VIDEO Why Don't They Make BIGGER CPUs?

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Why Don't They Make BIGGER CPUs? In a fascinating exploration of CPU design, the YouTube video "Why Don't They Make BIGGER CPUs?" delves into the complexities behind the size of processors and why larger isn't always better. The host begins by noting the surprisingly unchanged footprint of CPUs, likening their size to "a couple of postage stamps," which begs the question: Why don’t companies like Intel or AMD just scale up their CPUs for more performance?

Key Insights from the Video​

1. Cost Efficiency: The video emphasizes that larger CPUs would result in significantly higher manufacturing costs. Just like larger car engines are more expensive, ramping up the size of a CPU leads to increased material and production costs without a guarantee of better performance.
2. Yield Issues: A crucial point raised is the production yield. CPUs are fabricated from silicon wafers, and a larger die size means manufacturers receive fewer usable chips per wafer. This is compounded by the fact that defects during fabrication can render chips unusable, pushing companies to avoid larger dies to maintain profitability.
3. Heat and Performance Constraints: Another substantial factor mentioned is the thermal management challenges that come with larger cores. Higher heat generation can adversely affect performance, as keeping multiple cores synchronized at higher clock speeds becomes increasingly difficult. The video references that high-core CPUs often run at lower frequencies, which can be a disadvantage for applications requiring fast single-thread performance, such as gaming.
4. Architecture Optimization: Instead of merely increasing size, CPU design focuses on optimizing architecture for specific tasks. For instance, Intel's Quick Sync Video technology caters to video transcoding, while AMD's PCI Express Gen 4 enhances data transfer speeds for storage solutions.
5. Technical Trade-offs: The host compares the dynamics of CPU design to WiFi technology, indicating that larger sizes involve trade-offs between speed and efficiency, highlighting that complexity doesn't always yield better results.
   

   Conclusion​

   The video ultimately conveys that while a bigger CPU might seem appealing for gaming or heavy processing tasks, the limitations of heat dissipation, manufacturing costs, and design efficiency suggest that smaller, well-optimized cores are often the best path forward. It also humorously points out the challenge of where to place all that RGB lighting if CPUs were to balloon in size!
   

   Community Engagement​

   Have you noticed the trend of CPU sizes over the years? What performance gains have you experienced with new CPU architectures? Share your thoughts on this topic or your favorite CPU features in the comments! Let’s discuss how these insights might affect future CPU advancements and personal computing experiences!