The New Power Players: Technologies Outpacing CPUs and GPUs

Image Credit: Marlon Pun (my current set up) P.S Funko pops and DBS action figures ftw

Introduction:

Earlier today, I was sitting at my computer, searching for new components to upgrade my workspace setup. As I scrolled through Best Buy (for those outside the U.S., it’s America’s go-to store for computer parts, home appliances, games, and more), I had the perfect rig in mind: an Intel i7 14700k, 32GB of RAM, a NVIDIA GeForce 4060 Ti 8GB, and a 2TB SSD. I could practically feel the excitement of putting it all together.

For about a decade now, I’ve always tried to future-proof my systems, knowing how fast technology progresses. But then a thought hit me: this idea of "future-proofing" might not hold up much longer, especially with quantum computers on the horizon. And another thought followed: Is there technology already out there that’s better than CPUs and GPUs right now?

It got me wondering if it's worth spending hundreds of dollars on something that could be obsolete in less than a decade as new technologies become the standard. So, I did a bit of research, and what I found was pretty fascinating. Yes, as of today, there are faster, better, and far more efficient components than the CPUs and GPUs we rely on. Let me show you what I discovered.

Diving into the Future: Beyond CPUs and GPUs:

Now, don't get me wrong—CPUs and GPUs are still the backbone of most modern computing tasks. Your trusty CPU is like the brain of your computer, handling all the complex logic and decision-making. Meanwhile, the GPU is the muscle, crunching through those heavy-duty graphics and parallel processing tasks like a champ. But here’s the thing: while they’re great at what they do, there’s some seriously cool tech out there that’s already stepping up to push the boundaries even further.

First up, let’s talk about ASICs. Think of them as hyper-specialized chips designed for one thing and one thing only. Imagine a super-focused, single-minded genius—ASICs are built to perform a specific task with incredible efficiency. They’re not your general-purpose processors like CPUs or GPUs; instead, they’re tailored for jobs like cryptocurrency mining or powering the AI that decides which ads you see online. For the tasks they’re built for, they’re practically unbeatable.

Then there are TPUs, or Tensor Processing Units, which are a type of ASIC designed by Google. If you’re into AI and machine learning, TPUs are the rockstars. They handle the complex calculations needed to train and run neural networks way faster and more efficiently than GPUs. So, while your new NVIDIA card is fantastic for gaming, it’s not the be-all-end-all in the world of processing power.

But wait, there’s more! Enter FPGAs. These are like the Swiss Army knives of processors. Unlike ASICs, which are locked into doing one thing really well, FPGAs can be reprogrammed to handle different tasks as needed. They’re used in everything from high-frequency trading to telecommunications because of their flexibility and speed. If you’re the kind of person who likes to tinker and optimize, FPGAs might just be your dream come true.

And if we’re talking about the future, we can’t ignore quantum computers. These are the stuff of science fiction—literally. Instead of using bits like traditional computers, which are either a 0 or a 1, quantum computers use qubits that can be both at once, thanks to quantum mechanics. This allows them to perform certain types of calculations exponentially faster than anything we have today. We’re still in the early days, but quantum computers have the potential to revolutionize everything from cryptography to drug discovery.

Lastly, there’s neuromorphic computing, which aims to mimic the human brain. It’s like trying to create a computer that thinks more like we do—processing information in a way that’s highly efficient for specific cognitive tasks. Imagine robots or AI systems that can learn and adapt in real-time, processing sensory data just as we do. We’re not quite there yet, but the potential is mind-blowing.

Final Thoughts

So, while you’re eyeing that shiny new rig with the latest CPU and GPU, just remember: there’s a whole world of emerging tech out there that’s already pushing the envelope. It’s an exciting time to be a tech enthusiast, and who knows—maybe in a few years, we’ll all be talking about how to future-proof our quantum computers or neuromorphic chips. But for now, let’s accept what we have at the moment and make the best of it. After all, the tech we have today is still pretty incredible, and there’s no harm in enjoying it to the fullest while keeping an eye on what’s coming next.