Sunday, November 06, 2005
Intel to AMD: Gimme 65!
On Nov. 1, Intel announced that its Fab 12, using the newest, 65 nm technology, began shipping in high volume. Fab 12 is the world's largest chipmaker's second 65 nm fab to ramp up; the first one that came online recently was a development fab in Oregon.
The announcement is another sign that Intel is playing catch-up to rival AMD and playing better than it's done before. AMD will likely be a year behind Intel in rolling out this 65 nm technology and, perhaps, it will take even longer to get to mass production.
An interesting tidbit: Bob Baker, who is in charge of Intel's manufacturing, says Intel might also use these 65 nm plants to produce parts other than the microprocessors. Indeed, Intel already makes Wi-Fi chips, chipsets and memory.
Perhaps we will see the company dip into new kinds of chips, too. I wonder what they would be? My bet is, Intel will start making more of the chips that communications chipmakers like Texas Instruments make.
The announcement is another sign that Intel is playing catch-up to rival AMD and playing better than it's done before. AMD will likely be a year behind Intel in rolling out this 65 nm technology and, perhaps, it will take even longer to get to mass production.
An interesting tidbit: Bob Baker, who is in charge of Intel's manufacturing, says Intel might also use these 65 nm plants to produce parts other than the microprocessors. Indeed, Intel already makes Wi-Fi chips, chipsets and memory.
Perhaps we will see the company dip into new kinds of chips, too. I wonder what they would be? My bet is, Intel will start making more of the chips that communications chipmakers like Texas Instruments make.
