Green Computing for Processors!!!!

Mohit's profileTime Ticking...PhotosBlogListsMore

Tools

Help

< Previous Next >

October 15

Green Computing for Processors!!!!

Just came across an article in Digit's october issue (with good focus on laptops - as i m in search for one & a really gud cover photo

)

It says tht "Physics guarantees that a computer will not be able to "discard" more than 3.5 X (10^22) bits of physical information per second"!! For each computation - like an addition - it adds two numbers into one which esstentially means that bits for two numbers that were added are dissipated as heat. As because of physical limits, there is an upper bound of heat dissipation, so processor wont be able to discard more bits than a certain level!!

Based on current fastest processors, scientists say we are around 1,00,000 times slower than the max limit. And this will be covered somewhere in around 20-30 yrs, which implies saturation after that period. The issues of heat dissipation because of high electron movement and leakage will start arising more we move towards that limit. Moreover, power required for those speeds would be enormous which may just add to the existing issues of generating more and more power and seriously considering some renewable sources of energy.

Thus, scientists are working on something to "reuse the bits" and "stop throwing them away". Uncompute the unneeded bits. This is what they call as Reversible Computing. And yes, this is what they call as GREEN COMPUTING !!!

Well, a brief idea that is being worked upon to realize this concept is via the use of Ballistic Circuits/Adiabatic Circuits, which means circuit with less or without flow of heat. Here, bits are not lost because they dont dissipate into heat. Because of less flow of heat in circuits, the bits are not thrown away and can be used in another computation as well.

This will allow faster processors, more shrinked chips, cost-effective systems and prevent environmental degradation issues.

Well, must say, it would be a big challenge for scientists to put things into effect but certainly would mean beginning of a new generation of processors !!!

3:37 AM | Blog it | Technical

Comments (2)

To add a comment, sign in with your Windows Live ID (if you use Hotmail, Messenger, or Xbox LIVE, you have a Windows Live ID). Sign in

Don't have a Windows Live ID? Sign up

Harsha Kumar wrote:

Sounds interesting... But here's what intrigues me - Is necessity the mother of invention?? or Is invention the creator of possibilities?? In this context... Computing a lakh times faster, seems well, interesting and as per the laws of physics, limiting too and here we are investing in research to achieve faster computation. And the bottom line is, do we really need it?? Is there a necessity for it?? Is there a need to go beyond limits?? One can always argue - Why limit your imagination! Afterall, thats the reason why mankind is where it is today?? But I can't help but wonder... Also, with such high rate of heat dissipation, I think the usability factor might come into play... For instance, you'll need means to cool down such systems too... Also, the rate at which you will provide data to such a machine will also have to be real high to harness its capabilities... We can already barely make full use of the processing capabilities of our machines, I can only imagine what we'll hav to do with a "Super Duper" Fast Computer/Processor Only a Super Duper Fast processor can generate enough data for a super duper fast processor to process:)

Oct. 19

No namewrote:

Sounds interesting... But here's what intrigues me - Is necessity the mother of invention?? or Is invention the creator of possibilities?? In this context... Computing a lakh times faster, seems well, interesting and as per the laws of physics, limiting too and here we are investing in research to achieve faster computation. And the bottom line is, do we really need it?? Is there a necessity for it?? Is there a need to go beyond limits?? One can always argue - Why limit your imagination! Afterall, thats the reason why mankind is where it is today?? But I can't help but wonder... Also, with such high rate of heat dissipation, I think the usability factor might come into play... For instance, you'll need means to cool down such systems too... Also, the rate at which you will provide data to such a machine will also have to be real high to harness its capabilities... We can already barely make full use of the processing capabilities of our machines, I can only imagine what we'll have to do with a "Super Duper" Fast Computer/Processor Only a Super Duper Fast processor can generate enough data for a super duper fast processor to process:)

Oct. 19

Trackbacks

The trackback URL for this entry is:

http://mohitbatra.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8328EC60D9AECAFF!185.trak

Weblogs that reference this entry

None