I totally agree with what you have said but I have a question will 128-bit processors can improve the efficiency of data mining techniques and machine learning calculations.
No, we are not threatening you. We wish you a long and healthy life—100 years and more! You’ve probably seen the evolution of CPUs: from 16-bit to 32-bit CPUs, and later from 32-bit to 64-bit CPUs. If you are unfamiliar with this history, read about the most important CPUs in history here. A logical question arises: when will 128-bit processors arrive? A 128-bit CPU, in terms of computer architecture, means that this processor must have 128-bit integers and a 128-bit bus. It is not simply twice as good as 64-bit; it is not that straightforward.
What is a bit?
A bit is the simplest unit of information in computing. A bit can be either 1 or 0. It is a single binary value and cannot be anything between 1 and 0. Just like a light switch, it is either 1 (switched on) or 0 (switched off). Computers use the binary system to perform every computing task, including data storage, computation, and running programs.
In essence, processor bits refer to the number of units that the processor can handle simultaneously. A 32-bit processor can handle 32 bits of data at a time, a 64-bit processor can handle 64 bits, and so on. As you increase the number of units that a processor can handle simultaneously, you can process more complex and faster computations.
Quantum computers use qubits, which can be both 1 and 0 at the same time. Read more about quantum computers here.
Why do we use 64-bit processors now?
Your laptop, smartphone, or even the server that hosts Neterra.cloud’s blog all use 64-bit CPUs. While in the past there was a need to address more memory, current 64-bit CPUs can handle so much RAM that it is hard to even imagine.
Old 32-bit processors could address a maximum of 4 GB of RAM. Now, the maximum amount that a 64-bit CPU can address is 2^64 or 18.44 exabytes. One exabyte is 1 billion gigabytes! You will probably never see this amount of RAM in your lifetime. 4 GB for a 32-bit system can be sufficient, or 8 GB for normal office work on a 64-bit OS would also work. Some cutting-edge devices have 64 GB or even 128 GB of RAM, but this is required in very few situations, such as heavy CAD applications or video editing.
What would a 128-bit CPU look like?
We are currently using 64-bit processors, but the bus is typically not 64-bit; more commonly, it is 40-bit or 48-bit. This characteristic still has room for improvement. We would need 128-bit integers and a 128-bit bus for a 128-bit CPU, and there will be many challenges:
- Requires More Memory: Moving from a 64-bit CPU to a 128-bit one would require more memory. We would need a huge cache size; otherwise, the program would just run slower.
- Hardware Limitations: Designing such a processor would be more complex and expensive.
- Increased Power Consumption: A 128-bit processor would be significantly larger and would generate more heat. This could be very impractical—literally, nobody wants bigger and heavier devices.
- Higher Costs: The price per watt would also be significantly higher. Creating a 128-bit CPU would be far costlier.
- Lack of 128-Bit OS: Another disadvantage would be the need for a 128-bit OS and drivers. It would be pointless if such a processor couldn’t be properly utilized. For now, neither Microsoft nor Apple are even considering creating such an OS. By the way, check what operating systems you can use with Neterra.cloud.
- Lack of 128-Bit Software: Even if you have a 128-bit CPU and 128-bit OS, nothing would change if you are running 64-bit software. You would need special programs developed for these new systems to fully utilize their potential. One of the executives of ARM stated that the company “has no plans for 128-bit ARM-based chips because they simply aren’t needed.” Surely, one day, in many years’ time, we will start using 128-bit processors, but obviously, it won’t be soon.
Why don’t we need 128-bit processors now?
There are several reasons why we don’t need a 128-bit processor:
- No Available 128-Bit Software: There are no programs or operating systems designed for 128-bit processors.
- Sufficient Memory Addressing: A 64-bit CPU can address up to 18 exabytes (EB) of memory, which is more than sufficient.
- Power Inefficiency: A 128-bit CPU would be power-inefficient.
- Lack of Market Demand: There is currently no market demand for such processors. Before we see companies or users demanding more, we won’t see any change.
We are not against progress, but currently, there are far more interesting topics to focus on, such as AI, 5G, edge computing, and modern cooling solutions, which can bring more immediate benefits.
The future of processor development
While humanity will most likely use 128-bit processors one day, there are many other technologies that will improve current processors. We already see the “core wars,” where each company is trying to increase the number of cores in each chip. How many cores does your computer have? Maybe 4, 8, or more? Some even have 20+ cores.
Another area of improvement is power efficiency. We are beginning to question the efficiency of x86 architecture processors, like those from Intel and AMD, and are searching for alternatives. Whether it will be ARM or RISC-V remains to be seen. The architecture can help improve efficiency, but so can shrinking die sizes. The smaller the chips become, the more transistors they can fit in the same area, potentially improving power efficiency, performance, or both.
Additional features like NPUs (neural processing units) are also on the rise. We are already seeing many AI Copilot laptops and will see even more in the future. A dedicated chip for AI will reduce stress on the CPU and assist with AI tasks.
Improved memory is another area of focus. We are seeing widespread DDR5 adoption. The new RAM is faster and more power-efficient. At the same time, the size of the CPU’s various cache memories is also increasing, reducing latency and improving efficiency.
Will we ever see a 128-bit processor?
While we are unlikely to see general-purpose 128-bit processors in our lifetimes, some very specific gadgets already use 128-bit operations through Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) extensions. For example, Intel’s SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions), AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions), and ARM’s NEON technology can handle 128-bit data types to perform parallel operations on multiple data points simultaneously. However, these are not 128-bit processors per se. In cryptographic algorithms, 128-bit keys are used for encryption, and processors can execute these security algorithms using 64-bit architecture with special software handling 128-bit operations.
Some Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) can handle 128-bit operations for specific tasks but cannot be used for general tasks.
If you want to see a very interesting example of an ASIC, check Google Tensor.
Conclusion
While there are some 128-bit operations, there are no general-purpose 128-bit processors on the market, and there is not much development in this area. It is safe to say that 64-bit CPUs will be the norm for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of small improvements that can boost the productivity and energy efficiency of current 64-bit processors, so the focus remains on them.
A Wonderful and Beautiful article, Thank you for your precious informative content!
Thank you, Khashayar, for your taking time and put a comment below. We appreciate it.