On: Integrating optical components into existing chip designs

[rambojazz]

What single-core frequencies could we hope to achieve if chips were working entirely on optical components? There are no heat problems, or is there?

[AstralStorm → rambojazz]

Signal propagation times still put a size limit, then you have optical attenuation to deal with in tiny fibres, requiring amplification. Edit: apparently heater too for tuning stability. Not especially power saving then.

The main gain is that you can put components further away if latency is not a concern and can use parallel buses due to no interference. So the tech is most suited to replace long range busses like PCIe.

[smaddox → rambojazz]

Optical switches are neither small nor efficient compared to a VLSI CMOS transistor. Few things are.

[godelmachine → smaddox]

It makes sense two use optical switches for certain specific requirements until they surpass VLSI CMOS in every requirement