Jim Keller says Intel could increase the transistor density in a processor by 50 times

During a conference, Jim Keller assures that Intel works in an architecture that will allow to increase the density of transistors in 50 times.

The market situation is quite clear: AMD is very strong, and Intel needs to get its act together. The Ryzen 3000 series has changed the landscape for the Santa Clara company. Meanwhile, the company is discussing Moore's Law, which some consider obsolete and others believe is still relevant. Jim Keller has spoken about Moore's Law and processor density.

Keller claims that Intel could increase the number of transistors in a processor by 50 times. This is not something simple and has costs. Which are? The first and most important: increase the size of the processor. It is not a crazy idea, since it is basically what AMD does with the Threadripper and EPYC.

Up to 50 times more transistors in future processors?

Sunny Cove is the first architecture fully created under 10nm. According to company data, this new lithographic process increases density by 2.7 times the number of transistors compared to 14nm ++. According to Intel data, consumption is reduced by 60% and performance is increased by 25%.

Intel for these processors uses Self-Aligned Quad Patterning (SAQP), a more complicated lithographic process than the previous ones. The company claims they have pushed Metal Pitch and Gate Pitch to the limit.

Seeking to increase the density more than normal and this new process have caused a long delay. But according to preliminary data, these new 10nm should offer more density than TSMC's 7nm.

Jim Keller has also said that they work on an architecture with a 50-fold increase in the number of transistors. Possibly referring to Foveros, a core stacking system that bears some similarity to AMD's CCX.

On the other hand, Keller points out that Sunny Cove could execute between 3 and 6 instructions in a Clock for each core. A major performance leap.

All of this would reflect a change in Intel's work methodology, as they seek new solutions. Jim Keller , Raja Koduri, and Bob Swan, the current CEO, are among those who have spearheaded these paradigm shifts.