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Introducing Probability into Chip Design

Posted by Hemos on from the learn-more-about-it dept.

prostoalex writes "The August issue of Intel Developer Update has an interview with Shekhar Borkar, Intel Fellow and Director of Circuit Research at Intel Corp. talking about the future of microprocessor design and what goes on inside Intel Labs. Borkar tells why we need even faster processors and how probability will make its way into future chip designs - "It's like the shift from Newtonian mechanics to quantum mechanics. We will shift from the deterministic designs of today to probabilistic and statistical designs of the future.""

14 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. 1 + 1 by rastos1 · · Score: 5, Funny
    1 + 1 = 2. However there is a 0.0009% probability of it being 1.999999999.

    Sorry could not resist.

    1. Re:1 + 1 by SpaghettiPattern · · Score: 5, Funny

      That was done before in the first batches of Pentium 0.99999999.

      --

      I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
  2. so does that mean improbability drives too? by Wameku · · Score: 5, Funny

    UM, Ford. theres an infinite number of monkeys outside that want to talk to us about a script for hamlet they've hammered out. PROBABILITY FACTOR OF 1 to 1: any other problems are your own lookout.

  3. Is that 1.999 repeating? by TrekkieGod · · Score: 4, Funny
    Is that .9 repeating? If so, there's a 100% possibility of 1 + 1 = 1.9999...

    .999... is exactly equal to 1. To the non-believers out there, consider that 1/3 = .333..., and that 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 = 1.

    --

    Warning: Opinions known to be heavily biased.

    1. Re:Is that 1.999 repeating? by Pharmboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      But then, I've been using computers since I was 10...

      Was that 10 as in ten, or 10 as in two?

      I bought my first computer when I was 00010010, but that was almost 00010101 years ago...:)

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
  4. The more things change by Peldor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, this is nothing new as anyone who owned an original Pentium can tell you. It probably gave you the right answer, except for the occassional FDIV.

  5. Old news... by qtp · · Score: 2, Funny

    Didn't intel already do this whith the original Pentium?

    --
    Read, L
  6. Re:Corporate Feces by Peldor · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least it didn't say Pentium(R) 4(R). Not for lack of trying, I'm sure.

  7. About time! by sco08y · · Score: 2, Funny

    Kinda like we've been releasing software that "probably" works for the past 40 years?

    It's good to see computer engineering is finally catching up with computer science!

  8. HAL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    This will make HAL even worse:

    OPEN the DOOR HAL!

    Proberbly not, Dave

  9. Already happens by PsiPsiStar · · Score: 2, Funny

    Isn't probability already a part of chip design.
    "Our new P4 has a 40% probability of being out in May, a 20% chance of being out in June..."

    --

    ___
    It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
  10. The future is now! by supergerwalk · · Score: 2, Funny

    And we'll all be traveling in flying cars while eating meals in pill form!!

  11. Probability by geekoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Intel:
    The addition is probably right.

    Amd:
    It will probably melt through your desk.

    Me:
    I will probably be modded to Hell.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  12. Faster Processors... by MojoRilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    Q4: What are some other applications that need more power?

    Look at the whole proactive computing model, where computers will anticipate our needs and sometimes take action on our behalf. That's one.

    When he said this, all I could think of was, yeah, computers need more power to run the heavy virus workload and still make them usable.