10 Nm? 7 Nm? Intel Thinks People Should Stop Obsessing Over Manufacturing Processes

[Tsing]

Intel's senior Principle Engineer Ophir Edlis doesn't think the semiconductor manufacturing process matters as much as the average enthusiast thinks it does. In response to Forbes's inquiry this week of where its 10 nm desktop CPUs were, Edlis asked: "…why do you think we need to have desktop on 10nm?"

Forbes said that a shrinking of the manufacturing process is what most people expect now, especially in light of what AMD is offering. But Edlis countered that with the idea of manufacturing processes being just one part of the equation to better-performing processors.

…why should one even care about which manufacturing process a product is made on? If they get the features and they get the performance, then surely that’s what matters right? At the end of the day, the manufacturing process is just one knob we can adjust to make products better or more efficient. There are plenty more other knobs we can tweak.

 

[Riccochet]

That's why they sunk a ton of money in a failed 10nm. Right? And then abandoned that for 7nm. If it wasn't a priority, then why are they pushing for process shrink?

He full of chit.

 

[Nanobot]

If they get the features and they get the performance, then surely that’s what matters right?

So true. Who gives a **** about security flaws when you can pew-pew faster?

 

[Terminus]

Sounds like typical spin, down play your weaknesses and hype your strengths. It is impressive what Intel has done with 14nm for so long, but time has run out. They need the next node asap.

 

[ThreeDee]

One Armed Man: "Who needs 2 arms when you can have one very strong one! You can do lots of stuff with just one arm..."