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resistion
The 22 nm release is still early, even by Intel's schedule. It could mean 10 nm, ...
kinnar
It is true that Tri-Gate will be giving better performance compared to existing ...
Intel putting fins on at 22 nm
Don Scansen
5/4/2011 12:39 PM EDT
On Wednesday (May 4), Intel announced another milestone in semiconductor technology as they demonstrated a production-ready 3-D transistor technology for 22 nm called Tri-Gate.
With chips for servers, desktops and laptops running Windows, Intel drove home the point both that their 22-nm Tri-Gate devices are viable and that they can be tailored to suit the power versus performance tradeoffs for a range of applications. The 22-nm devices are shrinks of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture known as Ivy Bridge in the "tick" side of the product introduction cycle that Intel has delivered six times going back to 65 nm.
The Tri-Gate announcement ended the speculation about the direction Intel would take for 22 nm. Mark Bohr's analyst briefings prior to the announcement explained why Tri-Gate is the right choice for 22-nm. Microprocessors are sampling now with delivery to OEMs slated for the end of this year. At least one Wall Street analyst may have this confused as this quote appeared yesterday:
"This architecture will separate the men from the boys. No one else has a tri-gate transistor in volume production."
Volume production at the D1D fab on Oregon will ramp up next year.
The Tri-Gate transistor is known outside Intel as a FinFet because the silicon channel is akin to a fin jutting up from the semiconductor substrate. MugFET is another term for this type of transistor, a shortened form of "multi-gate." A little less specific than Intel's name, but I was really pulling for MugFET to get wider adoption. I guess I have no future in marketing.
Intel will not yet disclose additional details on either the structure or specific performance numbers and did not give a timeframe for any such announcement, but the materials supplied to the media provided several relative performance figures.
The first 3-D transistors (if you exclude recessed channel DRAM array transistors) appearing at 22-nm will have a big impact on the industry. As Mark Bohr pointed out, 22-nm Tri-Gate transistor performance exceeds the capabilities of present and future SOI technology.
Comparing other technology options for 22-nm, the best technology platform needs to provide depleted channel devices. Compared to their 32-nm bulk technology, Intel's fully depleted Tri-Gate transistor provides 18 percent faster devices at operating voltages suitable for desktop and server chips.
But in a clear sign of Intel's desire to break into the ultraportable space occupied by tablets and smartphones, they highlighted the 37 percent speed improvement at lower operating voltages suited to devices aggressively marketed not only on time between battery charges but also capability to perform intense computing functions.
Next: Targeting tablet market
With chips for servers, desktops and laptops running Windows, Intel drove home the point both that their 22-nm Tri-Gate devices are viable and that they can be tailored to suit the power versus performance tradeoffs for a range of applications. The 22-nm devices are shrinks of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture known as Ivy Bridge in the "tick" side of the product introduction cycle that Intel has delivered six times going back to 65 nm.
The Tri-Gate announcement ended the speculation about the direction Intel would take for 22 nm. Mark Bohr's analyst briefings prior to the announcement explained why Tri-Gate is the right choice for 22-nm. Microprocessors are sampling now with delivery to OEMs slated for the end of this year. At least one Wall Street analyst may have this confused as this quote appeared yesterday:
"This architecture will separate the men from the boys. No one else has a tri-gate transistor in volume production."
Volume production at the D1D fab on Oregon will ramp up next year.
The Tri-Gate transistor is known outside Intel as a FinFet because the silicon channel is akin to a fin jutting up from the semiconductor substrate. MugFET is another term for this type of transistor, a shortened form of "multi-gate." A little less specific than Intel's name, but I was really pulling for MugFET to get wider adoption. I guess I have no future in marketing.
Intel will not yet disclose additional details on either the structure or specific performance numbers and did not give a timeframe for any such announcement, but the materials supplied to the media provided several relative performance figures.
The first 3-D transistors (if you exclude recessed channel DRAM array transistors) appearing at 22-nm will have a big impact on the industry. As Mark Bohr pointed out, 22-nm Tri-Gate transistor performance exceeds the capabilities of present and future SOI technology.
Comparing other technology options for 22-nm, the best technology platform needs to provide depleted channel devices. Compared to their 32-nm bulk technology, Intel's fully depleted Tri-Gate transistor provides 18 percent faster devices at operating voltages suitable for desktop and server chips.
But in a clear sign of Intel's desire to break into the ultraportable space occupied by tablets and smartphones, they highlighted the 37 percent speed improvement at lower operating voltages suited to devices aggressively marketed not only on time between battery charges but also capability to perform intense computing functions.
Next: Targeting tablet market
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mescusag
5/4/2011 9:30 PM EDT
Picture please
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VolsEE96
5/5/2011 1:12 AM EDT
MugFET. Nice. 'Muggle' for short?
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Les_Slater
5/5/2011 11:15 AM EDT
Anyone got an estimated relative speed/power performance between this and next generation ARM?
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wilber_xbox
5/6/2011 1:16 AM EDT
Here is very cool youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIkMaQJSyP8
Link for more info:
http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2011/05/04/intel-reinvents-transistors-using-new-3-d-structure
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kinnar
5/6/2011 10:57 PM EDT
It is true that Tri-Gate will be giving better performance compared to existing 32nm Technology getting manufactured upon, but still Intel will have to come out with some better processor variant that will be able to compete ARM IPs. As the market is getting developed over ARM these days within a year or two the scenario will get changed completely and it will become hard to find Intel processors in mobile devices.
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resistion
5/8/2011 12:13 PM EDT
The 22 nm release is still early, even by Intel's schedule. It could mean 10 nm, there will be no silicon channel, not even fully depleted. Otherwise, it would be preferable to start to offer finfet at 14 nm.
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