HOLY F##K Intel just unveiled this for research groups! 8-)

http://www.3dfxzone.it/news/puntatore.php?uid=8870

Yup that's 80 CORES!!! :o

Well, it isn't stated in the article if the CPU is x86-compatible so it's just a showcase of some cores which can calculate some mathematical tasks. You can't compare a core of that CPU with a Core 2- or Phenom-Core since those cores on the 80-core-CPU is much smaller and much less complex. I think the overall transistor count is similar to a quadcore-CPU of today so it's clear that the wattage isn't that high.

Yep, that thing is a design study but has no practical purpose outside of its multi-core research field.

Also, that design was already introduced early last year already :
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20070204comp.htm

Still, I like the Idea, I wouldn't mind more cores per CPU :)

This multi core idea isn't new Intel is just trailing on what SUN is doing with their T1 Niagara 8core/32threads CPUs
http://www.sun.com/processors/UltraSPARC-T1/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UltraSPARC_T1
Intel made a point their roadmap where they would overtake SUN in this multi core race but it seems we'll have to wait a little bit longer for actual market products.
Most likely these cpu's will gradually make their way into HPTC's like the one's in top500.org