Intel Tera-Scale processor prototype it’s an 80-core CPU

Multi-core battle has begun with the launch of the first desktop dual-core CPU. Now Intel is pushing the research further with it’s 80-core Tera Scale prototype. Even if you won’t see those numbers of cores in a single CPU for at least five years, Intel is getting ready starting today.

From this scheme we can see that some cores have special functionality

The chip giant announced today than it successfully developed the first 80-core CPU prototype, called Tera-Scale. What is amazing it’s the power consumption, which is less than 100 W and lower that Intel’s current flagship, the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 quad-core processor.

From what Intel says, we can tell you that the new cores are simpler that a typical CPU, but their number makes them capable of running multiple threads simultaneously, summing up to a Teraflop CPU. Also Intel believes that in the future, the cores of a multi-core CPU will be designed for specialised tasks. For now you have to settle for Intel’s V8, a dual quad-core processor system, presented at CES 2007.