Frozen Chip from IBM hits 500 GHz

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Frozen Chip from IBM hits 500 GHz

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday June 20, 2006 @12:12AM from the there's-a-catch-,,, dept.

sideshow2004 writes "EETimes is reporting this morning that IBM and Georiga Tech have demonstrated a 500 GHz Silicon-germanium (SiGe) chip, operating at 4.5 Kelvins. The 'frozen chip' was fabricated by IBM on 200mm wafers, and, at room temperature, the circuits operated at approximately 350 GHz."

46 of 417 comments (clear)

Ah! by irn_bru · 2006-06-20 00:13 · Score: 5, Funny

Still hope for the G5 Powerbook then!
1. Re:Ah! by kilodelta · 2006-06-20 01:13 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  I have to wonder about RF shielding. After all, even 802.11 gear runs at 2.4GHz, that's enough to cook ones private parts after extended use of a laptop. And with processors going in the same frequency range you can bet they're radiating RF. Luckily I made the decision not to have kids, but to those who might, you may want to reconsider resting that laptop in your lap.
  
  Cooked gonads tend not to work so well.
2. Re:Ah! by aplusjimages · 2006-06-20 01:24 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Maybe IBM will have two markets, one for super computers the other birth control.
  
  --
  Can I bum a sig?
3. Re:Ah! by elrous0 · 2006-06-20 01:31 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Better plan on buying a Powerplant to run *that* Powerbook.
  -Eric
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
4. Re:Ah! by dubmun · 2006-06-20 01:35 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Cooked gonads tend not to work so well.
  Lead codpieces for everyone!
  
  --
  (end of post)
5. Re:Ah! by insanehomelesguy · 2006-06-20 01:42 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Free with every laptop. 1 container of liquid hydrogen.
  
  --
  Of all the things I've lost. I miss my keys the most.
6. Re:Ah! by Enrique1218 · 2006-06-20 02:41 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  absolutely, all we have to do is keep it supplied with liquid helium at $24/gallon. We are mac users, we are use to these extra expenses.
  
  --
  You don't have to be smart to use a Mac, you just have to be smart enough to buy one
So... by kjart · 2006-06-20 00:16 · Score: 5, Funny

...above 500 GHz by cryogenically "freezing" the circuit to minus 451 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 Kelvins).

How long before I can get a kit like that for my P4?
1. Re:So... by foamrotreturns · 2006-06-20 04:52 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  ...above 500 GHz by cryogenically "freezing" the circuit to minus 451 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 Kelvins).
  How long before I can get a kit like that for my P4?
  
  Fahrenheit -451, eh? Sounds familiar. I wonder if that's the temperature at which paper is fragile enough to break into millions of tiny pieces, T-1000 style.
Only one further step now.. by BlackMesaLabs · 2006-06-20 00:16 · Score: 2, Funny

and that is to IMAGINE A BEOWULF CLUSTER!
Oh, you thought I had something insightful to say? Nope ^_^
Re:I had no idea by xav_jones · 2006-06-20 00:19 · Score: 4, Funny

They do if they have a good run-up and are going downhill with a tailwind.
In other news... by Kiaradune · 2006-06-20 00:20 · Score: 5, Funny

Suit has been filed against a well known business and a school for violations of Moore's law.

--
This space for rent.
1. Re:In other news... by imbaczek · 2006-06-20 00:53 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  +1 Encyclopedia Nazi
Re:I RTFA.. by NatasRevol · 2006-06-20 00:21 · Score: 4, Funny

But, but....it's 2.4Ghz!!! They're reeeaaally fast!!

I can play Qbert on mine, so it must be fast!!

--
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Someone's gotta say it by Anonymous Coward · 2006-06-20 00:22 · Score: 5, Funny

Is this enough for Vista?
1. Re:Someone's gotta say it by bonehead · 2006-06-20 00:33 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Not quite, but remember this is still in development. Once they start producing the dual-core, hyperthreading "Extreme Edition", it should run Vista just fine.
2. Re:Someone's gotta say it by gEvil+(beta) · 2006-06-20 01:06 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Once they start producing the dual-core, hyperthreading "Extreme Edition", it should run Vista just fine.
  
