Lately, I've been reading a lot about how Intel, IBM and now AMD have all confirmed that their processors will be made of hafnium within the next year. Intel will begin doing so late in the third quarter of this year, and AMD expects to be doing so by mid 2008.
Evidently, hafnium allows them to produce processors with less electrical "leakage", meaning faster CPU's with more circuits in them, and less overheating. Intel expects to bring a 4 GHz hafnium cpu to market later this year, and is currently producting test batches of them.
So, it is no longer a guess as to whether they will switch over from silicon - it is a done deal. Demand for hafnium should increase greatly over the next 18 months, as manufacturers such as Intel, IBM, AMD and others start switching their fabrication lines over to take advantage of the new material.
Hafnium comes from zirconium ore. Zirconium ore is composed of about 50 parts zirconium to 1 part hafnium. Hafnium usually costs between $200 to $500 per pound, depending on purity.
Anyway, I found myself wondering if it might be prudent to invest in a zirconium mine or hafnium extraction company now, in order to benefit from the increased demand (and thus, higher price for) for hafnium over the next couple of years.
What do you guys think? Stupid idea? Good idea?
Evidently, hafnium allows them to produce processors with less electrical "leakage", meaning faster CPU's with more circuits in them, and less overheating. Intel expects to bring a 4 GHz hafnium cpu to market later this year, and is currently producting test batches of them.
So, it is no longer a guess as to whether they will switch over from silicon - it is a done deal. Demand for hafnium should increase greatly over the next 18 months, as manufacturers such as Intel, IBM, AMD and others start switching their fabrication lines over to take advantage of the new material.
Hafnium comes from zirconium ore. Zirconium ore is composed of about 50 parts zirconium to 1 part hafnium. Hafnium usually costs between $200 to $500 per pound, depending on purity.
Anyway, I found myself wondering if it might be prudent to invest in a zirconium mine or hafnium extraction company now, in order to benefit from the increased demand (and thus, higher price for) for hafnium over the next couple of years.
What do you guys think? Stupid idea? Good idea?
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