Watch out Intel

john · May 07, 2011, 16:09:35

Do you fancy building your own CPU ?

Technical Ben · May 09, 2011, 09:59:47

Seen a 16 bit uni made cpu the size of a table (on the internet).

But not too keen on soldering the 1.9 billion transistors for a top of the range multi core server cpu.

Rik · May 09, 2011, 10:18:22

Especially when it came to trying to find the faulty joint.

pctech · May 09, 2011, 10:37:18

And let's not mention the problem of actually seeing them.

john · May 09, 2011, 12:30:24

I remember when I was at college in the early 1970's being shown a ~~video~~ film which said they could get a quarter of a million transistors on a chip and we all thought this was incredible at the time.

Rik · May 09, 2011, 12:37:34

I remember playing around with single transistors back in the 60s which were bigger than some of today's processors... Technology moves at a breathless pace.

john · May 09, 2011, 12:54:43

I dabbled a bit with discrete components in the late 60's/early 70's too Rik. I'd buy some electronics mags and built a few projects but I had very limited funds and most things were only available by mail order so buying individual transistors etc wasn't really realistic so I eventually gave it up.

When my daughter was old enough I got a book out of the library showing how to build simple electronic projects which she seemed quite interested in and there was now a local shop that mainly sold burglar alarm kits and DJ equipment but also a good range of electronic components. However when we went there with a list of tings from the book the guy in the shop groaned when he looked at it, said they probably didn't stock them and couldn't be bothered to check if they did or not. Consequently my daughter lost interest and we never darkened his door again.

Rik · May 09, 2011, 13:03:04

I built all my early amps, tuners etc. Luckily, I saw the light and moved to Meridian.

Simon · May 09, 2011, 13:12:32

Mine has a light on it too.

sobranie · May 09, 2011, 14:13:23

I assembled a 1 bit 'puter when I was young, The idea was taken up and it's now called a lightswitch!!

Simon · May 09, 2011, 14:38:05

Bright spark, were you, Rick?

Rik · May 09, 2011, 16:25:39

He still is, currently.

Glenn · May 09, 2011, 16:26:28

Just his energy levels are lower now.

Simon · May 09, 2011, 16:29:29

Should have invented the energy saving light bulb.

Rik · May 09, 2011, 16:31:17

I have one of those. If you don't connect it to the mains, you save a fortune - and they don't wear out either.

Simon · May 09, 2011, 16:39:45

That's like the unlit match I have in the kitchen draw. It's lasted years!

Rik · May 09, 2011, 16:42:22

zappaDPJ · May 09, 2011, 17:38:16

I can still remember the days when the room got brighter when you switch on the lights

pctech · May 09, 2011, 17:43:35

You won't be able to afford to do that soon

john · May 09, 2011, 17:44:49

Quote from: zappaDPJ on May 09, 2011, 17:38:16
I can still remember the days when the room got brighter when you switch on the lights

It's all a Government plot Zappa, the energy saving lightbulbs actually absorb energy instead and feed it into the National grid for free

Rik · May 09, 2011, 18:05:14

Quote from: pctech on May 09, 2011, 17:43:35
You won't be able to afford to do that soon

For 'hints' in that story, read 'leaks'.

pctech · May 09, 2011, 18:07:06

Will have to negotiate another capped deal in September or play switcharoo.

Technical Ben · May 09, 2011, 23:16:10

Quote from: john on May 09, 2011, 12:30:24
I remember when I was at college in the early 1970's being shown a ~~video~~ film which said they could get a quarter of a million transistors on a chip and we all thought this was incredible at the time.

I just read tom's hardware was clocking chips as 5ghz in 2003! I must have forgot how many years passed.

Technical Ben · May 09, 2011, 23:19:34

Quote from: sobranie on May 09, 2011, 14:13:23
I assembled a 1 bit 'puter when I was young, The idea was taken up and it's now called a lightswitch!!

Can you virtualise 256 bit SSL on it?