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Intel Devises Chip Speed Breakthrough
Chad Wood writes "According to the New York Times (free reg. req.), Intel has demonstrated a research breakthrough, making silicon chips that can switch light like electricity. The article explains:''This opens up whole new areas for Intel,' said Mario Paniccia, a an Intel physicist, who started the previously secret Intel research program to explore the possibility of using standard semiconductor parts to build optical networks. 'We're trying to siliconize photonics.' The invention demonstrates for the first time, Intel researchers said, that ultrahigh-speed fiberoptic equipment can be produced at personal computer industry prices. As the costs of communicating between computers and chips falls, the barrier to building fundamentally new kinds of computers not limited by physical distance should become a reality, experts say.'"
Not exactly, no. Ever put your hand on a lamp after a few hours? Lights are not exactly cool. Optics uses very small lights so isn't going to generate much heat, but it will still develop some, and there will as always come a point where that will be a serious concern. Done well, optical technology may be cooler than existing technologies, however we will still need to worry about overheating the equipment. Like most technologies, this could help push back the limits, not abolish them.
yeah, as there's no other chips out there than x86 cpu chips.
even toasters have them(amd joke here or a prescott one whatever you prefer).
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
...imagine a Beowulf cluster of THOSE.
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