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Intel's 'Ivy Bridge' Platform to Utilize 3-D Transistors

Wednesday May 4, 2011 11:06 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Intel today announced that its next-generation "Ivy Bridge" platform will incorporate new technology allowing a 3-D transistor structure known as "Tri-Gate", significantly boosting performance and efficiency. While Intel disclosed its work on 3-D transistors nearly a decade ago, the technology has finally reached the point where it can be deployed into mass production.

Intel's 3-D Tri-Gate transistors enable chips to operate at lower voltage with lower leakage, providing an unprecedented combination of improved performance and energy efficiency compared to previous state-of-the-art transistors. The capabilities give chip designers the flexibility to choose transistors targeted for low power or high performance, depending on the application.

The 22nm 3-D Tri-Gate transistors provide up to 37 percent performance increase at low voltage versus Intel's 32nm planar transistors. This incredible gain means that they are ideal for use in small handheld devices, which operate using less energy to "switch" back and forth. Alternatively, the new transistors consume less than half the power when at the same performance as 2-D planar transistors on 32nm chips.

At a special media event today, Intel demonstrated the first 22-nm Ivy Bridge processor utilizing the technology, with high-volume production of the platform set for the end of the year. Intel is also aggressively moving the Tri-Gate technology into its Atom platform for mobile devices to deliver significant performance and efficiency improvements.

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Full of Win
102 months ago
Thus keeping Moores Law valid. The next MacBook Pro, with this and a redesigned body will be awesome.
Rating: 11 Votes
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xnu
102 months ago
I don"t understand. If they have a machine that can shrink a man, why don"t they use the same machine on computer chips? Strange demonstration of technology if you ask me.
Rating: 8 Votes
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anthonymoody
102 months ago
I'm pretty sure that it was precisely a 3D chip/transistor construct that paved the way for SkyNet to become sentient. We are doomed.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Capt Underpants
102 months ago
Can't wait till this technology hits the Macbook Air!
Rating: 4 Votes
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mac jones
102 months ago
3D transistors?

This is unbelievable. :)
Rating: 4 Votes
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L-U-R-C-H
102 months ago
Haha that video was awesome :)
Rating: 3 Votes
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Dagless
102 months ago
Oh my that's brilliant.
Well in a few days I'll be jumping from the first batch of Core 2 Duo's to a SB i7. I think that's a big enough boost for me!
Rating: 3 Votes
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troop231
102 months ago
Crap, more 3D glasses :p
Rating: 3 Votes
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scottsjack
102 months ago
Holy Sheet! Now I don't have to sell my old-fashioned 2010 Mac Pro and get a soon to be old-fashioned Sandy Bridge computer. That was close!
Rating: 3 Votes
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alent1234
102 months ago

Why does Intel announce a technique that we wont be able to buy for at least 7 month?
Would it not have been better for Intel to have Jobs introducing the new revolutionary Macbook pro with Intel "insert Apple hype word" when the chips are ready?

Intels only hope for survival is that they are 5 years ahead of competition in manufacturing.

Lets hope that GloFo and ARM have something up their sleeves.


there is a rumor that intel is going to manufacture apple's next SoC and is trying to win a lot of Soc manufacturing business. i bet they are licensing this tech to others as long as they use intel to manufacture the chips
Rating: 2 Votes

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