AMD-IBM Create New Chip Process

Partners AMD (NYSE: AMD - news) and IBM (NYSE: IBM - news) have unveiled an innovative chip process that promises to boost processor performance and energy efficiency by improving the chips' transistor components.


Based on strained silicon transistor technology, the process delivers a 24 percent increase in transistor speed and serves as the foundation for higher-performance, lower-power processors to be used in an array of products.


The Next Step


The new chip process, called dual stress liner (DSL), improves the performance of both types of semiconductor transistors, called n-channel and p-channel, by stretching silicon atoms in one transistor and compressing them in the other. Essentially, it improves performance by improving the flow of electrons on the chip.


Strained silicon technology has been available for a few years, but until now it was employed on either of the two main transistors in a chip, not both, explained IBM spokesperson Chris Andrews.


"The collaboration with AMD enabled us to take the technology to the next step, providing greater performance than the first generation," he told NewsFactor, adding that electronics giants Sony (NYSE: SNE - news) and Toshiba also contributed to the effort.


Energy Savings Expected


IBM plans to introduce the technology on multiple 90nm processor platforms, including its Power Architecture-based chips, with the first products slated to begin shipping in the first half of 2005. "We envision a broad array of applications for the new chips," Andrews said.


AMD also will integrate the new strained silicon technology into its 90nm processor platforms, including future versions of the multi-core AMD64.


Andrews noted that the two companies are the first to deliver strained silicon that works with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, providing an extra layer of insulation and reducing power consumption.


Chip giant Intel also has introduced strained silicon in its products, including a new Pentium M mobile processor for laptop machines. That chip, too, is manufactured with the 90-nm process.

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