How is it that technology can make a jump from single core, dual-core, quad-core processors... to a 48-core processor. Oh and PS, Mac Pros have an 8-core option. But it's still a big jump, and it's one that only the amazingly gifted engineers and inventors at Intel can create. It's a 48-core processor that can handle more than a human can.

Intel hopes that this processor will be able to power major, major computers that need a lot of handling - so you won't see a 48-core processor in a home or personal computer yet. So what's the catch? The single cores each are no more powerful than the ultra-low voltage Intel Atom processors, but 48 of them? Still expect the processor to pack a definite punch.

But it doesn't stop there, Intel just last year told computer makers to expect thousand-core processors in the future.