Intel: 45 nanometer up-and-running!

Introduction

2006 was a technological successyear for Intel, the introduction of the Core 2 Duo range of processors took over the fastest desktop processor claim from AMD, who had been holding it for quite a few years with their Athlon 64. The new Core 2 Duo architecture combined raw power with energy efficiency and at the moment can be found in desktops, laptops and servers. The new architecture is not the only reason for the strong comeback, Intel has the most modern production facilities and started producing 65nm processors two years ago. Main competitor AMD did not start on this process untill recently and only just now the first 65nm are hitting the stores. The smaller the production method, the smaller the transistors and therefore more transistors can be put an a chip. Not only more transistors is the advantage of a smaller production method, as the power consumption goes down as well which allows higher clock frequencies. Intel announced today that they are ready for the next step, and have already produced Core 2 Duo like processors on a 45 nanometer process, the Penrynn. Intel claims that Penrynn processors should be available to the public in the second half of 2007.

Last year Intel made news by showing fully functional 45nm SRAM chips.

It is not easy to relate the actual size of the transisitors, as one chip holds hundreds of millions of transistors. However with the 45nm process the transistors are that small that you would be able to fit 200 of these side by side on the width of a human hair.