3 ms·
It does, it helps to stop and smell the roses occasionally and remember how far we’ve come. My first proper computer (defined by programming on it) was a 3.5MH
by noir_lord 5mo ago
It does, it helps to stop and smell the roses occasionally and remember how far we’ve come.
My first proper computer (defined by programming on it) was a 3.5MHz single core processor with 48KB of RAM.
My current one is 16C/32T that can boost to 5.7GHz and has 64GB of RAM.
Considerably more than a million times the RAM and about a million times the processing power (if you factor clock speeds, core count, OOE, branch prediction, memory width and depending on workload etc).
I have more RAM in my house than every ZX Spectrum ever sold (about 5 million which comes out to ~240GB).
Adjusted for inflation a million spectrums (175 at 1982 prices) comes out to about 640 million quid.
My PC cost ~4000 in late 2022.
A million times faster for 0.000625% of the price, it’s been a hell of a ride.
- narag 5mo agoMy pet realization: most of the power increase has been spent on graphics at an ever growing resolution, including in resolution not only the number of pixels, that's a squared number, but also color depth and FPS. Dealing with graphics has shadowed how hugely powerful the modern computers are. We're noticing now because of AI.
- noir_lord 5mo agoFor a general user I suspect that is true. That said I think programmers do notice the performance outside of AI when they use software that surfaces how fast modern machines are which we do more than most. I can remember when compiling a Linux kernel was “start it and go watch star gate” now I barely have time to boil the kettle for a cup of tea.
- jz391 5mo agoDefinitely agree with the sentiment (also a Speccy 48K guy), but at the risk of being pedantic, I think you're double-counting: "million times faster" is for one Spectrum, the "0.000625% price" is for a million...