32-nm alliance is formed, but Intel stands alone

tweakmonkey · Dec 18, 2007

Seven of the world's leading chip makers are collaborating on chips which contain transistors with features just 32 billionths of a metre wide.

IBM, Toshiba, AMD, Samsung, Chartered, Infineon and Freescale have formed the alliance to cut development costs.

More transistors on a chip equals more processing power, but the development process is highly expensive.

Analyst Malcolm Penn of Future Horizons said the alliance was an example of "pre-competitive collaboration".

Mr Penn said: "The industry needs a huge amount of money to reinvent itself every two years."

He likened the cost of building a new chip factory to buying a fleet of more than 12 A380 Super Jumbos.

The seven companies have agreed to work through 2010 to design, develop and produce the chips using tiny circuitry.
...
He said a new fabrication plant to produce the chips could cost $3bn and that Intel would be building three in order to meet demand.

Despite the huge costs, he said Intel was able to go it alone.
Click to expand...

"Intel, the world's biggest supplier of chips to the computer industry, is not part of the alliance."

It makes sense - they don't need to be. It's still pretty crazy that so many companies work together to develop something Intel can do on its own. They're still that big.

ThatHideousStrength · Dec 18, 2007

I used to hate Intel and I was a AMD fan boy. The Core2Duo's won me over this time around and Intel feels more established.

superman · Dec 18, 2007

I miss the days of AMD glory.

MSP · Dec 19, 2007

superman said: ↑

I miss the days of AMD glory.
Click to expand...

No doubt. As much as I hate it there isn't much of a choice right now, and I keep funneling money into the behemoth. I have a single AMD chip left at home and it's slated for replacement...

Log in or Sign up

32-nm alliance is formed, but Intel stands alone

tweakmonkey Webmaster Staff Member

ThatHideousStrength Junior Member

superman ?

MSP Haunting a dead forum...