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Technology Stocks : Intel Corporation (INTC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tenchusatsu who wrote (64851)	9/16/1998 2:06:00 AM
From: Paul Engel	Respond to of 186894

Tenchusatsu - Re: " process segmentation is totally new to me!" This is not really new for Intel. They have a main process flow and sometimes have as many as ten "dot" processes (e.g., p856.2) where each "dot" version has some small number of process steps different from the others, usually tailored to a specific product's requirements. For example, Intel's standard 0.25 micron process has 5 metal layers, but at least one CPU only uses 4 metal layers. This pending two types of 0.18 micron process seems to imply that perhaps the entire back end metallization schemes may be different between the CPUs and the Chip Sets. I'm really pleased to see Intel applying their "crown jewels" (the new 0.18 micron process) to the integrated chip set. When the benchmarks with the Mendocino came in, the impressive speed gains with only 128 K of L2 cache running at full processor speed spelled out a new avenue for super-performance. Adding the i740 to a chip set, made in a 0.18 micron process, will potentially create some IMPRESSIVE SYSTEM SPEEDS - especially if the chip set/graphics run at 133 MHz or higher clock speed. DIe sizes, and therefore cost, will also be minimized by use of the smaller 0.18 micron features with the integrated chip set. Who is going to need all this speed? Simple. Every CPU and chip set manufacturer that CAN'T MAKE IT will need it! Just to keep up with Intel. Paul