Tilera 64-core processor

Attempting to challenge Intel, a new company by the name of Tilera has introduced the Tile64, an embedded processor with the unusual feature of having 64 cores, well in excess of most competitors. Moreover, instead of relying on a centralized bus, each core has its own switch and memory, and can thus share data with four neighboring cores. The memory is divided into two 8KB L1 caches and one 64KB L2, with L3 being simulated as necessary up to 5MB.

The Tile64's RISC based architecture is clocked between 600MHz and 1GHz, and is claimed to be 10 times faster than Intel's embedded dual-core Xeon processor; performance-per-watt, meanwhile, is rated at as much as 30 times better. Tilera is now selling its CPU to businesses, pricing a 10K tray at $435 per chip. Indication of a consumer-level chip has yet to be put forward.

By Electronista Staff