Intel on track for 32nm release

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 11 Dec 2008 at 11:04

Intel has announced that it has completed development of its 32nm technology, keeping it on track for a Q4 2009 release.

The processer giant is promising to provide "a multitude of technical details" on the 32nm technology, codenamed Westmere, at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) next week in San Francisco.

The presentation is set to "describe a logic technology that incorporates second-generation high-k + metal gate technology, 193nm immersion lithography for critical patterning layers and enhanced transistor strain techniques."

All of which should add up to faster, less power hungry processors come the end of next year.

The announcement also keeps Intel to its ambitious "tick tock" strategy which alternates between creating a new architecture and a new manufacturing process every year.

This is the fourth year the strategy has been in place, propelling the company to a technology lead over rival AMD, which is expected to release its Core i7 rival, the 45nm Phenom 2 in January.