IBM's Snowflake Microchips

Phantom of the Opera writes "The BBC reports that using self-assembled polymers and copying natural patterns, IBM hopes to have microchips that are 30% faster and consume 15% less energy. The secret? Adding a little nothing in all the right places."

Boo

[fatduck]

What happened to the provocative, editorializing troll-summaries? How am I supposed to start a heated argument based purely on speculation? You give me what, two sentences, like you want me to read TFA? Well, fuck you. Self-assembling polymers? Copying natural patterns? Who makes these things, IBM, or CYBERDYNE? What if these get into the hands of our children? Will the next school shooting be 30% faster and 15% more efficient?

Obligatory Simpsons reference

[The Hobo]

Ripped from snpp:

Homer, meanwhile, uses a pickaxe to make some speed holes in his own
car.

    Ned: Whatcha diddely-doin', neighbor?
Homer: Aw, putting speed holes in my car. Makes it go faster.
    Ned: Is that so? Well, gee, maybe the old Flanders-mobile could use
              some -- [a shot rings out] aah! [Ned collapses]
                [he gets up slowly] Wow! Lucky I always keep a bible close to
              my heart -- [boom!] aah! [Ned collapses]
                [he gets up] Ho ho, lucky I was wearing an extra large piece of
              the True Cross today. I think I'll go inside.
                [a shot hits Homer's pick axe]
Homer: What keeps doing that?
  Tony: I told you we should have bought more than three bullets. Let's
              just grab him!
-- Louie the henchman, not the marksman, "Homer the Clown"

out of nothing at all

[Anonymous Coward]

making love at of nothing at all.

Just like a snowflake.

[Anonymous Coward]

So, no two will be alike? Programming for them will be interesting.

Re:Boo

[pipingguy]

[ IBM ] [ Hardware ] [ Technology ]

fatduck writes:
"What happened to the provocative, editorializing troll-summaries? How am I supposed to start a heated argument based purely on speculation? You give me what, two sentences, like you want me to read TFA? Well, fuck you. Self-assembling polymers? Copying natural patterns? Who makes these things, IBM, or CYBERDYNE? What if these get into the hands of our children? Will the next school shooting be 30% faster and 15% more efficient?"

I wonder what the Slashdot community will say about this?

> [+] hardware, ibm, technology (tagging beta)

Vacuum holes?

[Centurix]

Would this mean breaking one in half would make some kind of cool fizzing sound? Move over bubblewrap!

Re:Boo

[RealGrouchy]

Yeah, it's a little editorial tactic called "putting a little nothing in all the right places".

- RG>

The process mimics...

[mateomiguel]

The process mimics the way snowflakes are developed

Does this mean that they drop the silicon from 3 miles up and then try to catch it on their tongues?

New fab

[LarsWestergren]

In order to meet increased demands for hype, IBM also announces the construction of a new fab for hype construction. "For a long time we hoped that we might retrofit the Cell hype fab to construct Snowflake hype, it is now clear that this new processor demands a completely new fab to create the quality and quantity of hype needed. This new hype will be so overpowering every engineer and programmer will have to relearn everything or risk being left behind. We expect our Snowflake hype will outperform our closest competitor by close to 5000%. It will also be cheaper." IBM engineer Thor Larssen stated.

Re:Boo

[someone1234]

I guess you miss the 'snowflake in hell' notes?

So...

[JonathanJooped]

White space always helps

Re:IBM:

[JensenDied]

Its time for the 11 O'clock news:
Global warming is showing signs of 30% growth with 15% decrease in greenhouse gas production.
-- Time Skip --
The global flooding theories are proven incorrect as the polar ice caps are turning directly into steam.
-- Time Skip --
Wolverine is found dead in the bathtub, with melted adamantium due to the heat. In other news Earth is now proclaimed hottest terrestrial planet, eat your heart out Venus.

Re:The process mimics...

[Hanners1979]

Nope, it means you create a Beowulf cluster of them, and then throw them at somebody's head while they aren't looking.

But what of consistancy!

[Timberwolf0122]

If intel uses snowflake technology then no 1.9999998875 chips will be the same!

Re:OK Software geeks . . .

[Gilmoure]

I'm just bummed the chips don't look like snow flakes. That would be cool.