Intel on Technology Futures

Interesting reading from a premier technology R&D company. The cover story on platform evolution ten years out is worth reading if you want hints at what your future PC will have in it, and how will it be architected. Based on what I heard at Intel's developer Forum this week, don't be surprised if 2015 microprocessors have 64 - 128 processor cores (some light, some heavy, and some as threads as in HyperThreading).

Peter S. Kastner

Cover Story
Platform 2015: Intel® Processor and Platform Evolution for the Next Decade
Shekhar Borkar, Pradeep Dubey, Kevin Kahn, David Kuck, Hans Mulder, Steve Pawlowski, and Justin RattnerThe future of computing promises a positive transformation of our world, and a continued need of ever-greater performance and capabilities. What will platforms and processors powering this future look like in 10 years? Intel's Platform 2015 vision looks ahead at the trends and usages, and architectural innovation and technology foundation driving Intel's processor architecture evolution, and future platforms based on them.
Feature Articles

Communications
Speeding Up the Network: A System Problem, A Platform SolutionPat Gelsinger, Hans G. Geyer, and Justin RattnerSome of Intel's senior technologists discuss why we created the new Intel® I/O Acceleration Technology, as well as how we're creating other new technologies and solutions that are moving server platforms to new levels of performance.
Intel® I/O Acceleration Technology Improves Network Performance, Reliability and EfficientlyKeith Lauritzen, Thom Sawicki, Tom Stachura, Carl E. WilsonIntel® I/O Acceleration Technology gets data to and from applications faster and with greater reliability and efficiency, enabling servers to finally start taking better advantage of today's gigabit Ethernet pipes and high-performance processors.

Computing Technologies
Fully-Buffered DIMM Technology Moves Enterprise Platforms to the Next LevelJon Haas and Pete VogtFully-Buffered DIMM technology, a new memory architecture, addresses the scaling needs of both capacity and bandwidth and enables memory to keep pace with processor and I/O improvements in enterprise platforms.
Intel® High Definition (HD) Audio and Dolby* PC Entertainment Experience Deliver Consumer Electronic Audio Quality on the PCErnesto MartinezThe Dolby PC Entertainment Experience*, enabled by Intel® High Definition Audio, allows system designers to develop PCs with the audio quality and surround-sound capabilities that, until now, were only available from consumer electronics devices.
Creating High Performance Embedded Applications Through Compiler OptimizationsLerie Kane The compiler plays an integral part in all application development. Read about some compiler optimization techniques that can help developers create high-performance embedded applications.
Intel® Desktop Board Software Provides Advanced Security, Multimedia, Integration Ajay GargIntel® Desktop Boards now come with an extensive set of software applications that make it easier and less expensive to integrate, set up, manage, and maintain both individual and networked systems.

Standards
The Impact of Universal 3D on Product Lifecycle ManagementHitachi Consulting and IntelUniversal 3D allows CAD/CAM-sourced 3D diagrams and animations to be shared, displayed and utilized in any mainstream application, enabling 3D graphics and animations to be used in a host of areas much later in the typical product lifecycle.