IBM put supercomputer technology into microprocessors

Laptops that can achieve supercomputer performance are gradually becoming a reality. IBM is working to develop nanophotonic processor technology with higher data exchange rates while minimizing power consumption.

Researcher Will Green said the semiconductor technology allows replacing chip circuits of a chip with fiber, thereby accelerating pulses that carry data exchanged between processor cores.

As well as the characteristics of fiber optic cables used in telecommunications information, nanophotonic shortens the distance of the microchip loop from several meters down to several centimeters, so the data is transmitted 100 times faster than the transmission line of electrical circuit and power consumption is only 1/10.

Microprocessors are getting more and more cores for higher performance, but the source of electrical signals transmitted through copper wires has not been fully utilized. Especially heat-generating operation processes make the data source damaged within the circulating circuit. However, the combination of modulators on the processor core that converts the clock to light signals with transistors allows the number of cores per processor chip to rise to 100.

Currently, this microprocessor technology project is being supported by the US Defense Research Agency (DARPA) with plans for the next 10 to 12 years to launch the first products.

Anh Tu