The 1000 Core Processor

"Recently, there has been some discussion about a 1000 core processor or as I like to call them many-core processors. Indeed, a research group has proclaimed they have created a 1000 core processor using an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Such discussions and research stunts are good as they generate ideas, discussions and set milestones, or in this case Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs). The reality of a 1000 core processor, however, is going to take a huge fundamental (and probably painful) change in the way computing is done.

"Surprisingly, the issue is not really how many cores you can pack on a die. The issue is memory bandwidth. I have been around long enough to know that anyone who promotes massively parallel processors and does not include a discussion of memory bandwidth probably, how should I say this politely, believes in Santa Claus."

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