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IBM 2nm chip breakthrough claims more power with less energy | IBM 2nm chip breakthrough claims more power with less energy |
(6 months later) | |
Silicon wafers like these are made in a process measured in nanometres - and IBM says it has cracked the smallest one yet | Silicon wafers like these are made in a process measured in nanometres - and IBM says it has cracked the smallest one yet |
IBM says it has made a significant breakthrough in computer processors by creating a 2nm chip in its test lab. | IBM says it has made a significant breakthrough in computer processors by creating a 2nm chip in its test lab. |
The process used to make computer chips is measured in nanometres (nm) - with a lower number usually signifying a leap forward. | The process used to make computer chips is measured in nanometres (nm) - with a lower number usually signifying a leap forward. |
IBM claims its test chip can improve performance by 45% over current 7nm commercially available products. | IBM claims its test chip can improve performance by 45% over current 7nm commercially available products. |
It is also more energy efficient - using 75% less energy to match current performance, IBM said. | It is also more energy efficient - using 75% less energy to match current performance, IBM said. |
It claims the tech could "quadruple" mobile phone battery life, and phones might only need to be charged every four days. | It claims the tech could "quadruple" mobile phone battery life, and phones might only need to be charged every four days. |
The computer chip industry used to use nanometres - one billionth of a metre - to measure the physical size of transistors. Today, a lower "nm" number is widely seen as a marketing term to describe new generations of the technology, leading to better performance and lower power. | The computer chip industry used to use nanometres - one billionth of a metre - to measure the physical size of transistors. Today, a lower "nm" number is widely seen as a marketing term to describe new generations of the technology, leading to better performance and lower power. |
Transistors on the IBM "nanosheet" it uses for the new tech | Transistors on the IBM "nanosheet" it uses for the new tech |
IBM says its 2nm process can cram 50 billion transistors into "a chip the size of a fingernail" - up from 30 billion when it announced its 5nm breakthrough in 2017. | IBM says its 2nm process can cram 50 billion transistors into "a chip the size of a fingernail" - up from 30 billion when it announced its 5nm breakthrough in 2017. |
The end result should be another performance bump for computers in the coming years. | The end result should be another performance bump for computers in the coming years. |
'A breakthrough' | 'A breakthrough' |
Current high-end desktop chips based on the 7nm process, such as AMD's Ryzen processors, did not become widely available until 2019 - four years after IBM announced it had cracked the 7nm process. | Current high-end desktop chips based on the 7nm process, such as AMD's Ryzen processors, did not become widely available until 2019 - four years after IBM announced it had cracked the 7nm process. |
But mainstream commercial chip-makers such as Intel and TSMC - which makes AMD processors - have already said they plan to build ultra-low nm chip plants in the next several years. | But mainstream commercial chip-makers such as Intel and TSMC - which makes AMD processors - have already said they plan to build ultra-low nm chip plants in the next several years. |
"This can be considered as a breakthrough," said Peter Rudden, research director at market intelligence firm IDC. | "This can be considered as a breakthrough," said Peter Rudden, research director at market intelligence firm IDC. |
The chip wafer for the 2nm chip, held by an IBM employee | The chip wafer for the 2nm chip, held by an IBM employee |
"We have seen semiconductor manufacturers moving from 14nm to 10nm to 7nm, with 7nm being a real challenge for some," he explained. | "We have seen semiconductor manufacturers moving from 14nm to 10nm to 7nm, with 7nm being a real challenge for some," he explained. |
He said IBM's new process could be used for AI uses that today need a second piece of tech - such as a powerful graphics card- to handle some tasks. The increased power efficiency could be useful in personal devices, while increased performance would benefit huge datacentres, he added. | He said IBM's new process could be used for AI uses that today need a second piece of tech - such as a powerful graphics card- to handle some tasks. The increased power efficiency could be useful in personal devices, while increased performance would benefit huge datacentres, he added. |
"This also sends a message to the IT industry that IBM continues to be a hardware research powerhouse." | "This also sends a message to the IT industry that IBM continues to be a hardware research powerhouse." |
Chip wars | Chip wars |
IBM said the test chip for its 2nm process was built at its Albany research lab in the United States. | IBM said the test chip for its 2nm process was built at its Albany research lab in the United States. |
The news comes amid an international shortage of computer chips and a bid to shake up chip manufacturing to rely less on major foundries in China and Taiwan. | The news comes amid an international shortage of computer chips and a bid to shake up chip manufacturing to rely less on major foundries in China and Taiwan. |
Car manufacturers have been forced to suspend production due to the lack of computer parts; smartphone makers have warned product releases could be affected; and high-end computer components such as graphics cards are difficult to find and selling for high prices. | Car manufacturers have been forced to suspend production due to the lack of computer parts; smartphone makers have warned product releases could be affected; and high-end computer components such as graphics cards are difficult to find and selling for high prices. |
Why iPhone 12 marks dawn of a new chip technology | Why iPhone 12 marks dawn of a new chip technology |
How will 'chipageddon' affect you? | How will 'chipageddon' affect you? |
On Thursday, Nintendo joined the chorus of concerned companies, saying the chip shortage was affecting production of its hugely popular Nintendo Switch console. | On Thursday, Nintendo joined the chorus of concerned companies, saying the chip shortage was affecting production of its hugely popular Nintendo Switch console. |
The worldwide shortage led US President Joe Biden to convene a special industry summit on the shortage. In the UK, the government has intervened in the acquisition of chip designer Arm by tech giant Nvidia. | The worldwide shortage led US President Joe Biden to convene a special industry summit on the shortage. In the UK, the government has intervened in the acquisition of chip designer Arm by tech giant Nvidia. |
And Intel's chief executive has announced a $20bn (£14.6bn) investment in two new plants in the US, telling the BBC that having 80% of the world chip supply in Asia is not a good idea. | And Intel's chief executive has announced a $20bn (£14.6bn) investment in two new plants in the US, telling the BBC that having 80% of the world chip supply in Asia is not a good idea. |
You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
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The increase in demand for semiconductors during the pandemic surprised many, Mr Robbins says | The increase in demand for semiconductors during the pandemic surprised many, Mr Robbins says |