Meet the Megaprocessor, a Room-Sized Microprocessor

While just about everyone these days are miniaturizing their processors, James Newman has taken the opposite approach. After several years, the British engineer has finally finished building a giant “Megaprocessor” inside his living room.

The Megaprocessor — which measures 33 feet wide and stands six feet tall — consists of 40,000 transistors, 10,000 LEDs, and weighs roughly 1,1000 pounds. Making the idea a reality also cost him over £40,000.

So what do you do with a massive processor? You play Tetris, of course! (Though he does admit playing the game isn’t easy during a video demonstration.)

Newman started the project back in 2012 as a way to learn about transistors and visualize the inner workings of a microprocessor. He intends on using the Megaprocessor as an educational tool, although it may be a bit difficult to transport given its size.

“The machine on your desk may be a million times better than what I have built — but mine is much prettier,” he tells BBC. “Mine has 10,000 times more LEDs.”

You can check out the Megaprocessor in more depth on its page.