Much like AMD, Intel, which was once a powerhouse in the processor business, is fighting an uphill battle these days as the market has suddenly shifted to very tiny processors and mobile devices. Also like AMD, they look to gain a foothold in this lucrative market. On Monday, Intel revealed a new way of making chips for mobile devices which it hopes will help to strengthen its position in the very competitive mobile chip market.
Intel is banking on a process they call ‘TriGate’ transistors. This new method consists of three-dimensional transistor structures in its chips which it began work on in 2011. Not surprisingly, this new method will save space, run more efficient, and run faster. However, after over a year’s worth of effort, they have yet to introduce the actual chips into any devices. Further complicating matters is the opinion of industry experts as to whether this new method will be worth the effort at all.
Intel claims the new TriGate SoC (system on a chip) 22-nanometer chip will yield 22% to 65% faster processing compared to 32-nanometer versions. That all sounds well and good but experts challenged Intel and are wondering how so much investment in the technology could only yield ‘minor’ improvements. A former Intel employee added that while the advancements in power are meager, it’ll also come at a price since their methods are not very cost-effective. We should find out in the second half of next year how all of this pans out.
source: WSJ