[email protected] (Anne & Lynn Wheeler) writes: > missed single table with transistor count back to 1971 > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor_count > > includes 4-core z196 and 6-core ec12 ... but also ibm power and cell. > > also various other kinds of technology
uses 32nm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32_nanometer ibm needs a large number of partners to get volume justifying a foundary ... since the total number of mainframe chips doesn't come close to justifying a fab http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/36465.wss and http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2007/12/ibms-fab-alliance-gears-up-for-battle-at-32nm/ ibm financials had it doing equivalent approx. 120 max configured z196, 80processors (20 4-core chips) or 2400chips/year. most recent 1qtr2014 financial has IBM doing equivalent approx 18 max. configure ec12, 56 on annualized basis, 101processors (maybe 20 6-core chips), 1120 chips/annum. with such a small market, mainframe has to heavily rely on process technologies developed for other purposes with much higher volume. i did security chip ... smaller than processor chip, got 3000 chips per wafer and minimum prototype run was six wafers (18,000 chips), i had to do walk-thru/audit even tho it was already gov. certified (infineon, dresden, see list of fabs). each new turn of process requires significant new investment tick tock has 22nm in spring of 2012 and 14nm this year http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Tick-Tock new 14nm fab is $5B http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1358 http://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-fab42-14nm-cpu-factory,14545.html volume production of 450mm (18in diameter) wafers (up from 300mm/12in diameter over twice the area and over twice as many chips per wafer) list of fabs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_semiconductor_fabrication_plants wafers/month production rates between 10k to 80k 300mm wafer is approx. 70,000 sq mm, 6core ec12@597mm works out to something around 118 chips/wafer ... an annualized requirement of 1120 chips/year would be less than 10wafers. running fab 720hrs/month and 10k wafers/month, then wafer every 5mins. 10wafers for full yrs mainframe production then takes less than hr @10k/month, or around 7mins @80k/month. 450mm wafer better than doubles area and number of chips/wafer ... at same process cost. http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1319230 -- virtualization experience starting Jan1968, online at home since Mar1970 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
