YDL 4

[Clinton MacDonald]

Friends:

Flash -- Urgent metric update... :-)

Clinton MacDonald wrote:
> 64-bit CPUs can access (theoretically) 2^64 bits (1.8 
> x 10^19) of RAM (almost 2 terabytes? have I done the
> math right?). That should last us a while.

I did not do the math right after all. 1.8 x 10^19 bits is about 2.3 x 
10^18 *bytes*, which is about 2 *exabytes*. Here are a couple of Web 
pages that clarify things.

Here are a couple of Web pages that make these things clearer:

<http://guymal.com/techCorner/powers.shtml>
<http://www.danbbs.dk/~erikoest/dp.htm>

For context, 5 exabytes is enough storage to encode every word ever 
spoken by a human being throughout history. The next big jump up in 
processing power, 128-bits, is 3.4 x 10^34 bits (which has no name). A 
memory "card" of such a size, if made entirely of hydrogen atoms, would 
weigh about 567 million metric tons (again, if I have done the math right).

Best wishes,
Clint

-- 
Dr. Clinton C. MacDonald | <mailto:clint DOT macdonald AT sbcglobal DOT net>