How Slow Can You Go?

Humanoido

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/07/how-slow-can-you-go.html

Normally we think about processors in terms of how fast they can process. What about thinking about how slow they go? We've all heard of TERA-FLOPS and PETA-FLOPS but what about speeds at a few hundreds or tens of operations per second, to sometimes more effectively match real world conditions of non-theoretical computation... For what reasons, advantages, and apps would it be most beneficial to slow down a computer? Program debugging, for one example...

Mike Green

Mostly to reduce power consumption. The power usage of a processor using present day CMOS construction depends on the square of the speed. This wasn't always true with other types of digital circuitry, but it's true now.

ElectricAye

Humanoido wrote: »

..... For what reasons, advantages, and apps would it be most beneficial to slow down a computer? .....

To increase the wavelength of electromagnetic emissions.

erco

Humanoido wrote: »

Program debugging, for one example...

Agreed, showing program flow at low speeds can be very helpful, even in simulation. For instance, here's a screen video I did for "another" forum to throw a bit of gas on the "never use a GOTO" snobs' fire, as I am wont to do. The editor's simulator highlights each command as executed. Nice feature to have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TftZYLkJcyU

Dr_Acula

I like slow. The most powerful computer in the known universe runs at about 100hz.

For a more detailed explanation, an example https://www.science.smith.edu/departments/NeuroSci/courses/bio330/pdf/94CurrBiolTovee.pdf with a delay of between 5 and 15ms per neuron.