Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander? • Hacker News Board

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#11

Post by beachy » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:17 PM UTC

y7 wrote: post #9

theamk wrote: post #3

TL/DL: yes, it does, and by significant amount Key fob has nRF52840l, 64 MHz ARM, 1024 KB Flash, 256 KB RAM Apollo Guidance Computer was 2MHz, ~72 KB ROM, ~4 KB RAM The comparison might be up to 10x different due to more efficient architecture and different MIPS/MHz ratio, but it does not change much, since the differences are so dramatic. (This is based on links in the podcast description, which I assume what they t…

I guess even a disposable vape has more computing power than the Lunar lander. (I don't know if that's more or less ridiculous than a key fob, but at least a key is not so disposable.)

A keyfob is more analogous though - i.e. a computing device used to control a vehicle.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#12

Post by coupdejarnac » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:26 PM UTC

Low cost ARM M series microcontrollers are ubiquitous, and they're all immensely more powerful than the lunar lander computer.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#13

Post by 1970-01-01 » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:29 PM UTC

Isn't the real challenge finding anything made today that has less compute power than the lander? I challenge you to find that.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#14

Post by jerf » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:42 PM UTC

1970-01-01 wrote: post #13

Isn't the real challenge finding anything made today that has less compute power than the lander? I challenge you to find that.

You can still find things like an Arduino Micro that has less ROM & RAM than the lunar lander.

But finding something new slower than a 2MHz CPU is probably a challenge nowadays; even the Micro is 16MHz and can probably be overclocked a ways above that without much work or risk.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFY2S56 - not that that is necessarily the best way to buy such a system, just showing they exist.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#15

Post by Pwntastic » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:43 PM UTC

needs a [podcast] tag.

there's no useful text content on this page

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#16

Post by chrisBob » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:44 PM UTC

HPsquared wrote: post #8

We have all these amazing technological resources and yet, houses are still out of reach for like half the population.

Making houses 3 orders of magnitude smaller and cheaper isn't very popular.

But I get your sentiment.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#17

Post by Detrytus » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 5:47 PM UTC

beachy wrote: post #11

y7 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess even a disposable vape has more computing power than the Lunar lander. (I don't know if that's more or less ridiculous than a key fob, but at least a key is not so disposable.)

A keyfob is more analogous though - i.e. a computing device used to control a vehicle.

The keyfob was brought up by someone so they can make a clickbaity title: "A thing in your pocket has more computing power than Apollo guidance computer. And it's not your smartphone"

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#18

Post by dehrmann » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 6:08 PM UTC

In fairness, the cryptography backing key fobs is likely more computationally intensive.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#19

Post by observationist » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 6:11 PM UTC

y7 wrote: post #9

theamk wrote: post #3

TL/DL: yes, it does, and by significant amount Key fob has nRF52840l, 64 MHz ARM, 1024 KB Flash, 256 KB RAM Apollo Guidance Computer was 2MHz, ~72 KB ROM, ~4 KB RAM The comparison might be up to 10x different due to more efficient architecture and different MIPS/MHz ratio, but it does not change much, since the differences are so dramatic. (This is based on links in the podcast description, which I assume what they t…

I guess even a disposable vape has more computing power than the Lunar lander. (I don't know if that's more or less ridiculous than a key fob, but at least a key is not so disposable.)

Car chargers for usbs, or digital thermometers, or disposable pregnancy tests - it's absurd the amount of compute that ends up even in single use or trivial products.

Re: Does my key fob have more computing power than the Lunar lander?

#20

Post by taeric » Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 6:13 PM UTC

This is actually a good example to consider why a better computing model does relatively little to enable some things. Sure, your fob has more computing complexity; the lander had far more of, well, everything else.