Intel Shows Multicore Itanium
Supersize cache plus hyperthreading could push performance to new heights.
Ashlee Vance, IDG News Service
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA -- Intel provided a glimpse at the future of its high-end Itanium processor, showing a multicore design of the CPU during a Tuesday demonstration here at the Microprocessor Forum conference.
John Crawford, an Intel Fellow, provided an example of what a four-core, Itanium-based processor might look like, although Intel is not expected to deliver such a processor until 2005 or 2006. Putting four processor cores on a single chip could provide a large performance boost for Itanium-based servers and alleviate problems such as heat dissipation.
Crawford showed how Intel could package four of its Itanium 2 processors to share one, large cache. Intel has promoted the use of a large cache in its Itanium chips as a way to provide a high-speed bridge between the processor cores and memory. Crawford would not say when the chips would come out or whether Intel would offer a four-core design before a two-core design, but did confirm that Intel is working on this type of technology.
"This is imminently doable," Crawford said, during his keynote presentation. "You can expect things of this nature coming out."
Other Options
IBM has already started shipping a dual-core Power4 processor in servers based on AIX, its version of Unix. Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems are also expected to start shipping dual-core chips in systems based on their own flavors of Unix, respectively HP-UX and Solaris, next year. Intel, however, has said in the past that it will not produce a multiple-core Itanium chip until the middle of the decade.
By spreading out four processor cores around a shared cache, Intel could reduce the amount of heat generated by its chips, Crawford said. The demonstration of the four-core processor showed two cores on each side of the cache. This would place the hottest parts of each processor at some distance from each other.
Along with multicore processors, Intel is planning to bring its hyperthreading technology to the Itanium chips. Hyperthreading makes one processor appear as multiple processors to software and can provide a performance boost for applications that are written to take advantage of the technology.
- Sponsored Resource:Improve your network with the right mix of features, performance and pricing.
- Sponsored Resource:Growing your business requires the right tools. Dell's networking servers can help.
- Sponsored Resource:Thinking about a new Laptop? Lenovo has models to meet everyone's needs.
- Sponsored Resource:Twitter: A how-to guide for using Twitter as a business tool.
- Sponsored Resource:Smartphone security threats are on the rise. Is it time to safegaurd your device?
Print 65% more pages than with refilled inks. Trust Original HP Inks. Hit Print Reliably.
Laptop Showcase
Upgrade to IE 8
Featured APC Accessories For Your System
10% Off Entire Cart at Online Store
-
APC Back-UPS ES
Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
- APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.
People who read this also read:
Best Prices on Graphics Cards
GeForce GTX 260 Video CardPrice: $169.99
GeForce GTX 275 Video CardPrice: $245.00
Radeon HD 4890 Video CardPrice: $199.99
DMX-WL1 BRAVIA Wireless Link - wireless audio / video dPrice: $299.00
Radeon HD 4850 Video CardPrice: $109.99
GeForce 9800 GT Video CardPrice: $89.88
- 2007 Microsoft Office Suites Comparison This paper compares and contrasts four suites of the 2007 Microsoft Office system: Microsoft Office Standard 2007, Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. This paper is intended to help organizations understand the applications and capabilities offered, and to identify the suite that best fits their needs.
- Windows Vista Migration: The Business Proposition It's not so much a matter of "if" but "when" for most organizations regarding migration to Windows Vista. Laying the groundwork now for this migration can yield higher ROI than waiting until later. This Computerworld Technology Briefing explains it all.


