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shadowalker125 t1_j1m7r5w wrote

Reply to comment by nagareteku in An IBM Quantum Computer Will Soon Pass the 1,000-Qubit Mark by giuliomagnifico

>Quantum computers are however very similar to Field Programmable Gate
Arrays. They are specifically designed for one fixed algorithm at a
time, but perform extremely well at it.

Wouldn't that make it more like an ASIC rather than an FPGA? Or can they be changed?

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nagareteku t1_j1mfh79 wrote

Variables such as temperature of qubits, voltage and time of laser pulses can be changed. The arrangements of specific quantum gates can be varied as well. Unlike an ASIC, quantum computers can be reconfigured from time to time to fit the required algorithm.

For now, quantum computers are far from general-purpose, and even then it will be redelegated into a discrete "QPU" card similar to your GPU for quantum-related computing purposes.

Affordable room temperature and pressure superconductors will need to be mainstream before that happens.

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