Intel is handing out PCs equipped with an experimental 48-core CPU to a handful of lucky researchers.

The gear is being sent out as part of a research project as the 48-core part might never become commercially available. Intel wants researchers who are likely to want it for supercomputing tasks to give it a try.

The 48-core part includes tweaks that reduce memory and communication bottlenecks inherent in all current x86 processors so it would be very nice for home use. The 48-core part only draws between 25W and 125W, and cores can be slowed down or shut off completely in order to save power.

It is not clear this point who is going to get Intel's new machines to play with. Hopefully it will go to help worthy science projects, although if Intel wants to assist my science attempts to calculate the most likely lottery numbers it would be welcome.