It has been some time already that Intel dropped hints concerning its 22nm process, and Intel has already provided an update on its next two processor generations last year. Earlier this year, Intel showed off their Sandy Bridge platform for PCs and servers, and the 22nm microprocessor family might just be known as Ivy Bridge – where it “is moving through fabs and on track for delivery in the second half of 2011.”
Plenty of speculation is being pointed towards Intel, where Intel’s 22nm process will be based on Intel’s third-generation high-k/metal-gate scheme. It will also utilize copper interconnects, low-k, strain silicon and other features. Intel will most probably make use of 193-nm immersion lithography similar to the 32nm process, and some others believe that Intel will roll out a germanium (III V) channel.
A lower nm process would mean it is cheaper to produce – and cramming in more transistors translates to additional hardware functions, with the possibility of lowering voltage to boot.