4 ms·

In an event when CPUs become spare part, computing devices should be designed to allow fast repare or even hot-swap. Similar to HDDs, one can maintain a constan

by ruslan 6y ago

In an event when CPUs become spare part, computing devices should be designed to allow fast repare or even hot-swap. Similar to HDDs, one can maintain a constant supply of CPUs in store that allows to change wore out parts fast without devices being rebooted or service interrupted, anytime. This will solve all the longitivity issues while supporting sales on the expense of extra work/labour. Win-win.

WrtCdEvrydy 6y ago
I wonder if we'll get to the point where the motherboard has a basic 14nm processor and the processor you buy is a co-processor on 5nm or 3nm process. Anything goes wrong, Windows keeps running on the 14nm processor and you can swap the co-processor.
- buran77 6y ago
  I think you're better off having a spare machine and your data in the cloud than to have 2 different CPUs on the same machine. It would massively increase the price and complexity, reduce reliability, etc. It's 2 machines in one box somehow. In the end your machine will not serve its purpose with the backup CPU or you would have bought one with that as a main CPU from the start. We're going in the direction where the hardware is a commodity to replace as you see fit and the data stays somewhere safe to be used regardless of device. Phone, tablet, PC, console, etc. can consume the same data. It's not ideal because I'd like hardware to be reliable, not something I can expect to die on me when I need it most but it's pretty clear we're going that way outside of niches, with most devices being exceedingly hard or impossible to upgrade or repair.
- ruslan 6y ago
  My way of thinking was about high load servers mostly, where your idea works well for personal computing. In both cases a whole computing system should be designed to allow easy replacement of depleted silicon. Nowadays electronics designed in such a way that maintainance either extremely difficult (for an average consummer) or not possible at all, both technically and legally.
marcosdumay 6y ago
So, mainframes all over again? I doubt it. It's way more likely that the computers get more disposable and we replace everything. If for no other reason, because manufacturers won't see a point in making the rest of the electronics outlast the CPU.
- ruslan 6y ago
  Mainframes ? Well, maybe, but in a bit different way. Motherboards and cables do not wearout, bridges and network interfaces most likely don't either. CPUs and RAM do. Concider a symmetrical multiprocessor system with a lot many multi-core CPU and RAM units (may be even fused together in one IC) that are sussectable to wearout. Operating system maintains a set of depletion counters for each unit. When a counter reaches some threshold, system automatically (or by request) gets such units out of operation and reports. An operator walks through the server rooms daily with a bunch of new units and replaces them. Only depleted silicon is replaced. It can be easily and safely disposed or even recycled and reused. Green. Efficient. High power. Low cost. Constant sales. What else we can dream of ? ;-)

by ruslan 6y ago

WrtCdEvrydy 6y ago

I wonder if we'll get to the point where the motherboard has a basic 14nm processor and the processor you buy is a co-processor on 5nm or 3nm process. Anything goes wrong, Windows keeps running on the 14nm processor and you can swap the co-processor.

buran77 6y ago
I think you're better off having a spare machine and your data in the cloud than to have 2 different CPUs on the same machine. It would massively increase the price and complexity, reduce reliability, etc. It's 2 machines in one box somehow. In the end your machine will not serve its purpose with the backup CPU or you would have bought one with that as a main CPU from the start. We're going in the direction where the hardware is a commodity to replace as you see fit and the data stays somewhere safe to be used regardless of device. Phone, tablet, PC, console, etc. can consume the same data. It's not ideal because I'd like hardware to be reliable, not something I can expect to die on me when I need it most but it's pretty clear we're going that way outside of niches, with most devices being exceedingly hard or impossible to upgrade or repair.
ruslan 6y ago
My way of thinking was about high load servers mostly, where your idea works well for personal computing. In both cases a whole computing system should be designed to allow easy replacement of depleted silicon. Nowadays electronics designed in such a way that maintainance either extremely difficult (for an average consummer) or not possible at all, both technically and legally.

marcosdumay 6y ago

So, mainframes all over again? I doubt it. It's way more likely that the computers get more disposable and we replace everything. If for no other reason, because manufacturers won't see a point in making the rest of the electronics outlast the CPU.

ruslan 6y ago
Mainframes ? Well, maybe, but in a bit different way. Motherboards and cables do not wearout, bridges and network interfaces most likely don't either. CPUs and RAM do. Concider a symmetrical multiprocessor system with a lot many multi-core CPU and RAM units (may be even fused together in one IC) that are sussectable to wearout. Operating system maintains a set of depletion counters for each unit. When a counter reaches some threshold, system automatically (or by request) gets such units out of operation and reports. An operator walks through the server rooms daily with a bunch of new units and replaces them. Only depleted silicon is replaced. It can be easily and safely disposed or even recycled and reused. Green. Efficient. High power. Low cost. Constant sales. What else we can dream of ? ;-)