Overclocking: Difference between revisions
removed repeated or redundant text |
m grammar |
||
| (4 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Glossary}}{{stub}} | {{Glossary}}{{stub}} | ||
'''Overclocking''' is a term used when a [[circuit]] can accept a [[signal]] at a specific [[period]] which it cannot accept at a higher period. A [[syringe]] is a simple example of overclocking. | '''Overclocking''' is a term used when a [[circuit]] can accept a [[signal]] at a specific [[period]] which it cannot accept at a higher period. A [[syringe]] is a simple example of overclocking, as it can accept input gliders at intervals of 74 or 75 generations, but its minimum repeat time is 78. | ||
Some [[staged recovery]] circuits also permit overclocking, and can function at a rate faster than their [[recovery time]]. For example, [[Silver's reflector]] has a recovery time of 497 [[tick]]s, but can be overclocked to reflect a period-250 [[glider stream]], or any nearby period above 248. | There are actually three{{cn}} distinct ways "overclocking" is used.<ref name="post58873" /> In some cases, like the [[syringe]] or the [[semi-cenark]]s, there are a few periods where the mechanism works, and then a few periods where it doesn't work, usually because of something like a temporary [[spark]] that has to get out of the way. And then the mechanism is safe to use any time after the official [[repeat time]]. With this more recent usage, "overclocking" doesn't add any extra restrictions to the use of the mechanism, it just means that it's not guaranteed to work for all higher periods. | ||
In other cases, like the [[Speed tunnel]], [[Snark]], [[Snark64]] and [[Fx70]] conduits, it means{{cn}} that the mechanism behaves like a [[period multiplier]] in some periods, usually because of something like a temporary [[spark]] that evolves into another object that is then cleared by the next signal. With this more recent usage, "overclocking" doesn't add any extra restrictions to the use of the mechanism, it is just that its output behaves like a higher-period stream if overclocked. | |||
Some [[staged recovery]] circuits also permit overclocking, and can function at a rate faster than their [[recovery time]]. For example, [[Silver's reflector]] has a recovery time of 497 [[tick]]s, but can be overclocked to reflect a period-250 [[glider stream]], or any nearby period above 248. However, a continuous stream of gliders is then required to maintain the circuit, with timing within a tightly bounded range. | |||
{{EmbedViewer | {{EmbedViewer | ||
| Line 11: | Line 15: | ||
|style = width:300px; | |style = width:300px; | ||
}} | }} | ||
== References == | |||
<references> | |||
<ref name="post58873">{{LinkForumThread | |||
|format = ref | |||
|p = 58873 | |||
|title = Re: Thread for basic questions | |||
|author = Dave Greene | |||
|date = April 4, 2018 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
</references> | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* {{LinkLexicon|lex_o.htm#overclocking}} | * {{LinkLexicon|lex_o.htm#overclocking}} | ||
Latest revision as of 20:52, 14 September 2026
|
This article is a stub. You can help LifeWiki by expanding it. |
Overclocking is a term used when a circuit can accept a signal at a specific period which it cannot accept at a higher period. A syringe is a simple example of overclocking, as it can accept input gliders at intervals of 74 or 75 generations, but its minimum repeat time is 78.
There are actually three[citation needed] distinct ways "overclocking" is used.[1] In some cases, like the syringe or the semi-cenarks, there are a few periods where the mechanism works, and then a few periods where it doesn't work, usually because of something like a temporary spark that has to get out of the way. And then the mechanism is safe to use any time after the official repeat time. With this more recent usage, "overclocking" doesn't add any extra restrictions to the use of the mechanism, it just means that it's not guaranteed to work for all higher periods.
In other cases, like the Speed tunnel, Snark, Snark64 and Fx70 conduits, it means[citation needed] that the mechanism behaves like a period multiplier in some periods, usually because of something like a temporary spark that evolves into another object that is then cleared by the next signal. With this more recent usage, "overclocking" doesn't add any extra restrictions to the use of the mechanism, it is just that its output behaves like a higher-period stream if overclocked.
Some staged recovery circuits also permit overclocking, and can function at a rate faster than their recovery time. For example, Silver's reflector has a recovery time of 497 ticks, but can be overclocked to reflect a period-250 glider stream, or any nearby period above 248. However, a continuous stream of gliders is then required to maintain the circuit, with timing within a tightly bounded range.
| Silver's reflector overclocked to period 249 (click above to open LifeViewer) RLE: here Plaintext: here |
References
- ↑ Dave Greene (April 4, 2018). Re: Thread for basic questions (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
External links
- Overclocking at the Life Lexicon