Question about Extremely Peripheral Asynchronous Processing Units

G

Green Xenon

New Member
Hi:

I'm thinking of a computer that does not need a central processing unit. Instead it uses multiple asynchronous peripheral processing units. Does such a PC exist? Can Windows run on it?

I am thinking that this hypothetical PC would have a 1-bit, 1 Hz, asynchronous processing unit for each bit of information that is being "processed". In addition, each of those bits would have their own 1-bit solid-state RAM.

If there are x number of asynchronous peripheral processing units operating at 1 Hz, then is it possible to obtain an effective frequency of x Hz by using all their 1 Hz signals? This is what I'm attempting to accomplish.

Also, if x number of bits have their own cache, wouldn't the ultimate result be a cache of x bits?

In this hypothetical PC, each processing unit is fixed to 1 bit per cycle. Brainiac processors rely on more bits-per-cycle to obtain a higher effective processing speed. Speed-demon processors rely on a higher processor frequency to obtain a higher effective processing speed. It is important to understand that more Hz doesn't necessarily equate to faster processing.


Thanks,

Green Xenon
 
Embedded systems exist, but mostly in things like networking hardware, where there are a series of processors that distribute work over all the configurations.

You can also cluster computers to work together. Google search the "Beowulf Computer Project."
 
I'm not sure what you are driving towards. A microprocessor contains a huge amount of logic with inbuilt power and data connections which makes it compact and more immune to interference. Even with that, the CPU has to communicate to the real world through a host of other chips.

How would "peripheral" processors be powered and interconnected? How would they interface with the real world? What are the benefits of being asynchronous?

There are benefits to distributing tasks to separate microprocessors - a simple command from the CPU can initiate a complex task in a processor specifically designed for that task.

You mentioned the brainiac and speed-demon processors. Isn't the current development of CPUs based on both - increase speed and increase bits-per-cycle?
 
Nanobyte said:
So he also has a 1-bit asynchronous processor?
Click to expand...

I guess like his Hypothetical PC, his Hypothetical Laptop, his Hypothetical Optical Procesor or his maximum physically-possible clock rate [measured in Hz] of a 1-bit-per-cycle, single-core, purely-serial processor. But then Needs help with motherboard drivers or a ISA modem and cant understand why his P4 runs hot.
 
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