What if 10nm, 7nm, 5nm or 3nm … TSMC and Intel both played cat and mouse with their nomenclatures, used more as pure marketing than to define the volumetric or metric scale of transistors. . Well, now Intel in an unexpected twist wants to facilitate equivalences with a new concept for the industry, so that we easily know where the company is compared to its main rival: TSMC.
Intel Equivalent Nodes, an equivalent nomenclature for nanometers
It was in a local Oregon-based newspaper that Intel plant manager in that state, Ann Kelleher, allegedly launched an internal memorandum to inform employees that Intel would align industry standards to make it easier to understand. for investors, shareholders and users.
While this may seem like a step forward, the reality is that this is a marketing step for the company, since we assume that TSMC always gets a lower theoretical value in nanometers, when in reality the processes are much closer. For example, Intel’s current 10nm is on par with TSMC’s 7nm and in some areas to come. Therefore, Intel has released a brief statement which reads as follows:
It is widely recognized in the industry that there is inconsistency and confusion in nanoscale nomenclature, and this does not reflect the latest innovations in transistors.
So what’s the correct way to call them?
Transistors to the square millimeter, why did they not succeed?
If there is anything that is ultimately representative, it is the density of the node, the number of transistors per square millimeter. But surprisingly, industry and business left it to carry on with typical marketing, which until now was understood, a number, easy, simple, nothing more.
Now Intel and analysts are introducing a new concept called Equivalent nodes (EN) or equivalent nodes in their translation. This concept will be based on TSMC nodes and their traditional nomenclature, where Intel will also offer the traditional nomenclature and partly its EN compared to Taiwanese. So TSMC’s current 7nm would be 13.8nm at Intel, TSMC’s 5nm would equal Intel’s 7.1nm, and Intel’s new 3nm would be 4.1nm.
This in terms of marketing is very important, because Intel would not be several steps behind, but one step behind, which is very important when you want to sell a product. It is not known when they could introduce the new concept, if it will finally be called that and with what products it will arrive, so we will have to be attentive to the new presentations and the roadmap.
