Die shrinking has been a core element of Intel’s strategy for the past few years. It makes sense, a smaller fabrication process allows for better power efficiency, less heat and a generally more efficient processing experience.
It also makes sense for Intel to drive developments towards a smaller process. Every time a die is shrunk, it costs the manufacturers millions of dollars, as new factories have to be outfitted with new technology. Therefore, the strategy favors the company with more capital, i.e. Intel Corp. AMD has recently announced that they will be outsourcing their manufacturing process, a smart way to keep up with Intel’s strategy.
So where are we now? Well, in terms of the manufacturing process size, AMD has just caught up with Intel at 45nm with Phenom II.
However, Intel engineers are already busy designing 22nm process CPUs, due to launch sometime in 2011.
In the meantime, Intel will be launching a 32nm CPU later this year, the Westmere. The Westmere will be the “tick” in Intel’s “tick tock” strategy. This means that it will effectively be an optimized version of Core i7.
Intel is also planning a “Tock” CPU, currently codenamed “Sandy Bridge”. Sandy Bridge will be produced on a 32nm fabrication process, and will be followed by its “tick” CPU, currently codenamed “Ivy Bridge”. Ivy Bridge is the 22nm CPU currently scheduled for 2011.
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