> Hal, the Gaussian model really does apply and eventually your CPU > does make mistakes. It tends to happen at such a low rate we all > blame it on the software or input devices that make mistakes millions > of times more frequently. When it comes to CPUs I am not even sure > where to begin sifting transistor switching errors from other sources > because the event frequency is so low. I believe it will happen if I wait long enough, but I don't have a good feel for the numbers. I expect that I would have to wait something like the age-of-universe rather than just a short time like several/many years which is the time scale for most error mechanisms. (at least in a well designed system) What's the SNR for a normal CMOS signal? (either on chip or between chips) I'm only interested in the Gaussian part of the noise. Where does real-life Gaussian noise come from? Thermal/Johnson? If so, is the R the output resistance of the driving transistor? What's a typical number? What's the (Gaussian) SNR on a Fibre Channel link? (copper and fiber) -- The suespammers.org mail server is located in California. So are all my other mailboxes. Please do not send unsolicited bulk e-mail or unsolicited commercial e-mail to my suespammers.org address or any of my other addresses. These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam. ------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List FAQ wiki page is located at: http://si-list.org/wiki/wiki.pl?Si-List_FAQ List technical documents are available at: http://www.si-list.org List archives are viewable at: //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu