Slow CPUs

[Slaimus]

Now that it is 2005, it is almost astonishing to realize how CPU speeds have nearly come to a grinding halt. The P4 3.06 was launched Fall 2002, and here we are in 2005 with only P4 3.8. Just for reference, the Radeon 9700Pro has just started being available back then.
I think it is amazing that people who a P4 3.06 2 years ago still has a chip with faster Mhz than the most common P4s sold right now.

 

[Hyperlite]

You have to realize that the clock speed of a processor doesn't mean everything. Intel is done pushing as much "mhz" as possible from their chips, and in now focusing on other processor technologies, IE larger cache sizes, faster FSB's, etc. I don't recall for sure, but that P4 3.06 didn't have an 800mhz fsb, correct?

 

[deveraux]

I agree with the whole clock speed issue but I still think it kinda feels like the CPU industry has been quite quiet over the past year. I mean yes, there were semprons and more Athlon 64's along with the FX's, but I don't know, it still feels ..well, stagnated. Maybe it's just me. IMHO, it's probably due to the fact that Intel hasn't really been able to really compete with AMD and so, AMD is kind of holding back some of there trump cards waiting for intel to answer to their current line of CPUs. Could be wrong though...

 

[clarkey01]

In 2002 The Inq pointed to Tejas and Nehalem, with Nehalem hitting 10.25 Ghz In 2005.

Someone In the Intel labs/fabs didnt do thier numbers right. CPU's have slowed way down, to be honest I dont game that much these days, I dont even think I will upgrade my 2000+ AXP for another year, may get another hard drive as I think this one is showing its age.

When you think of the speed bumps, there hardly innovations and they still perform the same jobs, whether that?s to blame on non innovative software there in the first place or its just not the right time for a huge breakthrough. I mean I would love an 3400+ but excel and access and VBA would still work the same, seems my 3 year old 2000+ is still ok. I have to hand it to AMD for how they have performed in the last 24 months and the Planning for hammer, maybe its Hector but they just seem on the ball, I wont go on about them, its there for all to see.

When will we see CPU?s that will make voice recognition perfect ? start trek anyone ?
When will we see a CPU with the power to run a hollow deck ? as good as an FX 55 is, its light years behind what?s needed. What?s holding everything back ? is it silicon ? X86 ? I get the feeling technology is slowing down, all that seems to be coming on leaps and bounds is GPU?s.

 

[miketheidiot]

an electron can only move so fast.

 

[Sparky19692]

Watching the sci channel a few weeks ago and I have not surfed for it but maybe the next leap will be with manufactured diamond wafers. it was very intresting.

 

[alexXx]

if you had bought a 1ghz p3 or athlon when they first came out a LONG time ago,you would still have a useable computer to this day. 1ghz could run pretty much everything except games..

 

[deveraux]

Originally posted by: alexXx
if you had bought a 1ghz p3 or athlon when they first came out a LONG time ago,you would still have a useable computer to this day. 1ghz could run pretty much everything except games..

Actually, if you exclude games + rendering (which are the main high-end stuff new PCs are used for), then even a "lowly" 500 MHz would still be alright. In fact, I'm using an old 800 MHz for my surfing & downloading computer back home, does everything perfectly for me.

 

[Dough1397]

using a p3 550 with 100 mhz fsb (katmai) 384mb of ram and a integratred video & sound, the thing that owuld make this computer better is upgrading teh 6 gig hard drive (its liek 5400 rpm and make a lot of noise)... surfing, watching movies, listening to music and doing homework (word, excel, powerpoint) is not too bad.....

 

[evilbix]

Yeah, I like it though. Saves me the money of buying another PC. Games do look much better though, and software has been so highly optomized it makes up for the lack of increase in mhz.

 

[Danzilla]

Originally posted by: deveraux

Originally posted by: alexXx
if you had bought a 1ghz p3 or athlon when they first came out a LONG time ago,you would still have a useable computer to this day. 1ghz could run pretty much everything except games..

Actually, if you exclude games + rendering (which are the main high-end stuff new PCs are used for), then even a "lowly" 500 MHz would still be alright. In fact, I'm using an old 800 MHz for my surfing & downloading computer back home, does everything perfectly for me.

Especially if you stayed away from certain bloated software and OS makers. (cough, MS, cough)

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: evilbix
Yeah, I like it though. Saves me the money of buying another PC. Games do look much better though, and software has been so highly optomized it makes up for the lack of increase in mhz.

No games are not optimized to make up for the lack of clock frequency.

I guess you dont know that clockspeed isn't everything. If you dont remember Intel has a long pipeline thus giving it a low IPC (Instruction per clock). AMD on the other hand opted for a short pipeline with a lower clock frequency less power (and as a result less heat). Therefore it has a high amount of IPC.

Also note we probably wont see clock frequency increase much beyond what we have now. The next thing is dual cores, and what not.

-Kevin

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: clarkey01
When will we see CPU?s that will make voice recognition perfect ? start trek anyone ?
When will we see a CPU with the power to run a hollow deck ? as good as an FX 55 is, its light years behind what?s needed. What?s holding everything back ? is it silicon ? X86 ? I get the feeling technology is slowing down, all that seems to be coming on leaps and bounds is GPU?s.

Personally, I think computers are stagnating. High tech innovation comes in spurts. We are in need of a paradigm shift in microprocessor technology before the next big thing will occur. Quantum or biologically-based computing may be that needed shift. The boom that started with the silicon transistor has just about died...