IBM And Company Announce 28nm Process Technology
Intel, ARM and AMD have all touted their own 32-nanometer process technology over the past few months, but it's a gaggle of lesser-knowns sneaking in to one-up that trio in the race to infinitely minute. A team comprised of IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd., GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Infineon Technologies, Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., and STMicroelectronics have somehow all hopped on the same train of thought in order to "define and jointly develop a 28-nanometer, high-k metal gate (HKMG), low-power bulk complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process technology."
In layman's terms, all this means is that they have joined together to develop a new way of producing smaller, more energy efficient chips that can process more information with less power. All of which is excellent news for you, the chip-buying consumer. The group has asserted that the low-power, 28nm technology platform can provide power-performance and time-to-market advantages for producers of a broad range of power-sensitive mobile and consumer electronics applications, including the fast-growing mobile Internet device (MID) market segment. Of course, we could eventually see such chips in netbooks and even smartphones, but clearly MIDs and UMPCs are taking top priority.
Another smart move on the part of the gang is the 32nm-to-28nm transition path, which enables clients to begin their designs today in 32nm HKMG technology and then transition to 28nm technology for density and power advantages, without the need for a major redesign. Preliminary results working with early access clients and partners indicate that the 28nm technology platform can provide a 40 percent performance improvement and a more than 20 percent reduction in power -- all in a chip that is half the size -- compared with 45nm technology. Sounds good, now let's get some products out, alright?
In layman's terms, all this means is that they have joined together to develop a new way of producing smaller, more energy efficient chips that can process more information with less power. All of which is excellent news for you, the chip-buying consumer. The group has asserted that the low-power, 28nm technology platform can provide power-performance and time-to-market advantages for producers of a broad range of power-sensitive mobile and consumer electronics applications, including the fast-growing mobile Internet device (MID) market segment. Of course, we could eventually see such chips in netbooks and even smartphones, but clearly MIDs and UMPCs are taking top priority.
Another smart move on the part of the gang is the 32nm-to-28nm transition path, which enables clients to begin their designs today in 32nm HKMG technology and then transition to 28nm technology for density and power advantages, without the need for a major redesign. Preliminary results working with early access clients and partners indicate that the 28nm technology platform can provide a 40 percent performance improvement and a more than 20 percent reduction in power -- all in a chip that is half the size -- compared with 45nm technology. Sounds good, now let's get some products out, alright?
