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| Source: Reuters |
IBM has successfully developed a transistor that operates at speeds 100 times faster than the current generation of chips – a breakthrough that could pave the way for super-fast computers and wireless networks in the future.
Transistors are the fundamental components of microprocessors, the “brains” of all high-tech devices from supercomputers to digital music players. IBM has set a speed record by developing a silicon-based transistor with a layer of imported germanium surrounding it.
“What we have achieved over the past few years is pushing the limits of silicon technology“, said Bernie Meyerson, IBM’s Chief Semiconductor Researcher. “And what we’ve accomplished shows that we are still far from reaching the ultimate performance threshold of silicon, and this information is very encouraging“.
The new transistor reaches speeds of 500 GHz, which is 100 times faster than the fastest PC chip currently on the market and about 250 times faster than a typical mobile chip.
However, this speed is only achievable when IBM’s experts cool the transistor to near 0 degrees Celsius; at room temperature, the transistor still operates at a speed of 300 GHz.
Clay Ryder, President of Sageze Group, a technology market research firm, describes this as a “breakthrough” that could lead to faster processors. Of course, these chips will not be able to achieve the “peak” speed of 500 GHz mentioned earlier.
“We can build a racing car that runs at 240 miles per hour, but would you drive it to work? No, but you will learn how to apply it to produce mass-market cars“, he said.
Most of the recent improvements in chip speeds have primarily come from reducing transistor sizes, but IBM’s method involves transforming silicon at the atomic level. This means manufacturers can design transistors from scratch with specific application orientations in mind.
Meyerson predicts that this new generation of chips will appear in commercial products within a few years, potentially enabling ultra-fast wireless networks capable of transmitting a DVD-quality movie in just 5 seconds.
Thien Yi
