New Intel chip technology (already)

By now, I have close to no idea how the innards of a computer work.

There was a point about 10 years ago, where I thought I had some idea about what was actually going on inside the machine, but shortly afterward I realized it wasn’t just a leprechaun with an abacus hidden in the case.

I understand what components make up the computer, and to a large extent I understand what they do and where they go, but I really have no idea how they do what they do. The processors themselves are the worst mysteries. Somehow we’ve shoved bazillions of transistors onto some silicon, and it makes pretty pictures? Bah.

According to the New York Times this morning, Intel has announced a new chip technology that will let them run chips faster and more efficiently (I guess that’s what you want, right?).

But at the rate this stuff is going, I’ve completely lost track of where things fall in the processor lineup. This is frustrating for someone who is getting ready to upgrade the processor/motherboard on their desktop (me).

There are so many different chips, and the new technology shows up so quickly, it’s hard to know when to pick your level. I almost think it’d be better for the industry as a whole to take a deep breath and let one processor hit the market before you introduce a new one.