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Hardware Intel Samples "Penryn" 45nm Chips
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - November 28, 2006 1:41 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 47 comment(s) - last by rushfan2006.. on Dec 4 at 2:16 PM
45nm on track for 2007

Reuters reports Intel is manufacturing prototypes of its upcoming Penryn processor core. Penryn is the upcoming 45nm die shrink of Intel’s Core 2 architecture. Intel first demonstrated its 45nm fabrication capabilities at the D1D facility in Oregon. Current Penryn prototypes are being produced at Intel’s Oregon factories as well, though a different facility.

In addition to the 45nm die shrink, Penryn is expected to introduce a couple more manufacturing process changes. These changes include shifting away from Silicon Dioxide gate dielectrics to High-k dielectrics. The gate electrodes will also be revamped with metal gates instead of the Polysilicon derivatives currently used.

Intel is currently ontrack to introduce Penryn core processors in the second half of 2007. As Penryn is currently in its prototype stages Intel’s director of process architecture and integration, Mark Bohr stated: "We are processing the first samples of the Penryn design. These samples will go back to the design team to determine if design is working as expected."
 
Nevertheless, Intel is expected to ship 45nm products very soon after AMD makes its final transition to 65nm. Intel is also expected to open up new 45nm production fabs within the next 16 months. Expect Penryn to arrive in 2007 after Intel refreshes its current Conroe based product lineup. Penryn will also be the last product based on Intel’s Core architecture.

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Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 4:34:09 AM , Rating: 4
quote:
Nevertheless, Intel is expected to ship 45nm products while AMD makes its transition to 65nm


I'm not sure where you got that from, but AMD should be completely transitioned to 65nm before Penryn ships (at least that's what I'm hearing from the Intel people...).
Penryn is to begin shipping (if there are zero problems, and since it's a dumb shrink there shouldn't be any) in Dec 07. AMD is to be completely done with their 65nm conversion by then. AMD will still have ~10-15% of their product at 90nm for legacy items (which they have no plans to convert).




RE: Correction
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 11/28/2006 4:37:15 AM , Rating: 2
Corrected, thanks.


RE: Correction
By slayerized on 11/28/2006 9:09:18 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
....and since it's a dumb shrink there shouldn't be any) in Dec 07.

I say that this is a rather lose statement. It is true that Penryn is a shrink product; but calling it a dumb shrink is not true. Intel is the first company to transition to a 45nm process and it is always better to transition with a product whose characteristics are well known. Also, since it is a new process there is lack of DfM support in any form. So the only variable (among a zillion other ones) in manufacturing that is eliminated is the design (even that not completely). It is just a sensible engineering decision, and I would call it a smart shrink.


RE: Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 10:41:55 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
It is just a sensible engineering decision, and I would call it a smart shrink


I'm not sure if your speeking tongue in cheek here, but in case you're not...a "dumb shrink" is an industry term for a node change without architectual change. It's not a derogatory term, more a descriptive one...


RE: Correction
By slayerized on 11/28/2006 10:48:11 AM , Rating: 1
The whole point of my last comment was just to emphasize the fact that even though Penryn is a dumb shrink there might be a ton of roadblocks which can push product release. I am well aware that of what a 'dumb shrink' but my point was to emphasize the importance of a 'dumb shrink' for the first 45nm product.


RE: Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 10:56:35 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
my point was to emphasize the importance of a 'dumb shrink' for the first 45nm product


Fair enough...this is a fairly common industry practise which both AMD and Intel adhere to most all of the time.


RE: Correction
By coldpower27 on 11/28/2006 11:32:28 AM , Rating: 3
Well there is a better term then "dumb" simply change the word to optical shrink.

In any case Penryn isn't a straight optical shrink by any means, the added cache changes thing a little bit, as well as the added SSE4 instruction set slated for this processor.


RE: Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 11:37:45 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
In any case Penryn isn't a straight optical shrink by any means, the added cache changes thing a little bit, as well as the added SSE4 instruction set slated for this processor


I believe that the SSE4 will be done in microcode, and the larger cache is actually a non-architectual function...so practically speaking, it is (if you prefer) an optical shrink.


