Developing a parallel computer for under $50

Discuss this video with our community at http://www.xcore.com

Join David May and Adam Marable as they discuss the potential use of XMOS processors as a means to build a cheap yet extendible parallel computing platform.

Adam has already taken the first steps towards this whilst undertaking a summer placement with XMOS in 2009.

As XMOS processors can be linked together via XLinks you could potentially make this into a modular platform by which you could add not just more memory as you upgrade, but more processors too!

Watch the video to see it in action and to learn more about what could be in store for the future using XMOS technology.


About XMOS
XMOS is the leader in event-driven processors™ for digital electronics. XMOS event-driven processors ™ are high performance, predictable, processors. They allow complete systems to be implemented in software using interface, DSP and control code. XMOS is an enabling technology for the Open Source Hardware community. Designs, including USB, Ethernet, and SD-RAM controllers are available in an ever-expanding library of open source code. Free to download, the XMOS development tools are supported by a vibrant community of digital designers and software engineers. XMOS is based in Bristol, UK, Sunnyvale, CA, and Chennai, India with sales offices and representatives across the world.

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[Shtanto]

I agree. It'll be massively parallel nano scale processors. It'll all come together in a big way when nanotech meets stem cells and regenerative medicine. People in the future will laugh at our quaint notions of "wireless", just as we laugh at early "pocket" calculators.

[MyXMOS]

@Shtanto Things are certainly going in that direction! Are you on our community site? You have some interesting ideas and such, would be geat to see you there, many other people with interesting ideas too. XMOS is all about thinking outside the box :-)

[Shtanto]

If you can shrink it down small enough, that's a neuron. Pack a trillion odd into a box and you've got a brain.

:D

[MyXMOS]

@Shtanto What do you think the future of computing will be? In the long term I think there will be millions of tiny interconnected processors working together or such.

[decimat777]

@stbays this is kinda funny because there was a company that was thinking of a motherboard that had multiple cpu slots up to 10 or more and yes its exactly like you say it, they user only buys what they need and they can always upgrade in the future if software gets too much for their current setup, also this kind of setup is cost effective by saving people money from buying more than they really need. Ive seen people buy dell xps workstations just to browse the internet lol

[stbays]

When I saw those little chips connected together, I suddenly envisioned each of them in their own shell, where the user would simply buy as many of them as he needs to do the applications and games he wants to play. This way for people who only want to surf the net could buy only one or two of them, vs a gamer might have ten or more.

[blahdelablah]

@ddniUK

There are two current Xcore models. The one in the video is the low-end Xcore, the one that's likely to be in the X1000 is the higher-end G4-based Xcore.

[ddniUK]

Adam fantastic job.

How far do you think the technology could be pushed?

Do you envisage a situation where custom processsors from classic computers like the Amiga could be created in Xcore? Maybe even a full clone of an Amiga on Xcore?