Intel's 50Gbps Silicon Photonics Link shines a light on future computers (video)

Using copper cables to transfer data around a computer? Get your head out of the sand, Grandpa! Intel thinks that's on the outs and is touting its recent accomplishments with Silicon Photonics and integrated lasers, using light pulses to move data at 50Gbps (last time we heard Intel tout the tech was when it hit 40Gbps speeds in 2007). The emphasis is on low-cost, high-speed fiber optics, the removal of cable clutter, and with the speed boost, the ability to try new system designs by being able to space chips and components farther apart from one another without as much hit on speed -- all theoretical at this point, of course. Researchers hopes to hit terabit per second speeds further down the line. As for John Q. Consumer, enjoy the progress from afar but don't count on seeing this technology hit Newegg anytime soon. Video after the break.

[pika2000 Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:54PM]

Where's LightPeak? You don't hear about it anymore.

[FnuGk Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:09PM]

@pika2000

was thinking about that too. how is this different from lighPeak?

[kapanak Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:15PM]

@pika2000

This is about internal data transfers. Like the link between memory and processor, or similar applications. For external data transfers, we always have USB 3.0 and LightPeak...

Seriously Intel, where is LightPeak...?

[Vigile Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:32PM]

@pika2000 Lightpeak doesn't use silicon photonics and will be limited to what we see already today.

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=965

That write goes into more details about how it works and explains how this announcement will change things in the future.

[boe Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:39PM]

@kapanak Lightwhatever is interesting but I'd really like USB 3.0 NOW! I'd like to be able to charge my phone, my headset, as well as download, sync etc with numerous devices. I'm hoping gigabyte and other brands increase the number of USB ports on their systems - I doubt I'll buy an intel motherboard again after this fiasco. They really are giving their customers the middle finger by ignoring USB 3.0 integration just so they can increase market share for their lighthingy.

[tekdemon Posted Jul 27th 2010 7:14PM]

@pika2000 I think this is gonna be like LightPeak 2.0 ;)

[DoctarPeppar Posted Jul 27th 2010 7:46PM]

@Vigile
Wow, it's nice to see an article where the writer actually does their homework and explains exactly what it is they are writing about...Compare your link to this crappy engadget post...enough said, lol. BTW thanks for the link.

[statickeith Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:54PM]

@bingster SERIOUSLY? GET THE EFF OUTTA HERE!

Engadget, you seriously need to ban users like this guy!

And people, turn on your downranking machine!

[User42 Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:55PM]

This should be "Breaking News" and not that Bieber sh*t.

[AKBlade13 Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:09PM]

@User42 I hope you realize that comments like yours were the reason why the Beiber article went up in the first place.

On to the topic at hand, I hope it can come out of the theoretical stages by 2015.

[bravokiloromeo Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:16PM]

@angelusp
Unfortunately, our computers will eventually reach a limit once we start using light to transfer data, since we will only be able to send data as fast as the speed of light.

[zomg0t Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:26PM]

@bravokiloromeo
That's not true. The distance between nodes and the speed of light will determine the lag, or time between starting a data transfer, but the speed at which the data is being transferred is determined by the number of data streams and the frequency at which the light pulses. As far as I know, there is no physical limit to the frequency at which we can pulse the light, so the main bottlenecks in this technology are the electrical components and the (de)multiplexers.

[bradpitt Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:38PM]

@bravokiloromeo
yeah, right. we're doomed. we've already reached the speed limit of electrical signals, because we can't send electrical signals faster than the speed of electrical signals. we're doomed.

[Gandalf20000 Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:44PM]

@User42
Or why is the iMac line getting updated breaking news and this isn't?

[User42 Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:50PM]

@Gandalf20000 You'll have to ask Engadget why... my guess is because they're Apple-fanboys and/or They get paid by Apple to post a plethora amounts of coverage on Apple

[medicmechanic Posted Jul 27th 2010 6:30PM]

@User42 do you honestly believe that?

[Dante of the Inferno Posted Jul 28th 2010 3:13AM]

@medicmechanic

Engadget is owned by Time-Warner. If Apple pays Time-Warner for advertising, then yes, Engadget is obliged by its parent company to pimp for Apple.

