IBM and Samsung researchers have produced the semiconductor
industry’s first 7nm (nanometer) node test chips with functioning transistors.
Greater levels of miniaturization enable designers to cram more
transistors on a single chip, which increases performance, lowers costs and
potentially reduces power consumption.
These factors are important in modern datacenters, where space
and energy consumption are at a premium.
The IBM researchers have developed a 7nm chip fabrication in
partnership with Global Foundries and Samsung at Suny Polytechnic Institute’s
Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
“Enabling the first 7nm node transistors is a significant
milestone for the entire semiconductor industry as we continue to push beyond
the limitations of our current capabilities,” said Michael Liehr, Suny Poly
executive vice-president of innovation and technology.
The development of 7nm chips could improve the efficiency and
scalability of datacenters, which are currently based on 14nm and 22nm
technology. IBM said the techniques used to develop 7nm technology could result
in at least a 50% power/performance improvement for next-generation mainframe
and Power systems that will power the big data, cloud and mobile era.
The research alliance has claimed a number of industry-first
innovations, most notably Silicon Germanium (SiGe) channel transistors and
Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography integration at multiple levels in
developing the 7nm technology.
“For business and society to get the most out of tomorrow’s
computers and devices, scaling to 7nm and beyond is essential,” said Arvind
Krishna, senior vice-president and director of IBM Research. “Working with our
partners, this milestone builds on decades of research that has set the pace
for the microelectronics industry, and positions us to advance our leadership
for years to come.”
Fifty years ago, Intel co-founder
Gordon Moore outlined his vision of
how microelectronics would power the modern world – introducing Moore's Law,
which predicted the power of microchips would double every 18 months. Chip
researchers have tried to follow this model, doubling the performance of their microprocessors every
18 months. But miniaturization pushes the limits of chip fabrication.
Along with 7nm
technology, IBM is also researching alternative technologies for
post-silicon-era chips.
