Intel announces Tri-gate "3-D" transistors for upcoming Ivy Bridge based processors

[busydude]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13283882

Intel has unveiled its next generation of microprocessor technology, code named Ivy Bridge.
The upcoming chips will be the first to use a 22 nanometer 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.
Rival chip manufacturers including AMD and IBM are understood to be planning similar designs.

Anand's take on this announcement. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4313/...nm-3d-trigate-transistors-shipping-in-2h-2011

 

[RobertPters77]

Maybe an Nvidia buyout?

BRB calling my stock broker now to buy a couple hundred shares.


But more likely an SSD anouncement.

 

[aphelion02]

I doubt an SSD announcement would be considered significant enough. My bet is on something in the mobile-space. 22nm Medfield socs?

 

[drizek]

20GB SSDs!!!

No, seriously, you're right. Some sort of shrunk crap that isn't as good as ARM.

 

[(sic)Klown12]

I wonder if this has anything to do with a rumor I just read on Arstechnica saying that Intel is thinking about opening their fab to a third party, Apple. Supposedly they want to manufacture Apple's A4 and A5 ARM chips. They're currently being built by Samsung, but with the two suing each other it makes sense they would look to someone else.

http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2011/05/intel-to-fab-arm-chips-for-apple-its-possible.ars

 

[Idontcare]

Last time Intel did this "ZOMG bring your BBQsauze!" hype before an announcement it turned out to be Atom being ported to TSMC that went absolutely nowhere.

Not expecting much tomorrow. If they talk finfet and 22nm then I'll be interested, otherwise this kind of PR is usually reserved to gain mindshare as an effort to jumpstart interest in something that would otherwise be dead-on-arrival.

 

[JSt0rm]

clearly it is something to counter the x4 980 BE

 

[JSt0rm]

i kid i kid

 

[drizek]

lol

 

[Borealis7]

They've finally caught Bin-Laden!!

 

[Dribble]

Tri-gate transistors?
http://www.techeye.net/chips/intel-rumoured-to-announce-tri-gate-transistors-today

 

[Idontcare]

Tri-gate transistors?
http://www.techeye.net/chips/intel-rumoured-to-announce-tri-gate-transistors-today

I was wondering where Mike Magee was going to pop up next.

 

[Cogman]

Last time Intel did this "ZOMG bring your BBQsauze!" hype before an announcement it turned out to be Atom being ported to TSMC that went absolutely nowhere.

Not expecting much tomorrow. If they talk finfet and 22nm then I'll be interested, otherwise this kind of PR is usually reserved to gain mindshare as an effort to jumpstart interest in something that would otherwise be dead-on-arrival.

How long do you think it would take them to transfer over to a finfet tech? Seems to me like this is a sort of "last resort" thing as the work to convert everything would be monumental.

 

[AtenRa]

How long do you think it would take them to transfer over to a finfet tech? Seems to me like this is a sort of "last resort" thing as the work to convert everything would be monumental.

22nm maybe ??

 

[Borealis7]

This guy says:

Moore’s Law Is Alive And Well, And Intel Will Prove It Today

http://newenterprise.allthingsd.com...and-intel-will-prove-it-today/?mod=ATD_skybox

 

[Idontcare]

How long do you think it would take them to transfer over to a finfet tech? Seems to me like this is a sort of "last resort" thing as the work to convert everything would be monumental.

It is no less monumental of a challenge than transitioning from traditional gate-first doped-poly + plasma-nitrided gate oxide to a gate-last metal-gate + high-k gate oxide integration scheme.

(which Intel did how many years ago? and not a single other semi manufacturer has put into mass production yet)

To be sure finfet has its mass-production challenges, but not crazy ridiculous challenges the likes of buckytube and graphene technologies (which can be built for prototyping devices but no where close to commercially viable technologies for mass production).

 

[looper]

What, they found the Weapons of Mass Destruction?

 

[nenforcer]

I would expect them to announce this just before AMD officially announces the Bulldozer FX series so something tells me its not that exciting.

 

[nonameo]

So we don't know yet?

 

[formulav8]

Its probably something that uses transistors :hmm:

 

[busydude]

Well, according to rumors flying around in the intrawebs.. it has something to do with Intel and Apple. According to EEtimes..

Now, according to an analyst, another player is pursuing Apple's foundry business: Intel Corp. Intel is already supplying x86-based processors for Apple's PC line. Intel is also dabbling in the foundry business and hasrecently struck a deal with Achronix Semiconductor Corp.

''Based on a number of inputs, we believe Intel is also vying for Apple's foundry business,'' said Gus Richard, an analyst with Piper Jaffray & Co., in a new report.

''It makes strategic sense for both companies. The combination of Apple's growing demand and market share in smart phones and tablets gives Intel a position in these markets and drives the logic volume Intel needs to stay ahead in manufacturing,'' Richard said.

 

[drizek]

Apple rumors = page hits

 

[BladeVenom]

Another possibility, they're going to be making the CPUs for the Wii 2.

 

[HopJokey]

Intel Reinvents Transistors Using New 3-D Structure

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Intel-Reinvents-Transistors-bw-4288465347.html?x=0&.v=1

 

[Edrick]

Intel Reinvents Transistors Using New 3-D Structure

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Intel-Reinvents-Transistors-bw-4288465347.html?x=0&.v=1

That is very interesting.