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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Intel unveils 22nm Ivy Bridge processor | Intel unveils 22nm Ivy Bridge processor |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Intel has unveiled its next generation of microprocessor technology, code named Ivy Bridge. | Intel has unveiled its next generation of microprocessor technology, code named Ivy Bridge. |
| The upcoming chips will be the first to use a 22 nanometre manufacturing process, which packs transistors more densely than the current 32nm system. | |
| Intel said it would also be using new Tri-Gate "3D" transistors, which are less power hungry. | Intel said it would also be using new Tri-Gate "3D" transistors, which are less power hungry. |
| Rival chip manufacturers including AMD and IBM are understood to be planning similar designs. | Rival chip manufacturers including AMD and IBM are understood to be planning similar designs. |
| Tri-Gate | Tri-Gate |
| The announcement marks a significant step forward in the commercial processor industry, which is constantly striving to build more transistors onto silicon chips. | The announcement marks a significant step forward in the commercial processor industry, which is constantly striving to build more transistors onto silicon chips. |
| One of the main measures of its progress is the length of the transistor "gate", measured in nanometres (1nm = 1 billionth of a meter). | |
| A human hair is around 60,000 nm wide. Current best microchip technology features a 32nm gate. | A human hair is around 60,000 nm wide. Current best microchip technology features a 32nm gate. |
| It has been known for a long time that 22nm technology would form the next stage in the evolution of microprocessors. | It has been known for a long time that 22nm technology would form the next stage in the evolution of microprocessors. |
| However, the exact nature of Intel's offering has been a closely guarded secret, until now. | However, the exact nature of Intel's offering has been a closely guarded secret, until now. |
| The company expects to begin commercial production later this year. | The company expects to begin commercial production later this year. |
| Kaizad Mistry, Intel's 22nm program manager, said that the arrival of Tri-Gate transistors would make a big difference to consumer products. | Kaizad Mistry, Intel's 22nm program manager, said that the arrival of Tri-Gate transistors would make a big difference to consumer products. |
| "What it enables in the market is improved power efficiency - so better performance for the same battery life or lower battery life for the same performance," said Mr Mistry. | "What it enables in the market is improved power efficiency - so better performance for the same battery life or lower battery life for the same performance," said Mr Mistry. |
| In microprocessor design, a conducting channel passes through a switching gate which opens or closes - changing the output from 0 to 1. | In microprocessor design, a conducting channel passes through a switching gate which opens or closes - changing the output from 0 to 1. |
| Until now, those channels have been "planar" or flat on the silicon wafer. | Until now, those channels have been "planar" or flat on the silicon wafer. |
| Intel's Tri-Gate system replaces the channels with 3D "fins". Mr Mistry explained that the extra surface area made them more conductive, and able to work better on lower power. | Intel's Tri-Gate system replaces the channels with 3D "fins". Mr Mistry explained that the extra surface area made them more conductive, and able to work better on lower power. |
| Semiconductor industry analyst Dan Hutcheson from VLSI research told BBC News that the new process would secure Intel's market dominance. | |
| "It leaves them in a very powerful position," he said. | |
| Mr Hutcheson added that the innovation in 3D architecture would not only benefit Intel's desktop processors, but the chips it manufactures for mobile devices. | |
| "This is going to make their Atom line a lot more competitive with ARM." | |
| UK-based ARM Holdings is the leading designer of low-powered mobile processors. | |
| Moore's law | Moore's law |
| The Ivy Bridge design allows approximately twice as many transistors to be crammed into the same space as on 32nm chips. | The Ivy Bridge design allows approximately twice as many transistors to be crammed into the same space as on 32nm chips. |
| That improvement is consistent with Moore's Law - the observation made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore that chip density would double every two years. | That improvement is consistent with Moore's Law - the observation made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore that chip density would double every two years. |
| However, Intel, like other chip manufacturers, is getting closer and closer to certain physical limits which may prevent that from continuing. | However, Intel, like other chip manufacturers, is getting closer and closer to certain physical limits which may prevent that from continuing. |
| The next chip manufacturing process will will be 14nm, followed by 11nm. | The next chip manufacturing process will will be 14nm, followed by 11nm. |
| Atoms are typically around 0.5nm wide. | Atoms are typically around 0.5nm wide. |
| Kaizad Mistry believes that the current rate of growth will continue for some time. | Kaizad Mistry believes that the current rate of growth will continue for some time. |
| "Gordon Moore himself said that no exponential is forever, but he would like us to delay that for as long as possible," said Mr Mistry. | "Gordon Moore himself said that no exponential is forever, but he would like us to delay that for as long as possible," said Mr Mistry. |
| "I have been in this industry since the mid-80s. At that time people were talking about the sub-micron barrier. There is always talk of a barrier." | "I have been in this industry since the mid-80s. At that time people were talking about the sub-micron barrier. There is always talk of a barrier." |
| Mr Mistry said that new innovations would keep processor design moving forward. | Mr Mistry said that new innovations would keep processor design moving forward. |
| Rival systems | Rival systems |
| Intel currently accounts for around 80% of global microprocessor sales, according to market analysts IDC. | Intel currently accounts for around 80% of global microprocessor sales, according to market analysts IDC. |
| Its nearest rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has a 19% share. | Its nearest rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has a 19% share. |
| AMD was the first to produce a prototype 22nm chip in 2008. | AMD was the first to produce a prototype 22nm chip in 2008. |
| It is widely expected to pursue a similar fin-based system to Intel, known as FinFET. | It is widely expected to pursue a similar fin-based system to Intel, known as FinFET. |
| However, the company has yet to announce its plans for a commercial product. | However, the company has yet to announce its plans for a commercial product. |
| AMD spun off its chip fabrication arm in 2009, creating GlobalFoundaries. | |
| Analyst Dan Hutcheson said that the separation of design and manufacture had damaged AMD's ability to innovate. | |
| "There is a huge competitor advantage to having your own fab [fabrication facility] and being able to tune the process. | |
| "This is Intel pulling away," he said. |