IBM frozen chip delivers 250 times required speed

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 20 June 2006 20:14

Your IT - Home IT

IBM researchers in conjunction with the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a super fast silicon chip that runs 250 times as fast as high performance processors in most computers. However, commercial applications are still some way off because computer users have no need for it as yet.

While even the most powerful supercharged PCs use processors cranked up to 3Ghz, the IBM chip can run at 500 Ghz when frozen to just above absolute zero and 350 Ghz at normal temperatures.

Although the new chip may not have immediate commercial applications, reearchers say that it demonstrates that suggestions that silicon chip technology may have reached its natural physical boundaries are wrong.