
today, the top of the line Intel consumer desktop CPU's have 4 cores.
So, get to it please! :)
Re:Desktop (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.
Re:Desktop (Score:3, Insightful)
And I don't want my 48-core machine to be fucking mobile. It means I would then be expected to take my work everywhere with me. Fuck that. Until we learn how to respect the sanctity of vacation time in the US and bring up the average vacation length for workers to something near European standard I would rather see this in a non-mobile version first.
projected uses (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.
My phone != my computer (Score:4, Insightful)
My phone won't become my computer because it's not about the CPU power. Hasn't been for ages now. The average phone already has more CPU power than the average desktop user makes use of. It's more about:
So while more cores may help phones do phone-like things better, especially combined with nifty ideas like Google Glass, but it's not going to help the phone replace my desktop.
ownership (Score:4, Insightful)
The phone would be smart enough to not just be a computer but it could be my computer.
As trends continue it will not be "my computer" it'll remain my service provider's computer which they graciously let me use a small fraction of its capabilities for a monthly fee.
Re:Desktop (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
Re:Desktop (Score:3, Insightful)
48 core chips would be silly to release for small devices first. Developing software for a large number of cores is non-trivial, and is often inefficient or unstable... it is one of those things like AI or fusion that has always be 'right around the corner' for general purpose computing, but has neve really arrived.... college classes still teach the techniques poorly and people who 'learn it on their own' also usually produce poor architectures.
So if such a chip is going to be introduced, desktops, with more resources to waste and higher user tolerance for system failures, would be the logical place.