Feb

IBM’s 100Ghz Graphene Transistor Might Replace Silicon Someday

Jack Loftus on February 7th, 2010

We know graphene is tough stuff, but Big Blue’s discovering the substance makes a great transistor too, to the tune of a record-setting 100GHz.

You see, the 100Ghz graphene transistor IBM was crowing about this week is already much, much faster than a comparably sized silicon one. Current “state-of-the-art” silicon maxes out at 40Ghz. But better still, IBM created the graphene screamer using existing silicon fabrication methods. No new gear necessary!

However, as is commonplace with these types of stories, graphene transistors—at least ones deployed widely in everyday computing—are still a ways away. IBM researchers, why must you tease us so? [IBM via Engadget]

Big Blue, Transistors, computers, computing, graphene, ibm, research No comments »

Feb

Dell Precision M6500 Hops On USB 3.0 and Core i5/i7 Trains

Brian Barrett on February 5th, 2010

Dell’s Precision M6500 is the next in an increasingly long line of notebooks upgrading to Core i5, but it’ll be one of the first to also ship with an optional USB 3.0 port.

The Precision M6500 currently ships with a quad-core i7 for $2,750, but starting late February you’ll be able to configure it to include a Core i5 or i7, a USB 3.0 port, a 3.2 megapixel webcam, and a 64GB SSD mini card. The options will be apparently be available starting later this month, although the minor issue of price has yet to be determined. Oh, wait! That’s a major issue. But if the Notebook Italia report is correct, we should know that soon enough. [Notebook Italia via Electronista]