Comparing the power of quantum computers to classical computers, such as CPUs like the Intel i3/5/7/9 or even older processors like the NES CPU, is not a straightforward task. The performance and capabilities of quantum computers cannot be directly equated to classical computers' specifications, such as the number of qubits and the clock speed of a CPU.
Quantum computers, which leverage the principles of quantum mechanics, are designed to excel at certain types of computational problems, while classical computers are better suited for other tasks. Quantum computers utilize qubits, which can represent multiple states simultaneously through quantum superposition and entanglement. This enables them to perform certain types of calculations exponentially faster than classical computers in some cases.
However, it's important to note that the number of qubits alone does not necessarily translate into computational power. The performance of quantum computers is determined by factors such as the quality and coherence of the qubits, the gate error rates, and the complexity of the quantum algorithm being executed. Achieving and maintaining a high level of coherence and minimizing errors are significant challenges in building practical quantum computers.
Quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, and large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers that can outperform classical computers for a wide range of problems are not yet available. Currently, quantum computers with around 49 qubits would generally be considered noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, which are limited in their computational capabilities compared to fully fault-tolerant quantum computers.
In terms of comparing the power of a quantum computer with 49 qubits to a classical CPU like an i3/5/7/9 or an NES CPU, it's important to note that quantum computers are not designed to directly replace classical computers for general-purpose computing tasks. Quantum computers excel in solving certain types of problems that are difficult for classical computers, such as factoring large numbers, simulating quantum systems, or optimization problems. For most everyday computing tasks, classical CPUs are still more efficient and practical.
In summary, comparing the power of quantum computers with classical CPUs is not a straightforward task, as they excel in different types of computations. Quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, and while they hold great promise for specific applications, they are not yet capable of replacing classical computers for general-purpose computing tasks.