Processors utilizing Graphene instead of silicon could end up producing speeds of 1THz (1000GHz) processing. In addition to which, these processors could use standard cooling methods for todays processors (heatsink/fan) and still produce speeds multiple times over the standard cores and even produce LESS heat and therefore LESS power consumption.
To put this in perspective, modern silicon chips (i7) can be pushed to produce 9.1GHz using the most extreme cooling systems available, and even then it probably can't run at that speed for very long before something fails. Essentially, you could run games without the need for a GPU (except some software limitations means that really isn't quite feasible).
This is amazing news to the world of computing. If you look at the rates in which processor speeds have been increasing, we hit major brick walls with the standard set up, both in heat and size. This breakthrough could mean the next leap from 3GHz processors of today (based on the average clock speed of an i5) could be massively kick started and in one step we enter the age of THz processors.
What makes this even more interesting is the ease at which these cores can be produced, only minor modifications to the normal production setup has to be made. This means the cores are relatively cheap to manufacture (relatively speaking).
However, the let down is, this is going to be a slow implementation I'm sure. I'd estimate between 5 and 10 years before it's implemented into most computers. By that time it's initial wow-factor will probably have worn off. Still, it'll be interesting to see how these cores are utilized and how far they will be eventually pushed.
Think of it in comparison to the 8085 (10MHz) and how far we pushed silicon chips, over 9000 (no meme intended) times faster. So 1000THz, perhaps, perhaps not. But still, reveal in the glory of the terahertz age.
And then, imagine the power of that with dual or quad cores. It's just sickening to think about.
My first computer was a 486/66 MHz. SIXTY SIX. Now we're at 9100 MHz (well, the average still being about 3000 MHz, but with multiple cores). That's quite a jump, and it's amazing to look back on what was realistic amazing graphics compared to what we have today.
That is very exciting news! Have you heard about the 1 TB DVD-like discs? They've found a new way to store data on them. Probably won't see that for about the same amount of time, with blu-ray taking so much of the spotlight right now. But eventually, all those blu-ray discs are going to be obsolete as well.
Quatro - Why wouldn't it? Your GPU just uses a processor similar to your main, but on a smaller scale. If they've figured out how to run a chip at that frequency... Wow, the possibilities.
n February 2010, researchers at IBM reported that they have been able to create graphene transistors with an on and off rate of 100 gigahertz, far exceeding the rates of previous attempts, and exceeding the speed of silicon. The graphene transistors made at IBM were made using extant silicon-manufacturing equipment, meaning that for the first time graphene transistors are a conceivable—though still fanciful—replacement for silicon.
Is the reason I posted it. Yes, it's several months late, but I only recently heard of it. Of course, this is news to some other people too, so whether you heard of it before now or not is really kind of irrelevant.
Also, the article you posted doesn't really contain any information on the performance aspects of TIQC performances. Whereas there is there are estimations for the performance of graphene processors.
@Schrodinger: Indeed, fiber-optic buses might help with that. Even if there are huge bottlenecks, we will still have a massive leap in speed with these kinds of new development. I'm disappointed you didn't look at the positive sides of these and chose to focus on the limitations (at present) of the technology.
Don't hold your breath for this. It'll take much longer than 5-10 years for this to take off. Companies are greedy. It will cost quite a bit for them to build factories to make these chips. And even though these chips technically cost less to produce, I can imagine that some shitty company like Intel will charge massive amounts for them in comparison to silicon chips, making them out of reach of consumers for quite a few years. They aren't just going to throw away their silicon factories. Remember, this is the same company that sells underclocked processors as different models and charges money to unlock features their processors already have.
Great to have tons of computers running on this single processor, no?
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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato "Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
Interesting.
I was meaning for like an office, to be cheaper.
What's the price of Graphene compared to Silicone?
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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato "Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
@Assassians4hire
Considering how electronics grade silicon is already in full blown production I'd imagine it'd be cheaper at the moment. Graphene is nothing more than a single layer of graphite, the stuff pencil 'leads' are made of, large scale manufacturing shouldn't be too challenging.. Considering that high quality silicon is going to eventually get pretty scarce and/or expensive to make and carbon and it's various allotropes are friggin' everywhere, graphene should end up a lot cheaper when large scale production gets underway.
Heh, I should really do my research before actually stating stupid things.
Thanks for the explanation!
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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato "Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
What's the price of Graphene compared to Silicone?
Also, it's silicon, not silicone. Silicone is something entirely different (a class of rubber-like materials typically remembered for their use as breast implants).
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Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence.
I bet that 15 or so years ago, on some forum, there were people imagining the possiblities of a 3GHz CPU.
And in 15 years when we take our THz CPU's for granted....
What's the price of Graphene compared to Silicone?
Also, it's silicon, not silicone. Silicone is something entirely different (a class of rubber-like materials typically remembered for their use as breast implants).
