Significance of 90nm process?

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deliveryman901

Apologies for the n00bish question on the front end, but what is the
significance of a 90nm process? What exactly does this mean? Does
this equate to number of transistors in a confined space of 90nm? Are
there heat dissipation considerations?

I continually read about this 90nm process, and I'm assuming it's
better than a 130nm process, but what makes it significantly better?
No article I have read has really identified what makes it better, it
just assumes the reader knows it's better.

Thanks in advance,
jp
 
I continually read about this 90nm process, and I'm assuming it's
better than a 130nm process, but what makes it significantly better?
No article I have read has really identified what makes it better, it
just assumes the reader knows it's better.
Click to expand...

Smaller dies cost less. Each of the millions of components on the die is
smaller which requires less voltage and thus generates less heat. Although
very small, the distance between components is smaller which would help to
some degree. For more try a search.

Results 1 - 10 of about 3,020 for compare 90nm 130nm - 0.54 sec
 
Wes Newell said:
Smaller dies cost less. Each of the millions of components on the die is
smaller which requires less voltage and thus generates less heat. Although
very small, the distance between components is smaller which would help to
some degree. For more try a search.

Results 1 - 10 of about 3,020 for compare 90nm 130nm - 0.54 sec
Click to expand...


You must be using a bad search: Google gives me 7720 results in 0.20 sec :)
 
Apologies for the n00bish question on the front end, but what is the
significance of a 90nm process?
Click to expand...

It's, in theory, half the size (four times the density) of a 180nm
process. More transistors, switching faster, with less heat. ...in
theory. In practice, theory isn't much like practice. ;-)
What exactly does this mean?
Click to expand...

In short, it means that the smallest features on the chip are 90nm. It's
more of a measure of the lythography (printing) process in use than
anythign else. IOW, all 90nm processes aren't the same.
Does this equate to number of transistors in a confined space of 90nm?
Click to expand...

Yes, though more than that. Smaller transistors mean more in a given
space. Larger caches are an easy way for these additional transistors
improve performance. Smaller transistors (and wires) are faster, also
adding to your "internet experience". ;-)

Are there heat dissipation considerations?
Click to expand...

Certainly. Smaller transistors have less charge to move, so are lower
power. Unfortunately, they are also smaller so quantum effects (read;
leakage) is much higher. Generally, they will be lower power at high
speeds but suffer for low-power applications, where leakage dominates.

I continually read about this 90nm process, and I'm assuming it's better
than a 130nm process, but what makes it significantly better?
Click to expand...

Is twice the cache better? Cheaper manufacturing better? Higher speeds?
....lower standby power? Define better.
No article I have read has really identified what makes it better, it just assumes
the reader knows it's better.
Click to expand...

Is faster better? The fact is that "better" is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Apologies for the n00bish question on the front end, but what is the
significance of a 90nm process? What exactly does this mean? Does
this equate to number of transistors in a confined space of 90nm? Are
there heat dissipation considerations?

I continually read about this 90nm process, and I'm assuming it's
better than a 130nm process, but what makes it significantly better?
No article I have read has really identified what makes it better, it
just assumes the reader knows it's better.
Click to expand...

90nm refers to the line length, the distance between one transistor and
its nearest neighbours.

Usually, the closer the transistors are, the less the electrons have to
travel, therefore they can go faster from transistor to transistor. Of
course the closer the transistors are, the electrons have more chance
of jumping uncontrollably out of the transistors making them more prone
to heating up and even more prone to errors (if the electrons jump from
transistor to transistor uncontrolled).

Yousuf Khan
 
Yousuf

I believe you need to go back and check on your statement about line length.
I belive 90nm refers to line width not length. In most 90nm processes there
many runs over 90nms, almost all of them.


regards

John
 
Yousuf

I believe you need to go back and check on your statement about line length.
I belive 90nm refers to line width not length.
Click to expand...

Nope it's usually the minimum feature size, or "channel length"
(sometimes real or "effective", but I digress).
In most 90nm processes there many runs over 90nms, almost all of them.
Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with the metal. Metal is certainly wider than 90nm
(which is one reason that 90nm isn't twice as dense as 130nm).
 
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