Computing Atlas

How Computing Was Built
Concepts

Moore's Law

Empirical Observation

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The empirical observation, first stated by Gordon Moore in a 1965 paper, that the number of transistors that can be fit onto an integrated circuit doubles at a roughly regular interval (originally yearly, revised to about every two years in 1975) for similar cost. Not a law of physics but an industry expectation, it nonetheless drove decades of semiconductor investment and became computing's standard shorthand for the rapid growth of raw hardware capability.

Facts
Origin Year
1965 1
Core Principle
Transistor density on an integrated circuit grows exponentially over time at a roughly fixed doubling interval, for roughly constant manufacturing cost, so computing capability per dollar grows exponentially as well. 1
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In Field

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Moore's law
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Quote, Lead section
Moore's law is the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit (IC) doubles about every two years, with minimal increase in cost.
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1. Wikipedia: Moore's law
Wikimedia FoundationHistory sectionView the Source
Wikipedia: Gordon Moore
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Gordon Moore, Scientific career section
Quote, Associated With: Gordon Moore, Scientific career section
the number of transistors in an integrated circuit (IC) doubles about every two years.
View the Source

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