>I hope so too (heck, I hope I just live a long life...seeing a giga-digit
>prime would be a bonus).
>
>I suppose it depends on whether Moore's Law can continue to hold true. I'm
>not so sure that we can keep doubling speeds of processors every 18 months
>as predicted...it's already taken them quite a while to go from 300MHz
>machines to 550MHz machines for Wintel processors...and that's just barely
>in 18 months (close enough to doubling I s'pose). It's getting harder to
>eke out extra MHz without really dropping the die size alot more than what
>they're dealing with. But I suppose it won't be long before .15/.12/.10
>micron die sizes are ready for mass producing.
I have heard some insider news that Intel *could* hit the 1 GigaHertz mark
by years end if they had a reason too (if AMD jumped out with a unexpected
surprise). Once we start hitting the sweet spot in die size I am under the
impression that they will start exploring the multiple processor route...
Multiple processor systems are already becoming more mainstream. So I
think we will be able to continue with MASSIVE performance increases over
our lifetimes. This is assuming we stick with the Von Neumann
architecture, new and EXCITING technologies (such as neural computing &
massively parallel systems) are just over the horizon. These technologies
and others offer us unimaginable new possibilities with their own unique
strengths & weaknesses -- maybe when these new tools are out there we will
find a new Algo. that better fits their strengths.
My understanding of the purpose of rewards like the EFF is posting is to
foster new and innovative ways to solve problems that almost seem
impossible at the time. If asked 10 years ago who here would have thought
we would be testing numbers as big as we have... George & Scott's vision
of this very project is such an example of break through technology, which
allows us to advance in the scientific frontier at break neck speeds.
Whoohoo isn't this a exciting time to live!!!
Shane
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