Replies to post #16217 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[BUGGI1000]

@Elmer
"
I don't think Prescott "needs" another metal layer
"

You always claim, that you are an expert, but Klaus is right.
I don't want to go into detail ... but I find it weak, that
you don't know, that Intel is using 7 Layers on 90nm.
But that's no problem - everybody can learn.

I have captured extra for you one picture from an old Intel
presentation:


BUGGI

[kpf]

elmer

Gift. Make it "Prescott has one more metal layer".
For whatever reasons, which can be below or beyond
yield considerations as well. K.

[yourbankruptcy]

Elmer, I recall some folks (maybe not you, but breeds of chipguy sort) gloated a lot when AMD added metal layer last year.

The truth is, Athlon XP yields and bins are absolutely perfect dispite this change.

[Maui]

Elmer, Re : "[Use extra metal layers] Why else do it?"

For extra performance. Chip designers seldom shy away from extra available layer. You can always use an extra layer to distribute/minimize cross-cap on a given ayer, allowing you to jack up frequency without functional failure. You can put more deCaps in, more routing to connect to repeaters, all allowing for higher performance.

If intel want to fight the performance battle only, with AMD, thats a card they can play and get on par with the number of layers AMD uses. Of course, like you mentioned before, it comes with a cost to yield.

Maui.