The materials that go into a chip are nothing. The process of making the chip is roughly the same no matter the power of it. So having one chip that can satisfy a large range of customers needs is so much better than wasting development time making a custom just good enough chip for each.

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AlecSchueler an hour ago | parent [-]

> The materials that go into a chip are nothing.

They really aren't. Every material that goes into every chip needs to be sourced from various mines around the world, shipped to factories to be assembled, then the end goods need to be shipped again around the world to be sold or directly dumped.

High power, low power, it all has negative environmental impact.

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cortesoft 13 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

That doesn't contradict the point, though. The negative impact on the environment is not reduced by making a less powered chip.

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direwolf20 an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Which materials are they and how would you suggest doing it with fewer materials?

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serf 39 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

ultra pure water production itself is responsible for untold amounts of hydroflouric acid and ammonia , and most etching processes have an F-Gas involved, and most plants that do this work have tremendously high energy (power) costs due to stability needs/hvac.

it's not 'just sand'.

	▲	direwolf20 12 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		How would you suggest doing it with fewer materials?

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stackghost an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

In theory, graphene based semiconductors would eliminate a lot of need for shipping and mining.