[Big Mac]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I thought it would be fun to contemplate where computer hardware technology will be in the coming years. What will top of the line computing technology look like as far as processor, GPU, RAM, storage (fixed and removable), display and expansion buses in 2 years, 5 years and 10 years? And if we were to look back 10 years ago, how far would our expectations have been exceeded?

[shifuimam]

I bet that in the future, a failing CPU fan will cause the BIOS to play "Back In Black" instead of "Fur Elise".

I'm guessing storage is going to move much more into hybrid magnetic/SSD solutions, until they can figure out a way to not limit the read/write cycles of flash memory. As long as that limitation is there, flash memory can't really serve as a swap disk or virtual memory.

Displays will be higher and higher resolution, so that we'll have people with 3200x2400 standard displays set at 800x600 because "it looks better that way".

CD burning will be a thing of the past - data will be stored on flash cards, like in Star Trek. Audio CDs will instead be write-once, read-only SD or CF cards.

[Dakarʒ]

I'm curious if those flash hybrid HDs will catch on.

[olePigeon]

I already made a prediction a little while back, but I'll post here, too:

I think that microprocessors in computers will go back to being a specified chip instead of being used in general computing. Back to the Future! Design philosophies from the 70s and 80s will make a comeback.

When you buy a computer, you'll get an array of possible options for a CPU, GPU, APU, and PPU. At first, as has been announced by intel (which makes my prediction that much closer to coming true), they'll be integrating the chips on a single die with multiple cores. You'll have a CPU with multiple cores for generic calculations, but it'll also include several cores that are geared specifically for graphics, audio, and physics.

Having the GPU, APU, and perhaps a PPU on the chip itself decreases latency.

Eventually, as interconnects become faster (like a fiber/laser BUS), the processors will be fully separated on their on chips, but still with multiple cores. You'll then have an array of generic sockets in which you can place various specialized processors depending on your needs.

X X X = C C G
X X X = G A P

May have a 6 processor (or more) array where you pick and choose which processors you want to use. In the above example, a user stuck in 2 CPUs, 2 GPUs, an APU, and a PPU. If you handle video and audio processing, you might drop 1 GPU and the PPU, and stick in 1 more CPU and APU; bringing it up to 3 CPUs, a GPU, an 2 APUs.

Anyway, that's my prediction.

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by shifuimam 

Displays will be higher and higher resolution, so that we'll have people with 3200x2400 standard displays set at 800x600 because "it looks better that way".

First reply to the thread and yet a winner… then I would add than in an exercise of unnecessary wasted of power, those displays are going to be driven by GPUs with more RAM I actually have inside my MDD.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by angelmb 

First reply to the thread and yet a winner… then I would add than in an exercise of unnecessary wasted of power, those displays are going to be driven by GPUs with more RAM I actually have inside my MDD.

Don't forget:

We'll have CPUs in the terahertz, RAM in the terabytes, and the principal's secretary wants the fastest one so she can "schedule appointments and do word processing."

[osiris]

I predict that cpus, gpus, and every other acronym will be reduced to a printed peice of paper.

Printable computers will do away with silicon and copper, and lead the way toward true molecular computing.

Imagine using the force of atoms to do your dirty work - generate power, compute, display, etc.... maybe someday.

[besson3c]

If a great many people use their computers to access porn, it seems like it would be wise to actually ship computer hardware *with* porn, rather than simply trying to make the software used to access porn faster.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by shifuimam 

CD burning will be a thing of the past - data will be stored on flash cards, like in Star Trek. Audio CDs will instead be write-once, read-only SD or CF cards.

In Star Trek they used a holographic storage medium called isolinear chips, not a magnetic medium like flash. God...

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

In Star Trek they used a holographic storage medium called isolinear chips, not a magnetic medium like flash. God...

Like, I know. I'm totally flaccid from her statement.

[nonhuman]

Maybe I should scan the relevant pages of the ST:TNG technical manual for her.

[shifuimam]

I just remember the little colored squares from TOS.

I think that's why I have a thing for CF cards (yes, I get my jollies from flash media...shut up).