Intel rebutts IBM SOI claims

Apparently an internal Intel briefing states that Intel's own research into SOI showed an 18% performance improvement for gate loaded circuits because of reduced junction capacitance, but also showed a 15% lower performance for interconnect loaded circuits than the silicon currently available. Since interconnects account for over 30% of the total semiconductor capacitance of high end CPUs, Intel dismisses SOI as giving no speed and insignificant power advantages for sub-0.25 micron logic applications. It is unclear however whether Intel's comments are also meant to apply to silicon using copper interconnects.