Intel Makes 45nm Chip

dolphinlover writes "Intel announced today that it created its first microchip using the 45 nanometer manufacturing process that it says will go into its processors in the second half of 2007. Intel said that this development provides it with a 'considerable lead over our competitors in the 45-nanometer generation'."

Jobs's strategy?

[vijayiyer]

Perhaps this what Steve Jobs referred to when he talked about the efficiency of future chips in Intel's roadmap?

We win!

[pat_trick]

Yes, by announcing that we have made one chip at 45nm, we obviously win! ...nevermind that it probably doesn't actually run anything. We haven't made a motherboard for it yet.

Eh.

[anderm7]

I'll believe it when they start yielding these things at greater numbers than one, on chips with a high SRAM and logic density.

Re:I must need glasses

[msauve]

When I first read the headline I thought it said a 45mm chip, which is considerably less impressive.

Not really. Creating a >2000 mm^2 chip without any flaws, with the expectation of being able to eventually make a profit on them in the consumer market, would be quite an accomplishment. Such a large die area would not only result in low yields, but present serious obstacles in power consumption and heat dissipation.

For comparison, the Pentium IV 600 series has a 135 mm^2 die area. If I'm not mistaken, yields fall exponentially, so no only would they be able to produce only 6% as many chips on a wafer, but could also expect a greatly lower number of working ones from the total.

Re:What about AMDs 45nm???

[taskforce]

I think you'll find that it was 65nm which AMD were readying for production, which Intel have been using since last year. Yet AMD Desktop cores at 90nm with SOI still manage to outperform, underconsume power, and underemmit heat compared to their counterparts.

It just goes to show that design does play a part in making a chip, and not trying to cram as many transistors as one can onto a die.

Re:Jobs's strategy?

[richman555]

I beleive so, as much as AMD fan would like to admit, Intel has the upper hand for future chips. I guess the deciding factors for success will be raw speed vs. overall processing (more cores) vs. low power (portablility). I think with this past years increase of laptop sales, it shows that these people have a little more in mind than just having the fasted possible processor. The decline of the desktop is coming, and Intel seems to be ready.

Yes, but no...

[electrosoccertux]

From one molecule thick? We're far from that.

But we ARE only a few more generations from hitting a rather thick wall: at the 5nm, electrons begin jumping _through_ the insulators to a nearby circuit. So while we're far away from the molecular level, we're still getting closer and closer every day to a very real limit. We should be able to push it down to 4nm with a little extra engineering....but as far a I know, thats going to be it. Anyone else want to comment?

Ok, can we just put more empty space in now?

[fwitness]

Seriously? Can't I have a chip that runs relatively fast, does everything a modern computer is used for, sans games, and I *don't* have to water-cool? Something like what the VIA Epia series does, but with Intel's backing?

Is it just me, or is web-browsing and document writing fast enough? It seems like 99% of the time these days I just want something smaller and quieter. If I want pretty shiny games, I'll play them on my xbox390 or sumsuch. Sure you can make bunches of chips for gamers, but give me a slimline chip and I, like many others would flock to it.

I'm writing this on my 733Mhz laptop, bought for college way back when, and my typing fingers really don't recognize the lack of dual cores.

Moore's Flaw

[woolio]

Why does the media insist on using the term "Moore's Law"???

Since when do self-fufilling prophesies become law?

Self-fufilling prophesies tend to restict one's actions rather than sustain them.... Which is why superstition is harmful....

If every PHB believes in Moore's quip, then do people get fired for not doubling # transistors every 18 months? Do they get a bonus for doubling the # of transistors in 17 months?

Perhaps if they weren't so darn busy cramming more transistors on the chip, they could better improve their compiler or come up with truly innovative architectural techiques that *work*....

All the more reason to work on it soon

[Sycraft-fu]

The last thing you want is to be bringing the 45nm fab online as 65nm is reaching it's limits, only to find you need another 9 months of working the bugs out before you get useful yeilds.

Re:We win!

[Xendarq]

None of the press seems to indicate what socket standard the new chips will conform to. If it's Socket T or 479, for example, then they won't require new motherboards. If it's a new socket, then, point taken... although generally the lag to build new m/b's is virtually nonexistent.