IBM Unveils Computer Chips Four Times As Powerful As Silicon Chips

We're Now Making Computer Circuits That Are Almost As Small As Human DNA

IBM has unveiled a new computer chip, almost as thin as DNA but four times as powerful as the pure silicon chips we use today.

The chip will reportedly have more processing power because of its ability to accommodate more smaller transistors.

Each transistor, which in computers act like switches, in IBM's new almighty chip will measure at around seven nanometers in diameter -- this is significantly smaller than the 10 to 14-nanometer transistors we currently use.

Considering that a strand of DNA measures 2.5 nanometers in diameter, these new transistors are simply put, quite amazing.

The New York Times reports that the 'wafer-thin' chips are made using silicon-germanium, a move away from pure silicon.

IBM say that this will allow for 20 billion transistors to be squeezed on to a processor, which will make it four times as powerful as the chips we have today.

The research is still in development but if it does reach our homes, it will effectively mean that our computers will be able to run a lot faster.

One outsider to IBM's venture explained why the company was moving ahead with developing their new chips.

Richard Doherty from Envisioneering, a New York based firm said:

“This puts IBM in the position of being a gentleman gambler as opposed to being a horse owner.

"They still want to be in the race."

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