AMD Describes Road to 45-nm Processors

AMD described their road to 45-nm processors this week in academic papers. The strategy is based on three fundamental techniques: "the use of immersion lithography, which uses a lens of purified water to help manufacture the components; an "ultra" low-k dielectric, which lowers the capacitance of the chip, allowing lower power consumption; and an improved version of "strained silicon," which has applied four different "stressers" to recoup some of the benefits lost through the process shrink." IBM fabs in East Fishkill, N.Y., as well as at AMD's fabs in Dresden, Germany will host the 45-nm lines.