Replies to post #41953 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

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Sgolds, Re: slide 4

First, you have to realize that this graph that the author cited from Intel is *very* old. Intel hasn't called their 90nm a 0.1 micron process since early 2001 (that is the IEDM notation, and Intel has called theirs "90nm" for several years). Many things may have changed since then in terms of lowering process leakage - most obvious is that Prescott doesn't dissipate 140W, as the graph suggests for a 0.1 micron processor, and the next generation sure as hell won't dissipate 230W at 0.07 micron. Both may be have once been design ideas that have vanished from the roadmap due to unfeasibility.

Another thing is that different transistors leak different amounts. The graph may not reflect processors which use a large amount of low leakage transistors, such as Dothan. Today's 65nm designs may include more low leakage transistors than the number planned several years ago. All this speculation, therefore, is based on a lot of obsolete data.