Overview
An ASIC is a microchip designed for a specific application, such as a digital voice recorder or a high-efficiency bitcoin miner. Unlike general-purpose chips, ASICs are optimized for a single task.
Key Characteristics
- High Efficiency: Offers the best performance and lowest power consumption for its specific task.
- Small Size: Can be made smaller than general-purpose chips because it only includes necessary components.
- High Initial Cost: Designing and manufacturing an ASIC is expensive, making it viable only for high-volume production.
Examples
- TPU (Tensor Processing Unit).
- Cryptocurrency mining hardware.
- Network controllers in high-speed switches.