Frozen chip smokes at 500 GHz

Published on June 20th, 2006

The only problem is that I don’t see liquid-helium mod kits coming available anytime soon.

IBM researchers have pushed a silicon-based microprocessor to speeds of 500GHz, more than 250 times faster than a typical commercial chip in a cell phone.

First, the researchers built a prototype silicon-germanium (SiGe) chip that ran at 350GHz at room temperature.

Then they used liquid helium to freeze their microprocessor to 451 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Nature’s coldest temperature, known as absolute zero, is just a few degrees lower, at minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. With no risk of melting the chip, they pushed it to 500GHz.

How long until this kind of speed is commonplace?

21 users responded in " Frozen chip smokes at 500 GHz "

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# 1 ECA said, on June 20th, 2006 at 10:43 am

BUT,
You can get a small amount of Liquid Nitrogen, in the NEW wart remover kits…

# 2 Luís Camacho said, on June 20th, 2006 at 10:49 am

Can you imagine a bewulf cluster of these?

X-D

# 3 Gregory said, on June 20th, 2006 at 11:06 am

Well hell, it ran at 350Ghz at ROOM TEMP… that’s more newsworthy frankly.

# 4 Kevin Watkins said, on June 20th, 2006 at 11:06 am

IBM researchers have pushed a silicon-based microprocessor to speeds of 500GHz, more than 250 times faster than a typical commercial chip in a cell phone.

Who has a 2GHz cell phone?

# 5 Yoda Jacket said, on June 20th, 2006 at 11:07 am

IBM researchers have pushed a silicon-based microprocessor to speeds of 500GHz, more than 250 times faster than a typical commercial chip in a cell phone.

Who has a 2GHz cell phone? Where do I get one?

# 6 RTaylor said, on June 20th, 2006 at 11:26 am

The author may be confused. When he read Cell Processor I think he thought cell phone. These are getting close to the speed needed to have decent verbal input; “Close the pod bay doors HAL”.

# 7 Bruce IV said, on June 20th, 2006 at 1:03 pm

Gregory (3) has the right point – 350 GHz at room temperature -> that’s the insane part … when can they do that large-scale?

# 8 DavidtheDuke said, on June 20th, 2006 at 1:09 pm

The only is your electric bill might be 2k a month running this thing.

# 9 Smartalix said, on June 20th, 2006 at 2:49 pm

How much waste heat would be created at 350 GHz? Methinks one would still need some radical cooling even if using this chip at “room temperature”.

# 10 Mark T. said, on June 20th, 2006 at 4:42 pm

If it runs at 350 GHz at room temp then I would have guessed it would run much faster than 500 GHz at absolute zero. Why such a (relatively) small increase? The article states that they pushed it to 500 GHz. I bet it will go much higher with a little tinkering.

Has anyone found any more details on this new silicon/germanium chip technology? Details on the news reports are dumbed down for the layman.

Update. I just found this site:

http://tinyurl.com/m5d63

IBM has simulations that indicate that the technology could go as high as 1000 GHz. What would that be? A picahertz? Awesome stuff. Imagine a PS4 with one of those babies!

This article says that it could result in 160 GHz wireless technology:

http://tinyurl.com/rqdhu

Another article said that it would likely mean 60 GHz wireless capability in the near term:

http://tinyurl.com/m5d63

The future looks bright!

# 11 Smartalix said, on June 20th, 2006 at 5:07 pm

Here’s a cool related tech:

High-K tech uses less power while operating faster
http://www.eebeat.com/?p=266

# 12 TedFox said, on June 20th, 2006 at 5:10 pm

We’re looking at 500 GHz for a single transistor, 350 GHz at room temperature.

an actual processor chip would be much slower.

the 2 GHz refers to carrier frequency, not any form of processing power, as it’s only a single transistor

http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/20/ibm-git-overclock-cpu-to-500ghz/#c1632262

# 13 Mark T. said, on June 20th, 2006 at 6:04 pm

The articles all state that it is an IBM microprocessor. If this was just one transistor, than these news reports are pretty misleading or just simply uniformed.

So, if a CPU is designed with this technology, what can be expected?

# 14 Mark T. said, on June 20th, 2006 at 6:07 pm

Oops, 500 GHz is 1/2 terrahertz. Sorry for the fau paux.

# 15 Smartalix said, on June 20th, 2006 at 6:26 pm

According to the article linked, it’s a chip. It could be a chip with one or very few transistors, but that would not invalidate the technology.

# 16 John Wofford said, on June 21st, 2006 at 6:12 am

Wall sized screens with interactive porno will be here soon, and that should spark a few comments, pro and con. And I can see that the thermal issues will spring from more than just CPU heat.

# 17 Tom Taylor said, on June 21st, 2006 at 6:54 am

500Ghz is impressive. But, when are computers going to work for people instead of the other way around? “Computer User” is a misnomer. We are all “computer usees”. These boxes are still very stupid no matter how guickly they are stupid. They’re as tempermental as a barrel full of chiuauas with ADHD on crystal meth. As one wag said, “We don’t need anymore Search engines, we only need a good Find engine.” The same holds true for all this “grey goo”. We need computers that act on our behalf not on our command (or not).

# 18 Mr. H. Fusion said, on June 21st, 2006 at 7:42 am

The closer one gets to absolute zero, the less friction and heat is produced. Running at -450 F would reduce electrical friction to near zero resulting in little heat. Maybe if they really over clocked the chip they could have achieved even higher ratings.

The good news is that at some point in the future, this breakthrough will influence our PC processors. When is anyone’s guess.

# 19 bdgbill said, on June 21st, 2006 at 1:10 pm

Windows 2015 “Armageddon Edition” System Requirements:

IBM compatible 1 THtz or better (2 THtz with liquid helium cooling for “Aero Glass”)

# 20 Mr. H. Fusion said, on June 21st, 2006 at 7:37 pm

#19, How much memory will be required?

# 21 Dan said, on June 22nd, 2006 at 5:32 pm

think if you got one of these to multiplex quick enough, glued a couple of strands of fiber to it and youd probably be able to replace a good load of servers out there

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