Intel's 1.9Bn Transistor, 32nm Die Works

[HEXUS]

Sanjay Natarajan is driving Intel's efforts toward 32nm CPUs for 2009, setting up a key process battle between Intel and AMD. While team-green are betting the farm on Low-K Dielectric Technology, Intel say High-K is the way to go...

Watch the show.

[Andrzej]

Absolutely fascinating !

AMD say Low-K is the future

Intel say no way, choose High-K

But who is right ?

If I understand this correctly, then AMD are saying that by putting in traffic calming measures, with speed bumps and a reduction in 'alternate path short cuts' for errant electrons - the world will be a better place...

...while Intel prefer to make the highway connecting 2 items much faster - so that any deviation is automatically discouraged because electrons follow the path of least resistance

(if I have the fuzzy end of this lolly-pop, then please feel free to jump in and correct me!)

Both are on schedule to deliver mass-market volume on next-gen parts by 2009/10 and then - I guess - the stock market will vote with its wallet

.

[Funkstar]

Thats pretty cool.

Surely both AMD and Intel could be right with their differing approaches to metal gates? They are just approaching the problem from different angles.

[arthurleung]

Can't they use high-K for some part of the chip and low-K for another part of the chip?

[DR]

I'm not sure you can mix it due to it being a manufacturing process, I'm no expert on silicon manipulation but I'm confident that it would take a 'double pass' on the line and you would need to mask the other area. I will find out though

[Lee H]

AMD say Low-K is the future

Intel say no way, choose High-K

But who is right ?

Kellogs and their Special K

As long as both the processes work as intended then they can use any they want

[Andrzej]

...I'm no expert on silicon manipulation...

That's blown my perceptions of you

[James Morris]

I'm not sure you can mix it due to it being a manufacturing process, I'm no expert on silicon manipulation but I'm confident that it would take a 'double pass' on the line and you would need to mask the other area. I will find out though

You geek.

[Whiternoise]

Octo-core anyone?

[[GSV]Trig]

Could this again be where AMD pick up the ball and in 5 years time Intel do another U-turn and do what AMD do?

[moogle]

Could this again be where AMD pick up the ball and in 5 years time Intel do another U-turn and do what AMD do?

*fingers crossed!*



yeaaa i hope so, or at least match some of intels performance.

[DR]

I've got to say - Intel and their manufacturing process, both design and deployment is far advance than that of AMD - with working 32nm wafers publically shown and acknowledgement that 11nm works - is something seriously impressive.

It also has to be said - you get a lot of tech for your money, microprocessors are seriously cheap for the amount of work and R&D in to them - remember that next time you sell your old chip for equiv for a round at your local....

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=9888 also an interesting read

[Funkstar]

so is 11nm the next step on from 32nm?

Or do they also have something in the 20nm range as well?

And yes, that is impressive. Intel dropped the ball a few years back, but i can't see them doing it again for at least a few processor iterations.

[[GSV]Trig]

tbh I think AMD will be better changing direction and trying something new, dual core CPU/GPU combo's could be good for the laptop/PDA market, maybe aim in a similar direction to VIA but with a CPU and GPU in the same die could lead to some seriously low power low cost stuff.

[DR]

so is 11nm the next step on from 32nm?

Or do they also have something in the 20nm range as well?

And yes, that is impressive. Intel dropped the ball a few years back, but i can't see them doing it again for at least a few processor iterations.

They got complacent.... and have had to step up to the game.

However, look at market caps too - 150$B vs 7.34$B for AMD... I wish I could get historical figures for a year ago...

I think it's like this
- 130
- 90
- 65
- 45
- 32
- 25
- 11

[DR]

tbh I think AMD will be better changing direction and trying something new, dual core CPU/GPU combo's could be good for the laptop/PDA market, maybe aim in a similar direction to VIA but with a CPU and GPU in the same die could lead to some seriously low power low cost stuff.

They are trying to and planning with this Fusion model, which can't come soon enough for them.

The trouble is they have issues in the notebook market since Intel have got some great battery life out there....