The world could run on older hardware if software optimization was a priority

Re:The world could run on older hardware if software optimiz... by ngangaga on Tuesday May 13, 2025 @08:10AM (#43972003)

I'm not sure what artemis or orion are, but you can blame defense contractors for this. Nobody ever got fired for hiring IBM or Lockheed, even if they deliver unimpressive results at massive cost.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The world could run on older hardware if software optimiz... by rescbr on Tuesday May 13, 2025 @08:47AM (#43972339)

Put a 4 nm CPU into something that goes to space and see how long it would take to fail.

One of the tradeoffs of radiation hardening is increased transistor size.

Cost-wise it also makes sense - it’s a specialized, certified and low-volume part.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The world could run on older hardware if software optimiz... by ngangaga on Tuesday May 13, 2025 @08:54AM (#43972403)

I don't disagree that the engineering can be justified. But you don't need custom hardware to achieve radiation hardening, much less hiring fucking IBM.

And to be clear, I love power chips. I remain very bullish about the architecture. But as a taxpayer reading this shit just pisses me off. Pork-fat designed to look pro-humanity.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The world could run on older hardware if software optimiz... by rescbr on Tuesday May 13, 2025 @11:49AM (#43974254)

> But you don't need custom hardware to achieve radiation hardening

Citation needed

> much less hiring fucking IBM

It's an IBM designed processor, what are you talking about?!

[ Parent | on HN ]