Finnish startup Flow computers says it has developed a chip that can potentially double CPU performance and increase it up to 100x with further software optimization, something TechCrunch describes “as one of the wildest claims ever heard in silicon engineering.”
These advances, if adopted, could have a significant impact on the computing needs of AI technologies and autonomous vehicle systems.
Flow Computing, from the Finnish VTT Technical Research Center, has introduced the so-called Parallel Processing Unit (PPU). Despite skepticism about the bold claims, Flow’s co-founder and CEO, Timo Valtonen, remains supportive of the technology’s potential. “The CPU is the weakest link in computers,” he said TechCrunch. “It is not up to its task and that will have to change.”
No retroactive solution
The technology includes a companion chip that optimizes processing tasks in real time, converting traditional serial processing to more parallel operation without additional power or excessive heat. This change has been likened to expanding a CPU from a single-lane road to a multi-lane highway, improving efficiency and processing speed.
Flow’s technology enhances the CPU’s functionality by managing tasks at nanosecond intervals, allowing multiple processes to occur simultaneously, increasing throughput without changing the CPU’s clock speed or architecture.
However, the adoption of this technology by chip manufacturers is crucial to its success. Flow’s system must be integrated into the chip design phase, which could disrupt current manufacturing methods. Despite these challenges, the potential for significant performance improvements with minimal adjustments could make it an attractive option for chipmakers facing increasing demand for computing power.
Flow has shown that its technology works in FPGA-based tests, and with €4 million in initial funding and the support of several venture capital firms, it is now seeking industry partnerships to further develop and scale its solution.