For the problems ASICs exist they vastly outperform general hardware. Typically both in absolute speed and efficiency.
But it's only possible to make custom ASICs when you have a specific problem to solve. For newer crypto systems they can vary enough parameters that building a flexible enough ASIC to recoup the investment before the algorithm changes and makes your hardware useless.
For problems where the problem to solve remain in the problem space the ASIC can solve there is no point to use a thing else.
But it's only possible to make custom ASICs when you have a specific problem to solve. For newer crypto systems they can vary enough parameters that building a flexible enough ASIC to recoup the investment before the algorithm changes and makes your hardware useless.
For problems where the problem to solve remain in the problem space the ASIC can solve there is no point to use a thing else.