Intel Labs has demonstrated a 48-core processor which could have around "10 to 20 times the processing engines inside today's most popular Intel Core-branded processors".
Dubbed a "single-chip cloud computer", the chip has 1.3 billion transistors, making it the biggest processor Intel has ever developed.
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It is just an experimental device, but Intel Labs has created a working device which ran real-world applications in a demonstration in California this week.
It will use some of the techniques learnt in its six- and eight-core processors due for later in 2010.
"Over time, I expect these advanced concepts to find their way into mainstream devices, just as advanced automotive technology such as electronic engine control, air bags and anti-lock braking eventually found their way into all cars," said Justin Rattner, head of Intel Labs and Intel's Chief Technology Officer.
An important feature of the device is the use of complex voltage and frequency scaling to minimise power consumption
There are eight on-chip voltages and 28 separate frequency domains which can be programmed to control power consumption.
Intel said it will be possible for 48 cores to operate at as little as 125W even when running at maximum performance.
The company plans to share 100 or more of the experimental chips for hands-on research in selected universities and companies in the expectation of developing new software applications and the all-important multi-core programming models.
Justin Rattner presents the chip