Why are the GHz speeds in computers the same after such a long period of time?
In: Engineering
We’ve started to hit physical limits on how fast we can make processors go. Speed of electricity, size of transistors, etc. To compensate, we can design better processors that can run more specific instructions. Consider something like the Nintendo Switch, or your mobile phone. The CPU might not be faster than a PC 10 years ago, but the processor can handle a whole bunch of media that your old PC might have needed a powerful graphics card and soundcard to do. All those functions can now be built into a single CPU*, saving on space.
*I’ve avoided talking about cores, because I don’t think it’s all that relevant. The point is, a single chip can do more.
Latest Answers