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by wongarsu 873 days ago
If I can program it to execute a sequence of arithmetic and logical operations that approximate a Turing machine (with a finite band), and reprogram it at a later date to execute a different sequence of such operations, that's a computer to me. I wouldn't count ASICs, but the PIC12F508 or the 3-cent microcontroller referenced in the post definitely count.

Though by my definition of requiring reprogrammability and Turing completeness I am purposefully excluding many things that have historically been considered computers, like the many mechanical computers of the 19th and 20th century. From that standpoint I can see how some people might count ASICs as computers, even if I don't think that fits modern usage.

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These RISC-V chips are on the order of .02 to .10 (qty 1)

https://www.wch-ic.com/products/CH32V003.html

The PIC12 has 25 bytes! of sram. The CH32V003 has 2k.

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-CH32V003.html?spm=a2g0...