Table of Contents
Moore's Law Slowing Down
Return to CPU Physical Limitations, CPU Thermal Limitations, The Free Lunch Is Over - A Fundamental Turn Toward Concurrency in Software by Herb Sutter
The slowing down of Moore's Law is significantly influenced by the physical limitations inherent in CPU design and semiconductor manufacturing. Moore's Law, the observation made by Gordon Moore in 1965, predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double approximately every two years, leading to continual increases in computing power and efficiency. However, as technology has advanced, the miniaturization of transistors has approached the limits of physics, where factors such as quantum effects and material integrity become prohibitive. Transistors are now so small that quantum effects like electron tunneling cause leakage currents, making it challenging to increase transistor density without leading to increased power consumption and heat generation.
Overcoming Physical Limitations
To counteract these physical limitations and continue improving CPU performance, the industry has adopted various strategies beyond simply increasing transistor count. These include developing new materials like graphene, which could potentially replace silicon to allow for smaller, faster, and less energy-intensive transistors. Additionally, advances in 3D stacking technology, where chips are layered vertically, offer a way to increase component density without shrinking transistor size. Alternative computing paradigms, such as quantum computing and neuromorphic computing, represent fundamental departures from traditional transistor-based designs, aiming to bypass the limitations of current CPU technologies. These efforts reflect a broader transition in the computing industry, focusing on architectural innovations, energy efficiency, and parallel processing capabilities to sustain growth in computing performance.