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http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=521
OEM news: nVidia switching to 0.13-micron process
By ron carlson, Insanely Great Mac
June 7th 2002
The company is taking the lead in switching to the smaller, more efficient
manufacturing method
nVidia president and CEO Huang Jen-hsun told Digitimes that the company is
transitioning the manufacture of its GeForce4 product line to a 0.13-micron process,
which will increase efficiency (smaller chips, more chips per individual wafer) and
reduce costs.
Further, the company''s soon-to-be released Crush 18 chip, which the company did not
display at Computex Taipei (OEM partners were showing off NV-18 powered boards), will
be produced using the advanced 0.13-micron process. NV-18 based AGP cards use DDR400
(2x200MHz) memory.
The company''s GeForce3 product line pioneered the use of the 0.15-micron circuitry
for graphic chips last year.
What''s it mean to us?
The move to more efficient manufacturing means nVidia could charge less for its
products. However, cost is only one component of the price customers pay. Given
nVidia''s industry-leading status, don''t look for much if any love from them here.
PC manufacturers have samples of the NV-18 and have produced working boards. That
means Apple''s AGP card OEM -- Visiontek -- also has these chips and has demo boards.
In terms of Apple''s game plan, it''s hard to tell whether the NV-18 will make it into
next-gen PowerMacs. It''s possible and given Cupertino''s overriding desire to lead --
both for pros and gamers -- you have to know they''re pushing hard to get NV-18 based
AGP cards into the new PowerMacs.
Just guessing, but I''d say there''s a 40-percent chance the NV-18 will make the
launch cut and a 100-percent chance that Apple will update the driver within six weeks
if it does make it into the new PMs at launch.
Post your comments at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=521
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