Intel unveils tera-scale chip

researchers claim to have developed the world's first programmable processor that delivers supercomputer-like performance from a single, low-power, 80-core chip.

The chip is not much larger than the size of a finger nail while cosuming only 62 watts, less than many single-core processors today. It is the result of the company's 'Tera-scale computing' research aimed at delivering Teraflop performance for future PCs and servers.

Tera-scale performance, and the ability to move terabytes of data, will play a pivotal role in future computers with ubiquitous access to the internet by powering new applications and enabling the rise of high-definition entertainment.

Intel has no plans to bring this exact chip - designed with floating point cores - to market. However, the company's Tera-scale research is instrumental in investigating new innovations in individual or specialised processor or core functions. This Teraflop research chip offered specific insights in new silicon design methodologies, high-bandwidth interconnects and energy management approaches.