  ...until SP1 comes out (currently scheduled for 2010, I believe).
  
  --
  This guy's the limit!
3. Re:Someone's gotta say it by colmore · 2006-06-20 03:58 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Microsoft in 2011: "The widely quoted 2010 release date for Vista SP1 was an internal development target and was never intended as a promise to the public."
  
  --
  In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
Just a sec... by crhylove · 2006-06-20 00:25 · Score: 4, Funny

Everybody knows you can't trust ghz ratings. I mean, a 3.2 ghz athlon is clearly a bit faster than the 3.2 ghz pentium. Right? Oh, wait, you said .5 TERAHERTZ?!?! Oh, yeah, then I'll take one of those please. And that big ass freezer, thanks.

--
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
Re:I had no idea by bshatley · 2006-06-20 00:26 · Score: 2, Funny

That really is a great reference. With the ever increasing speed of processors these days, it would be useful to have a good reference unit, like horsepower. My desktop has 1 cellphonepower, but you can overclock an 805D to 2 cellphonepower!
In other news... by Odiumjunkie · 2006-06-20 00:26 · Score: 5, Funny

AMD today announced the launch of the Athlon XP 500000+. The chip has a "stock speed of around 3.0 GHz, but is named for it's IBM equivalent".
The tempurature at which books freeze by Rob+T+Firefly · 2006-06-20 00:30 · Score: 5, Funny

by cryogenically "freezing" the circuit to minus 451 degrees Fahrenheit
Somewhere, the mirror-universe Ray Bradbury is stroking his goatee with anger.

--
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
So how fast was this chip? by demongeek · 2006-06-20 00:37 · Score: 5, Funny

Was it blazingly fast? Is this destined to be the new hot item this Christmas? Will IBM come under fire from companies like AMD and Intel?
Re:I RTFA.. by snarkh · 2006-06-20 00:39 · Score: 3, Funny

Hah, that's nothing. My microwave runs at 100 Ghz.
Safety tip by smittyoneeach · 2006-06-20 00:40 · Score: 3, Funny

200mm wafers

Do not place one of those "thin, mint wafers" on Mr. Creosote's tongue.

You are welcome.

--
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
Finally they froze the design by ghoul · 2006-06-20 00:42 · Score: 3, Funny

Brings a whole new meaning to the engineers traditional sigh of relief

--
**Life is too short to be serious**
Might help speed up... by blcamp · 2006-06-20 00:45 · Score: 1, Funny

...development on Duke Nukem Forever. Or make it compile a trifle faster.

--
The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
Re:I RTFA.. by Mysticalfruit · 2006-06-20 00:52 · Score: 5, Funny

Unless you custom built your microwave, it actually runs at 2.4ghz...

However, this is Slashdot... Does your microwave also have a big spoiler (vent), and 30" rims (buttons)?

--
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
Re:i want by doti · 2006-06-20 00:53 · Score: 5, Funny

i want a compile farm of these

The poor soul uses gentoo.

--
factor 966971: 966971
500 Giggles by Sqreater · 2006-06-20 00:57 · Score: 3, Funny

"The achievement is a major step in the evolution of computer semiconductor technology that could eventually lead to faster networks and more powerful electronics at lower prices, said Bernard Meyerson, vice president and chief technologist in I.B.M.'s systems and technology group. He said developments like this one typically found their way into commercial products in 12 to 24 months."

I think I'll put off buying a new computer for a couple of years or so...

NEWS ITEM: Computer industry collapses due to consumers putting off purchases in anticipation of 500 GHz computers coming real soon now.

