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IBM Beats The Rest of the World To 7nm Chips, But You'll Need to Wait For Them

Posted by timothy on from the out-of-the-big-blue dept.

Mickeycaskill writes: IBM's research division has successfully produced test chips containing 7nm transistors, potentially paving the way for slimmer, more powerful devices. The advance was made possible by using silicon-germanium instead of pure silicon in key regions of the molecular-size switches, making transistor switching faster and meaning the chips need less power. Most current smartphones use processors containing 14nm technology, with Qualcomm, Nvidia and MediaTek looking for ways to create slimmer chips. However, despite its evident pride, IBM is not saying when the 7nm technology will become commercially available. Also at ComputerWorld and The Register.

4 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Where is our 350GHz room temp CPU? by suso · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In 2006 they developed a 350GHz room temperature capable silicon gallium CPU. Where is that?

    1. Re:Where is our 350GHz room temp CPU? by kamapuaa · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No they didn't. They developed a 350 GHz room temperature transistor.

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  2. It's about yield by cerberusss · · Score: 3, Insightful

    IBM is not saying when the 7nm technology will become commercially available

    No, because a big hurdle is of course lithography on 7 nanos, but the even bigger hurdle is using it with a high enough yield to make it commercially viable.

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  3. Incorrect... by Junta · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Most current smartphones use processors containing 14nm technology

    Only a few use 14nm today. It's still relatively scarce.

    Also, a company that no longer had a fab did a proof of concept in a lab. This is not what the headline suggests. It's nice to know that we have a proven hypothetical to get down to 7, but the practical side of things has a tenuous relation to research.

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