[audi2009 Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:55PM]

but can you hold it normally?

[dhill0413 Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:59PM]

@audi2009 TWSS

i guess i wont be plugging in my esata dongle much longer

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:56PM]

@statickeith I already downranked him.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:56PM]

@statickeith I already downranked him.

[DirtyVegas Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:56PM]

@statickeith

Jeez, take it easy man.

[Extinction Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:57PM]

By being *able* to...

missed a word

[NIMBUS Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:58PM]

@bingster
to be downranked into oblivion...

[Flocons Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:59PM]

@bingster

Your post blew my mind...It not only changed my perspective on the topic in the article, but my perspective in life altogether. It was like double rainbow all the way across the sky.

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:59PM]

@DirtyVegas He's been spamming every post, but yeah just downrank and move on.

[bholub Posted Jul 27th 2010 4:59PM]

it's all about photons

[Bacchus027 Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:02PM]

Neat. But do they come in cornflower blue?

[bingster Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:04PM]

Glad i could help some of you!

[Maxipad Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:05PM]

Am I the only one having problems with the comments?

[Someguyperson Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:07PM]

This is a fantastic innovation, but how commonplace will this become in the retail market if we still have a hard time maxing out the Ethernet cables we already have now?

[kapanak Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:15PM]

@Someguyperson

This is about internal data transfers. Like the link between memory and processor, or similar applications. For external data transfers, we always have USB 3.0 and LightPeak...

Seriously Intel, where is LightPeak...?

[Flocons Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:17PM]

@Someguyperson

Totally agree. This is great technology to have - interconnects are important, but their success is ultimately going to depend on the devices we put at the ends of them.

[Someguyperson Posted Jul 27th 2010 6:02PM]

Well, I don't really think this is internal due to the fact that they advertised the fact that the cable can be 50m long. It would be EXTREMELY useful in a datacenter, but in a laptop or a camera? Not for a couple years.

[jdeane Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:11PM]

Sorry chaps, researchers already hit 1Tbps in Australia:

http://www.techeye.net/internet/scientists-create-terabit-per-second-optical-chip

[TheFuzzball Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:34PM]

@jdeane It's not that it is scalable to 1Tb, it's that it is low-cost. Also, it looks like 1Tb isn't the limit, if the keep adding channels or find a way to up the single channel bandwidth it looks like it could easily exceed 1Tb. It's the 50 metre limit that worries me, half the maximum length of CAT5/6...

[monkeyontherun4 Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:22AM]

@TheFuzzball
yea the limit is at 50 meters but couldnt they just come up with a booster or just have it turned back into digital then back into light then you get another 50 meters. i know its kind of a work around but still better than nothing. and who uses more than 50 meters anyway??

[PrezBO Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:14PM]

Just think of all the porn!

[Rene Gonzalez Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:17PM]

I love newegg.com, great prices and selection. Even better than the local Fry's store. If this technology was available to the consumer newegg would be all over it right away.

[Landon Donovan Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:31PM]

Screw using light for data transfer, where's my LIGHTSABER!

[rcappo Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:36PM]

I want a processor made using this technology. Maybe I'll buy a new Mac when it comes with it in 2020.

[shishi Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:58PM]

This thing 's so 3008 got the Boom Boom Pow.

[here2000 Posted Jul 27th 2010 6:52PM]

So you could download this http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/24/sony-tohoku-university-develop-blue-violet-laser-with-100-watt/ in 20 seconds or eventually in 1 second. :D

[cpd5c45 Posted Jul 27th 2010 7:47PM]

Who cares. The broadband in America is so pitiful as it is and the greed that the telecom companies slam us with are going to make device like this a big "so what".

[Amiga73 Posted Jul 28th 2010 7:13AM]

This would be perfect to replace PCI Express.
The graphics cards could be added on just like hard drives, but instead of the front of the case it uses the back of the case.

You could also use it to add CPU. Take an Intel ion motherboard and remove everything not needed and you are left with a CPU, ram, a Intel's 50Gbps Silicon Photonics Link and power connector. Make the boards small enough to fit a 5'25 inch bay or even 3.5 inch bay and you can add cpus just like you add hard drives.