The Quest for More Processing Power

Hack Jandy writes "AnandTech has a very thorough, but not overly technical, article detailing CPU scaling over the last decade or so. The author goes into specific details on how CPUs have overcome limitations of die size, instruction size and power to design the next generation of chips. Part I, published today, talks specifically about the limitations of multiple cores and multiple threads on processors."

Comments

There can only be one

[2.7182]

the quantum computer!! Until then we'll have to suck it up with these Si things.

Re:We don’t need more “power”

[Leroy_Brown242]

Smart power, not more power? How unamerican!

TERRORIST!

just a thought

[zenst]

Now I only have a very limated understanding of the issues and electronics, given my lack of electronics experience. But couldn';t the leakage by utilised in a some form of intigrated peltier coolining to help pump the heat out of the chip and as such making it cooler help in a small way to reduce leakage. ANother, and call it wacky thought that struck me ws why not have another layer of large silicon that is powered by the leakage. It look to me that the leaked power from the 70mn process is nearly enough for the total power on the 90mn process and then the leakage from the 90 would do something just over the 180mn process. In a sence another form of heat pump :). Anyhow I'm sure I've either given you electronics guru's somthing to thing about or at the very least, laugh about. Enjoy :)