--
E Proelio Veritas.
Re:I RTFA.. by dushkin · 2006-06-20 01:03 · Score: 2, Funny

I overclocked my phone to 3.0 GHz and added watercooling. Works like a charm now

--
o hai
Re:Obsolete Units by saucercrab · 2006-06-20 01:05 · Score: 4, Funny

If 80 degrees is a scorcher to you, then it sounds like Fahrenheit isn't the only obsolete unit in this post.
Re:cell phones? by ivan256 · 2006-06-20 01:12 · Score: 3, Funny

Nope. It's just slashdot posters taking the story out of context. Go actually read the article and notice that it doesn't say anything about PC chips or microprocessors.

Do you think that 2.4Ghz digital transmission is generated by magic?

The problem isn't that the writer is incompetent, it's that he assumed his readers weren't.
Doom, Quake!! by LlamaDragon · 2006-06-20 01:13 · Score: 4, Funny

OMGFramerates!! FRAME RATES!!!!!11!1!12@3#

*ahem*

Sorry about that, Pavlovian reaction...
ALL CAPS REPLY ZOMG by Guysmiley777 · 2006-06-20 01:19 · Score: 5, Funny

Arggg read the article they said they wanted to test the theoretical limits of these chips. They know speed increases with temperature. They wanted to know how much.

The word "increases" does not mean what you think it does.

--
Coding with assembly is like playing with Legos. Coding an application in assembly is like building a car with Legos.
Ob. Spinal Tap reference by josquin00 · 2006-06-20 01:21 · Score: 3, Funny

Because these dials go to 4.5 Kelvin.
I've heard of this before by kalirion · 2006-06-20 01:24 · Score: 4, Funny

The chip is codenamed Detritus, right?
Re:I RTFA.. by not+already+in+use · 2006-06-20 01:29 · Score: 2, Funny

It would be a much more impressive comparison if they compared it to say, the typical 60hz refresh rate of a monitor. God... monitors these days, they're so slow!

--
Similes are like metaphors
Re:computers in space by autophile · 2006-06-20 01:30 · Score: 2, Funny

Since these temperatures only occurs naturally in space, why not build a super, big cluster of these things, hook them up to a satallite and launch it into orbit.

Because then your KVM cables would have to be really, really long.
--Rob

--
Towards the Singularity.
Re:10GHz Microwave? by Crisses · 2006-06-20 01:34 · Score: 3, Funny

Do you have some inherent need to demonstrate your superior knowledge of microwaves?

It wouldn't be slashdot if they didn't!

--
---- I'm out of your mind!
Re:I had no idea by Reverend528 · 2006-06-20 01:34 · Score: 3, Funny

Wow, I didn't realize that cell phones typically run at 2GHz+

How else would they be able to run java?

--
Badass Resumes
Even faster at 0 Kelvins! by noidentity · 2006-06-20 02:21 · Score: 3, Funny

"a 500 GHz Silicon-germanium (SiGe) chip, operating at 4.5 Kelvins."

Imagine how fast it would run if they got it down to 0 Kelvins!
the sky is the limit! by YesIAmAScript · 2006-06-20 03:39 · Score: 3, Funny

""a 500 GHz Silicon-germanium (SiGe) chip, operating at 4.5 Kelvins.""

"Imagine how fast it would run if they got it down to 0 Kelvins!"

Imagine how fast it would run if they got it down to -5 Kelvins!

--
http://lkml.org/lkml/2005/8/20/95
Liquid Helium by booch · 2006-06-20 03:50 · Score: 2, Funny

Does liquid helium really cost $24/gallon? If so, we might want to get ahead of the curve and see if we can run our cars on it.

--
Software sucks. Open Source sucks less.
Re:I RTFA.. by snarkh · 2006-06-20 09:35 · Score: 2, Funny

I don't know about BSD kernels but popcorn comes out fine.
Re:Radar by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · 2006-06-20 11:09 · Score: 2, Funny

what the aircraft's attitude is

Given that you're in combat, the attitude is likely to be hostile.

--
Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!