Dynamic event-based simulation of RTL models has traditionally been the workhorse verification methodology. A team of verification engineers interprets the architectural specification to write testbenches for various elements of the design hierarchy. Test environments at lower levels are typically exercised then … Read More
The EUV Divide and Intel Foundry Services
The EUV Divide
I was recently updating an analysis I did last year that looked at EUV system supply and demand, while doing this I started thinking about Intel and their Fab portfolio.
If you look at Intel’s history as a microprocessor manufacturer, they are typically ramping up their newest process node (n), in volume production… Read More
Intel Evolution of Transistor Innovation
Intel recently released an exceptional video providing an insightful chronology of MOS transistor technology. Evolution of Transistor Innovation is a five-minute audiovisual adventure, spanning 50 years of Moore’s Law. Some of the highlights are summarized below, with a few screen shot captures – the full video is definitely… Read More
Intel’s Investor Day – Nothing New
Intel’s big investor day was anything but big. The stock reacted poorly, down 5% on a day that was a widespread sell-off anyways.
I want to briefly summarize what matters for the stock. There was very little incremental news to the technology roadmap, and the financial outlook was underwhelming, to say the least.
The revenue guide… Read More
Intel 2022 Investor Meeting
Last Thursday Intel held their investors meeting, in this write up I wanted to focus on my areas of coverage/expertise, process technology and manufacturing.
Technology Development presented by Ann Kelleher
Last year Intel presented their Intel Accelerated plan and, in this meeting, we got a review of where Intel stands on that… Read More
The Intel Foundry Ecosystem Explained
Exciting times for the semiconductor industry! Last week Intel announced a billion dollar fund to build a foundry ecosystem and today Intel announced they are acquiring foundry Tower Semiconductor for $5.6 billion dollars, WOW! Some people doubted Intel’s commitment to the foundry market this time. I think we can now put that… Read More
Intel Discusses Scaling Innovations at IEDM
Standard Cell Scaling
Complex logic designs are built up from standard cells, in order to continue to scale logic we need to continually shrink the size of standard cells.
Figure 1 illustrates the dimensions of a standard cell.
Figure 1. Standard Cell Dimensions.
From figure 1 we can see that shrinking standard cell sizes requires… Read More
Intel Architecture Day – Part 2: GPUs, IPUs, XeSS, OpenAPI
Introduction
At the recent Intel Architecture Day presentations, a breadth of roadmap plans were provided – an earlier article focused on the x86 client and data center cores and products. This article focuses on the GPU and IPU announcements.
Xe Graphics Core
The Intel GPU architecture for embedded, discrete, and data center… Read More
Intel Architecture Day – Part 1: CPUs
Introduction
The optimization of computing throughput, data security, power efficiency, and total cost of ownership is an effort that involves managing interdependencies between silicon and packaging technologies, architecture, and software. We often tend to focus on the technology, yet the architecture and software… Read More
Expanding Intel’s Foundry Partnerships: A Critical Piece of IDM 2.0
One of the career Intel employees (33+ years) that Pat Gelsinger brought back is Stuart Pann. Stuart is now the Senior Vice President of the Intel Corporate Planning Group. He does not have direct foundry experience but he certainly knows Intel and Pat so it will be interesting to see where this goes.
Stuart recently penned an article… Read More