Computer Hardware: Meaner and Greener - Greener Side continued
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This is the next step for hardware. They need to pack at least the same if not better technology into a smaller case. This means heat needs to be nearly eliminated.
We are in this stage right now. Both Intel and AMD are pushing greener CPUs and low voltage versions of their CPUs. The Intel Pentium Ds put out 130 watts of heat, and the Intel dual-core Pentium puts out 65 Watt. This is half of the heat that the Pentium D put out.
Intel hasn’t stopped here; they have introduced the Intel Atom. It's going to have a single core version that puts out only 4 watts of heat and a dual core that puts out only 8 watts. These are both x86 processors supporting 32-bit and 64-bit processes.
With a few years more of maturity, these CPUs should be something that strikes fear into every other CPU on the market. We could have a media PC similar to mine right now, that is in a mATX case, fit in something smaller than my cable box. We might see some type of kitchen PC similar to those flip-down radios we have now.
Conclusion
Computer hardware is continuing to advance at light speed. I think we have reached a level where most of the CPU bottlenecks have been eliminated from the average user's computing needs. CPU speed is always going to be on the increase, but I think that we have reached a happy step to stand on for a bit.
I don't see much more improvement in the short future as far as computer usability. The real next step for CPUs is a greener, slimmer design. The cooler they get, the smaller the enclosures in which you can fit them. I'm looking forward to seeing a full dual or quad core CPU in my kitchen, a media center that will be the size of a cable box, and perhaps even a "carputer," a computer in your car.
I hope you enjoyed my article on the next step for CPUs, a greener CPU that will still provide excellent performance. I would love to hear what you think the next step for CPUs is.
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