Overclocking: Difference between revisions
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Some [[staged recovery]] circuits also permit overclocking, and can function successfully at a rate faster than their [[recovery time]]. A [[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, simply by removing a [[beehive]] after the first [[glider]] enters the [[reflector]]. However, a continuous stream of gliders is then required to maintain the circuit, with timing within a tightly bounded range. | Some [[staged recovery]] circuits also permit overclocking, and can function successfully at a rate faster than their [[recovery time]]. A [[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, simply by removing a [[beehive]] after the first [[glider]] enters the [[reflector]]. However, a continuous stream of gliders is then required to maintain the circuit, with timing within a tightly bounded range. | ||
There are actually | There are actually three 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 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]] and Fx70 conduits, it means 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, its just that it's output behaves like a higher-period stream if overclocked. | ||
{{EmbedViewer | {{EmbedViewer | ||
Revision as of 05:55, 22 November 2023
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.
Some staged recovery circuits also permit overclocking, and can function successfully at a rate faster than their recovery time. A 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, simply by removing a beehive after the first glider enters the reflector. However, a continuous stream of gliders is then required to maintain the circuit, with timing within a tightly bounded range.
There are actually three 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 and Fx70 conduits, it means 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, its just that it's output behaves like a higher-period stream if overclocked.
| 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