Intel is showing off its 22-nm microprocessors. These next-generation processors will be available in the market towards the end of 2011. Earlier, Intel announced on September 14th that its 32-nm microprocessors were in production.
Intel CEO Paul Otellini displayed the 22-nm SRAM test chips on September 22 at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco.
Otellini said, “This is the first working 22-nanometer silicon technology. At Intel, Moore’s Law is alive and well.”
According to Intel, the fingernail-sized SRAM chips contain more than 2.9 billion transistors. These are normally used a test devices to estimate chip reliability and performance.
The chips will make use of 3rd-generation high-k metal gate transistors which are very efficient with low electricity leakage.
The 2nd-generation high-k metal gates used in 32-nm “Westmere” chips reduce leakage by as much as 30 time when compared to present 45-nm technology.
Intel has sold more than 200-million of its current 45-nm processors. Intel is expecting similar sales with its 32-nm Westmere processors which will be launched at the end of 2009. The second-generation 32-nm processors will be available in 2010.
Intel has beaten its rival AMD in the 32-nm processor race. AMD won’t release its first 32-nm processor until 2011. AMD has stated that the manufacturing process is not so important to them as the company has created Globalfoundries by the divestiture of its foundry business.
AMD is currently concentrating on designs and platforms as it considers them a key differentiator.