IBM and AMD claim ‘semiconductor breakthrough’ shows 24 percent speed boost at the same power levels

17 Comments

“IBM and AMD today claimed a ‘semiconductor manufacturing breakthrough’ based on strained silicon transistor technology that improves processor performance and power efficiency,” Robert Jaques reports for vnunet.com. “According to the companies, the process results in a potential 24 per cent transistor speed increase at the same power levels, compared to similar transistors produced without the technology.”

“The new strained silicon process, called ‘dual stress liner’, enhances the performance of both n-channel and p-channel transistors by stretching silicon atoms in one transistor and compressing them in the other,” Jaques reports. “The technique works without the introduction of costly new production techniques, allowing for rapid integration into volume manufacturing using standard tools and materials.”

“AMD intends gradually to integrate the strained silicon technology into all its 90nm processor platforms, including its future multi-core AMD 64 processors. The first 90nm AMD 64s using the technology are scheduled for the first half of 2005. 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,” Jaques reports.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Note: The PowerPC G5 is based upon the execution core of IBM’s 64-bit POWER series processors, which drive IBM’s successful eBusiness servers and feature highly parallel processing, two double-precision floating-point units and advanced branch prediction logic. We would expect that this new ‘dual stress liner’ process will be used in PowerPC G5 production.

17 Comments

  2. Would this be enough of an advance to merit a name change (i.e. “G6”)? IIRC, the difference between the G3 and G4 wasn’t even close to this increase with the new POWER chips and the current chips we all love so much…

    (this post brought to you by the letter ‘G’, the number ‘6’ and the word ‘merely’)

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  3. I think IBM should take the money from the sale of its PC division and use that to buy up AMD. This way, they could increase production of their processors and flash memory with the eventual goal of beating Intel into submission.

    my 2 cents

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  6. If they can get a 24 percent faster G5 with the same heat and power requirements. Wouldn’t that mean that they could get a same speed G5 with reduced heat and power requirments, for say a Powerbook.

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  10. Come on IBM, we need delivery on goods promised. You’ve divested yourselves of your primary distractions, so lets get to work. ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool hmm” style=”border:0;” />

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  11. Well since speed bumps in all computer processors (Intel, AMD, and IBM) have slowed down as of recently because of hear problems and processor yields for higher-speeds, this is very good. Go AMD! Go IBM! Gooooooooooooooo!

    Now, when do I get to see a multi-core PowerMac G5 (or G6 whatever) and more importantly, I hope they use this in the PowerBookG5…then again, using this new technology might be the only way to get a G5 in a PB and not burn yourself and have a 5minute battery.

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  12. Well, now that we mention the dual core processors, could Apple not call them the T5’s . was that not the model number of Arnie in Terminator movies. Now if the marketing men want at associate their product with something better then a Pontiac, what better than a powrbook which has subliminal links to Terminator ???

    Reply

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