Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Advanced Micro Devices - Moderated (AMD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Pravin Kamdar who wrote (64088)	11/20/2001 10:32:45 AM
From: Ali Chen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Pravin, "Isn't Intel's operating voltage on any given technology typically lower (by 0.1-0.2 Volts) than AMD's?" The answer is no. First, there is no such thing as "any GIVEN technology". There are shrinks, compromises, process tweaks, and specification fudging, all in the name of achieving market-driven frequency targets. All other things are secondary. The worst case is when they jack up voltage when requesting lower junction temperatures. That was exactly what Intel did on top "0.18u" Pentium-IIIs with 1.75V Vcc and 62C die temperature. This was an indication of a wall. Then Intel moved to super-long-pipe design of P4, and the technology requirements were slightly relieved due to frequency-favoring micro-architecture. The recent batch of P4 is at the same 1.75V Vcc, however the total leakage is "only" 8.7A, or 16-22%. It is also clear that the mobile variant of 0.13 is heavily optimized for lower voltage. Given their leakage data (for deep sleep state, P-III-M datasheet): x y 0.95 1.7 1.05 2.65 1.1 3.01 1.15 3.99 1.4 8.04 The dependence seems to be exponential, y=0.0785exp(3.39x), so the leakage at 1.75V would be at 27A, which would be 2x of the leakage on "regular" Tulatin parts. (I hope process engineers could help me here with formulas). Still, there is a published fact (Intel datasheet #249657-002, August 2001) that the regular Tulatin 0.13u design is leaking 10A, or 50%, the best achievement of new Intel technology so far. - Ali