So right now we have dual core, quad core and I think octo core.

Does anyone know what people are predicting for the long term for processors?

Skynet

As far as electronic processors are concerened, they are supposedly "at the wall" because they can't make them any smaller and still fit circuit pathways due to electron leap(?) ie. The charge cutting across the circuit divide.

(so I've heard)

They are playing with light as a message bearer aren't they?

Maybe a good one not an evil one lol

So there's no way they can get smaller. So I guess they'll just end up going to 16 core, 32 core etc. and the boxes will get bigger?

moores law is about the processor speed doubling

I think it goes far beyond quad core or octo core in IBM servers. IBM is engineering their own processor for the really big servers. I would have to do more research to tell you exactly what cutting edge today. But, I sure know one thing: you can daisy chain multiple servers together to create what we call an array. By using this technique, you can multiply processing power. The finally machine can be as big as you what man!

The new Xbox is coming out with 16-32 cores in 2011-2012...Or so they say. So I wouldn't be surprised if by 2011 all the cheapest computers have 8 cores at least. Technology is growing faster than we can harness it.

fiber optic processors is the future.....just think of how fuc**** fast future computers will be

I agree that processors have reached their smallest by using 40nm or 45nm (I forget which) transistors. So I reckon Intel are just going to increase the number of Cores, but I expect IBM or AMD are going to find some way around this "wall".