What happens if we can't make another CPU...ever?

What fails first?  How long would datacenters last? Does the Internet start to fracture?

Of course, it's a hypothetical thought experiment.  But it's interesting to think what chips will stand the test of time, and which might fail sooner than you think!

---

Here are the other channels I mentioned, take a look:

@jeriellsworth made microchips at home, and is an excellent engineer + teacher, go check her out!
https://www.youtube.com/@jeriellsworth

@KazeN64  is doing wild optimizations with N64 hardware:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuvSqzfO_LV_QzHdmEj84SQ

---

Check out my X account for cool Computer Science stuff!
https://x.com/lauriewired

Laurie Wired's resource offers insights, tutorials, and resources for technology enthusiasts, DIYers, and makers. Readers can learn about electronics projects, hardware hacking, and DIY gadgets. With articles, tutorials, and project guides, Laurie Wired provides resources for learning and experimenting with technology.

LaurieWired

A thought experiment exploring what would happen if humanity lost the ability to manufacture CPUs. The scenario traces the gradual decline of modern computing over 30 years, from cloud infrastructure failures to internet fragmentation, highlighting how older hardware with larger node sizes would outlast modern chips due to electromigration. The piece examines how software optimization would become critical, vintage computing would resurge, and society would eventually revert to 1970s-80s era technology.

What if Humanity forgot how to make CPUs?

Ridicules thought experiment that has zero chance of ever happening unless humanity forget much more and in that case CPUs are the least of its problems

Maybe not “forgetting”, but Ukraine and possibly Taiwan being in danger of communist like countries would provide some of the mentioned problems

Amazing thought experiment! Thanks for sharing! Those claiming we’ll never forget how to make CPUs know nothing about it. The idea that we won’t forget how to make advanced chips (like those we make today) would literally require a miracle. There’s a near-zero percent chance that will happen. It might take a hundred years, but we are approaching the top of the rollercoaster.
Here’s why: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VX3jNJmbcI&amp;t=5s" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VX3jNJmbcI&amp;t=5s</a>

Watched this the other day, it was an interesting thought experiment

While not forgetting, something like the Carrington Event of 1859 happening today would not be a pretty sight.