Intel’s 45nm launch not as close as one might think

Intel announced a few months ago that it had made the first functioning wafer with 45nm SRAM circuits to show what kind of progress it had made with its 45nm process. This was just a month or so before it launched its first 65nm processors and some started to discuss a broad launch of 45nm Intel processorer already during the summer of 2007. At PenStar Systems they’ve published an article where they discuss Intel’s 45nm technology and point out that it will most likely not release any larger volumes of 45nm processors until the summer of 2008. In other words a whole year later than some had hoped.

In the article they walk you through Intel’s earlier introductions of manufacturing processes and the fact that the chip giant doesn’t believe that even 80% of all of its processors during the spring of 2007 will be made with 65nm technology makes it hard to believe that there will be a 45nm launch in the same period of time.

”I have a feeling that in December of 2007 we will see Intel introduce in small numbers 45 nm Conroe based products to the market, and we will see Intel tweak the 45 nm process for the next 6 to 8 months. After that they will aggressively ramp 45 nm and whatever new cores they will have developed. So, it will be Summer of 2008 before we see large amounts of 45 nm parts from Intel.”

Very interesting reading for those who wants to get another perspective on Intel’s manufacturing processes and the future of the 45nm technology.

:: Read on at PenStar Systems