Heh, sorry must've hit the "e" key.
Kind of lazy when it comes to typing and checking.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato "Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato "Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
Wow, carbon is becoming ever more useful isn't it? We got the relatively recent carbon nanotubes with a strength ratio (that's still increasing) of 25,000,000:1 the last time I checked, Bucky balls, and now Graphene, which has been discovered to have super semi-conductive properties apparently.
We are entering a new age, though its one that can take many different paths, one to a genetic side, a nanotech side, a green/ecological side, maybe a cultural acceptance side, or even a new private/interplanetary space age side.
Whatever happens, whatever side we go on, we will have a little bit of each either way, it really is an amazing time to be alive.
Processors utilizing Graphene instead of silicon could end up producing speeds of 1THz (1000GHz) processing. In addition to which, these processors could use standard cooling methods for todays processors (heatsink/fan) and still produce speeds multiple times over the standard cores and even produce LESS heat and therefore LESS power consumption.
To put this in perspective, modern silicon chips (i7) can be pushed to produce 9.1GHz using the most extreme cooling systems available, and even then it probably can't run at that speed for very long before something fails. Essentially, you could run games without the need for a GPU (except some software limitations means that really isn't quite feasible).
This is amazing news to the world of computing. If you look at the rates in which processor speeds have been increasing, we hit major brick walls with the standard set up, both in heat and size. This breakthrough could mean the next leap from 3GHz processors of today (based on the average clock speed of an i5) could be massively kick started and in one step we enter the age of THz processors.
What makes this even more interesting is the ease at which these cores can be produced, only minor modifications to the normal production setup has to be made. This means the cores are relatively cheap to manufacture (relatively speaking).
However, the let down is, this is going to be a slow implementation I'm sure. I'd estimate between 5 and 10 years before it's implemented into most computers. By that time it's initial wow-factor will probably have worn off. Still, it'll be interesting to see how these cores are utilized and how far they will be eventually pushed.
Think of it in comparison to the 8085 (10MHz) and how far we pushed silicon chips, over 9000 (no meme intended) times faster. So 1000THz, perhaps, perhaps not. But still, reveal in the glory of the terahertz age.
And then, imagine the power of that with dual or quad cores. It's just sickening to think about.
My first computer was a 486/66 MHz. SIXTY SIX. Now we're at 9100 MHz (well, the average still being about 3000 MHz, but with multiple cores). That's quite a jump, and it's amazing to look back on what was realistic amazing graphics compared to what we have today.
That is very exciting news! Have you heard about the 1 TB DVD-like discs? They've found a new way to store data on them. Probably won't see that for about the same amount of time, with blu-ray taking so much of the spotlight right now. But eventually, all those blu-ray discs are going to be obsolete as well.
Quatro - Why wouldn't it? Your GPU just uses a processor similar to your main, but on a smaller scale. If they've figured out how to run a chip at that frequency... Wow, the possibilities.
GPUs are just specialized CPUs so yes, in addition to using fiber-optic motherboards (and the GPU's own FO card).
HDD coms can reach up to 10Gbps on FO (however unstable and still not thoroughly tested) and Intel reckons they can push it to 100Gbps.
Is the reason I posted it. Yes, it's several months late, but I only recently heard of it. Of course, this is news to some other people too, so whether you heard of it before now or not is really kind of irrelevant.
Also, the article you posted doesn't really contain any information on the performance aspects of TIQC performances. Whereas there is there are estimations for the performance of graphene processors.
@Schrodinger: Indeed, fiber-optic buses might help with that. Even if there are huge bottlenecks, we will still have a massive leap in speed with these kinds of new development. I'm disappointed you didn't look at the positive sides of these and chose to focus on the limitations (at present) of the technology.
"Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
The opposite of that's called a beowulf cluster. I've set a few up, they are fun but pointless.
I was meaning for like an office, to be cheaper.
What's the price of Graphene compared to Silicone?
"Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
Heh, I should really do my research before actually stating stupid things.
Thanks for the explanation!
"Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
In the world of electronics, the first one costs $10 billion, every one there after costs a nickle to make.
Also, it's silicon, not silicone. Silicone is something entirely different (a class of rubber-like materials typically remembered for their use as breast implants).
And in 15 years when we take our THz CPU's for granted....
all I can say is THE FUTURE IS GONNA BE AWESOME
Heh, sorry must've hit the "e" key.
Kind of lazy when it comes to typing and checking.
"Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
Haha, have fun with the debt!
"Coding is not my main qualification, even if it is one of the thing I enjoy the most in the world, beside drinking and sex ^^" - ProfMobius
We are entering a new age, though its one that can take many different paths, one to a genetic side, a nanotech side, a green/ecological side, maybe a cultural acceptance side, or even a new private/interplanetary space age side.
Whatever happens, whatever side we go on, we will have a little bit of each either way, it really is an amazing time to be alive.