Hardware Hackers Create a Modular Motherboard

This is really interesting. I definitely want to read more, because I've got some questions about it. I wonder if there's a limit to how many can be plugged in before you start seeing power problems on the downstream processors, and how it routes information between processors.<p>Definitely intriguing though!<p>Edit: Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much documentation on their website. A lot of talk about open source hardware, but I don't see any schematics, datasheets, etc. Oh well. Hopefully they'll be adding that soon.

This is part of the theory behind PCIe - there is a spec for a PCIe "external cabling". The idea is that you'll have your lanes cabled, and you can build a computer out of modular parts (i.e. modular bricks).<p>(although the main driver at the moment seems to be the ability to plug a decent video card into your laptop).

This project is interesting, given that it's open source and you can dynamically add or remove units. As far as power goes, crank down the clock speeds and any processor is going to run cooler. arm is also well known for taking less power.<p>But about the whole changing your basic architecture, consider Tilera:<p><a href="http://www.itjungle.com/tlb/tlb082107-story02.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.itjungle.com/tlb/tlb082107-story02.html</a> <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/23/tilera_cpu_upgrade/" rel="nofollow">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/23/tilera_cpu_upgrade/</a><p>And it runs linux! ;)Granted it's closed and probably costs a bazillion, but the big guys haven't exactly missed out on the memory bus being a bottleneck.

Look like you can have your own cake and eat it too!<p><a href="http://www.liquidware.com/shop/show/IXM/Illuminato+X+Machina" rel="nofollow">http://www.liquidware.com/shop/show/IXM/Illuminato+X+Machina</a>

Hmmm, modular, clusterable and able to reprogram each other. Is this the rise of the borg?

very interesting. I wonder if this architecture would make for a good mpp database appliance - something that is lean and very focused and somewhat power hungry!