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New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

spectrum.ieee.org

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Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#41

Post by xvedejas »

b0rsuk wrote: post #10

Given the cooling requirements, I suppose it would create completely impassable rift between datacenter computing and other kinds. Imagine how programming and operating systems might look in a world where processing power is 80x cheaper. Considering that "data centers alone consume 2% of world's enegy", I think it's worth it.

It seems likely that the more efficient our processors become, the larger share of the world's energy we'll devote to them [0]. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, if we're getting more than proportionally more utility out of the processors, but I worry about that too [1].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirth%27s_law

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#43

Post by AnIdiotOnTheNet »

layoutIfNeeded wrote: post #14
b0rsuk wrote: post #10

Given the cooling requirements, I suppose it would create completely impassable rift between datacenter computing and other kinds. Imagine how programming and operating systems might look in a world where processing power is 80x cheaper. Considering that "data centers alone consume 2% of world's enegy", I think it's worth it.

>Imagine how programming and operating systems might look in a world where processing power is 80x cheaper. So like 2009 compared to 2021? Based on that, I'd say even more inefficient webshit.

Considering that many modern interfaces are somehow less responsive than ones written over 20 years ago even when running those programs on period hardware, I feel certain that you are right.

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#44

Post by whatshisface »

jessriedel wrote: post #37
whatshisface wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solid state physics begets both cryogenic technology and cryocooling technology. I wouldn't write off the possibility of making an extremely small cryocooler quite yet. Maybe a pile of solid state heat pumps could do it.

This is true, but the fact that heat absorption scales with the surface area is pretty brutal for tiny cooled objects.

Heat conduction also scales with thermal conductivity, which is another thing that advances in solid state can bring us.

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#45

Post by whatshisface »

VanillaCafe wrote: post #42

If it ever gets to home computing, it will get to data center computing far sooner. What does a world look like where data center computing is roughly 100x cheaper than home computing?

It will look like the 1970s.

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#46

Post by Calloutman »

jessriedel wrote: post #37
whatshisface wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solid state physics begets both cryogenic technology and cryocooling technology. I wouldn't write off the possibility of making an extremely small cryocooler quite yet. Maybe a pile of solid state heat pumps could do it.

This is true, but the fact that heat absorption scales with the surface area is pretty brutal for tiny cooled objects.

Not really. You just have the whole package instead a vacuum casing.

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#47

Post by fastball »

TOMDM wrote: post #38
vincnetas wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its a bit cold in space. But actually its really difficult to cool down things in space as there is nothing around you to transfer heat to.

I'm ignorant of the specific physics, but what if you got it cold before you sent it into a vacuum, and then shielded it from external radiation? Surely due to the massively reduced power usage it would be easier to keep it cool relative to traditional compute

The problem is that the act of computation is generating heat, so you can't just insulate your superconducting CPU, you need a way to dissipate the heat it must generate (this applies to all irreversible computations). This is difficult, because the only way to dissipate heat in space is radiation (with conduction usually acting as a middleman), which is constrained by the surface area of your radiator.

So no, it probably wouldn't be any easier in space.

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#48

Post by zelienople »

The other strategy that is ultra-efficient is to stop using the net to sell hoards of useless crap that will break the day after the warranty expires and cannot be repaired.

That would save money on the computing power as well as the mining, transportation of raw materials, refining, transportation of refined materials, manufacturing, transportation of finished goods and the whole retail chain.

Unless we achieve room-temperature semiconducting processors, this will only benefit data centres, most of whose power is used to sell stuff. Does anyone actually think that the savings will be passed on to the consumer or that business won't immediately eat up the savings by using eighty times more processing power?

Hey, now we can do eighty times more marketing for the same price!

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#49

Post by cbozeman »

VanillaCafe wrote: post #42

If it ever gets to home computing, it will get to data center computing far sooner. What does a world look like where data center computing is roughly 100x cheaper than home computing?

Dumb terminals everywhere. A huge upgrade of high-speed infrastructure across the US since everyone will need high throughput and low latency. Subscriptions will arise first, as people fucking love predictable monthly revenue - and by people I mean vulture capitalists, and to a lesser degree, risk-averse entrepreneurs (which is almost an oxymoron...), both of whom you can see I hold in low regard. Get ready for a "$39.99 mo. Office Productivity / Streaming / Web browsing" package", a "$59.99 PrO gAmEr package", and God knows what other kinds of disgusting segmentation.

Someone, somewhere, will adopt a Ting-type model where you pay for your compute per cycle, or per trillion cycles or whatever, with a small connection fee per month. It'll be broken down into some kind of easy-to-understand gibberish bullshit for the normies.

In short, it'll create another circle of Hell for everyone - at least initially.

Re: New superconductor microprocessor yields a substantial boost in efficiency

#50

Post by whatshisface »

Calloutman wrote: post #46
jessriedel wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is true, but the fact that heat absorption scales with the surface area is pretty brutal for tiny cooled objects.

Not really. You just have the whole package instead a vacuum casing.

Don't forget about thermal radiation.
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