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

To: dale_laroy who wrote (75470)	3/24/2002 1:57:07 PM
From: maui_dude	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Dale, Re : "Additionally, AMD may have determined that 9 metal layers would be optimal at a later shrink." Sure. but does that mean 9 layers are not optimal for .13 process. What is the price they will pay for that (hammer on .13)? Maybe that explains Jozef post about the crossover point of hammer in only late 2004 ? What does it mean to investors ? Is AMD a good investment until .09 arrives ? Can Athlon keep up with Intel until .09 hammer ramps up in volume ? (sorry, I dont have answers!). Maui.

To: dale_laroy who wrote (75470)	3/24/2002 5:10:44 PM
From: hmaly	Respond to of 275872

Dale Re..My guess is time to market. It is easier to route the interconnects of a processor with more metal layers available. Additionally, AMD may have determined that 9 metal layers would be optimal at a later shrink, such as at the 75nm or 65nm node, and would rather not add metal layers with a later shrink. <<<<<<<<< I am not a process engineer, but wouldn't heat be the big reason for having a bigger chip and fewer layers. The more spread out, and thinner a chip is, the more area for cooling. Isn't it likely, that just now, with the smaller processes, and SOI, that AMD has been able to do 9 layers, and keep the heat in control. Is there a limit to the number of layers there can be? Also, the bigger the die, the less yield also. Do you know which, bigger die or more layers, would give you a better yield.