RE: Correction
By coldpower27 on 11/28/2006 11:46:00 AM , Rating: 2
No since both of those features place the Penryn derivatives as something slightly different irregardless they are not pure optical shrinks. While it's close to a straight optical shrink the cache and SSE4 are minor improvements.

Intel's only pure optical shrink to my knowledge has been Prescott-2M to Cedar Mill, the rest have had cache additions or some minor tweaking.



RE: Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 11:48:57 AM , Rating: 2
Potato, potahto...we're picking nits here, mate.
The bottom line is that there isn't much new in the design, which means that there is much less chance of a delay.


RE: Correction
By coldpower27 on 11/28/2006 11:53:06 AM , Rating: 1
Oh were, establishing correct information, so it is important. Correct terminology will likely lead to less issues down the road and reduce subjectivity.

At any rate what Intel is doing with Penryn is not too complex given the minor additions so it should arrive on time.


RE: Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 12:02:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Oh were, establishing correct information, so it is important. Correct terminology will likely lead to less issues down the road and reduce subjectivity


Strangely, I received my terminology from a chip designer at Intel...go figure. I personally can't attest to which is "correct" as I don't work in the field...


RE: Correction
By slayerized on 11/28/2006 12:05:32 PM , Rating: 4
Just to add in! Optical shrink is not possible also for the reasons mentioned in the article with changes to the dielectric and a couple of other process changes. Cache may be a non-architectural change; but it may be a placement issue (so optical shrink? maybe not!)


RE: Correction
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 9:31:35 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Optical shrink is not possible also for the reasons mentioned in the article with changes to the dielectric and a couple of other process changes

Thanks for pointing that out, mate...
The confusion I have there is that the article DT points to about the changes states:
"Intel said that its first 45nm processor will be Nehalem, which will go into production sometime in 2007 and be introduced in 2008"

Obviously that's incorrect, but what I'm wondering is whether just the name is wrong or if the High-K metal gates will be instituted on Nehelam first...which would mean that Penryn really is more of an optical shrink (or dumb shrink).

On the other hand, if Intel is indeed including the new High-K metal gates in Penryn, then the chances of a delay and low yields go up significantly.
I do know that they are also incorporating new microcode to help with power/performance, but that shouldn't effect production at all...


RE: Correction
By Furen on 11/28/2006 10:40:52 PM , Rating: 2
We have thus decided that using the term "dumb shrink" is demeaning, unfair and prejudicial. As such, we will hereby transition to a more politically correct "optical shrink"...

Seriously, though, Penryn is a dumb shrink. Tweaks here and there don't make it a significant redesign, and neither does expanding expandable cache. SSE4 is very likely in current Conroes, just disabled, since Intel does like to throw stuff into its processors and just flipping a switch at a time of its chosing. Brisbane, too, will be a dumb shrink (a dumber one than Penryn, yes) even though it will add half-multipliers (gasp!) and probably fiddle with the memory controller (every K8 revision has fiddled with the memory controller).


RE: Correction
By DallasTexas on 11/29/06, Rating: 0
RE: Correction
By rushfan2006 on 12/4/2006 2:16:51 PM , Rating: 2
Guys here's an insight....STFU...

We care when the product is out...that's it...end of story.

Dumb shrink, optical shrink, whatever the hell you want to or want NOT to call it...it doesn't MATTER!!


Don't get TOO excited...
By Viditor on 11/28/2006 4:25:27 AM , Rating: 2
Sampling today means that Penryn is on track to begin volume production in Q3 of 2007, and should arrive in stores either at the end of 07 or the beginning of 08.




RE: Don't get TOO excited...
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 11/28/2006 8:13:06 AM , Rating: 1
You forget who your talking about here. Intel does not adhere to the 1 year sampling to availabiliy scheme that AMD tends to adhere to. Given Intel's track record for process shifting, I'd say we could see these as early as June/July.