Just spotted this on Drudge....

**MadBurgerMaker** · June 19, 2006, 11:59 PM

There's not a whole lot to it yet, but...well....here:

RESEARCHERS SAY NEW CHIP BREAKS SPEED RECORD
Mon Jun 19 2006 22:57:25 ET

Researchers at IBM and the Georgia Institute of Technology are set to announce Tuesday that they have broken the speed record for silicon-based chips with a semiconductor that operates 250 times faster than chips commonly used now.

The NEW YORK TIMES reports: The achievement is a major step in the evolution of computer semiconductor technology that could eventually lead to faster networks and more powerful electronics at lower prices, said Bernard Meyerson, vice president and chief technologist in IBM 's systems and technology group. He said developments like this one typically find their way into commercial products in 12 to 24 months.

Developing...

Like I said...not much to it, but we'll find out more later today, I suppose.

**OTZ** · June 22, 2006, 04:10 PM

Impressive. I'll be more interested if they adapt it to the PC. 300ghz at room temps is quite lofty...

**Sir Robin** · June 22, 2006, 05:02 PM

I would guess we have five or maybe even ten years before we start seeing those approach the desktop market.

Still... WOW

**Sosobra** · June 22, 2006, 05:07 PM

*darth vader voice* Most Impressive

**Lee1026** · June 22, 2006, 07:43 PM

Unimpressed. Running that fast is one thing, doing something while running that fast is something else entirely.

**Incinerate_IV** · June 22, 2006, 08:02 PM

I remember reading about that some where, its suppose to be very expensive. I doubt its going to find its way into the average consumer market, not soon anyways.

**Rhinosaur** · June 22, 2006, 08:05 PM

What do you mean Lee?

**Lee1026** · June 22, 2006, 08:06 PM

Even if it does, it is not going to be IA32, so that is not going to work.

Edit: I meant that the number of things that a chip can do per clock can vary greatly. Also, some chips are not general purpose calculation chips.

**Zuwxiv** · June 22, 2006, 08:14 PM

Also, remember that the gigahertz rating does not necessairly directly correspond to speed. Excellent example: Macs (prior to intel shift). They had much lower ratings (generally 2/3 to 3/4 the comparable PC "speed") but could run just as fast (remember, professional video editors generally use Macs.) That is a frequency, not an exact measure of data processing. That said, I'm still very excited about this news. And I don't mean to sound pessimistic, it's just that other factors could effect that rating.

See http://www.answers.com/topic/mhz

My spelling is probably horrible, but it's summer! Wohoo!

**OTZ** · June 22, 2006, 08:12 PM

It's silicon ain't it? Silicon is cheap...I suspect sooner than later. Since it's earmarked for cell phones at the moment - it can't be too cost prohibitive.

**Rhinosaur** · June 22, 2006, 08:17 PM

Oh. So even if the hardware was up to processing at 300 Ghz, no current software would be up to that standard. I read this article in the NY Times a couple of days ago, I believe they were operating the chip within 9 degrees of absolute zero, and the 300 Ghz speed mentioned was the speed at room temperature. Either way it refutes those who thought silcon based chips were at their limits.

**Hadrian** · June 22, 2006, 10:50 PM

Yeah, almost absolute zero, in lab conditions! That chip would fry into a bubbly goop if they did 500Ghz at room temprature. Theres always the blasted heat issue....buuutt....the boys at Ga.Tech are true computer lovin geeks, so if anybody can make it happen for the computer lovin world, its those guys!