IBM Is Back To Forefront Of Research

Today, IBM announced it has successfully created a 2-nanometer manufacturing process. The most advanced process currently, is 5-nanometer, but most foundries are still using 7 and 10 nanometer processes.

A chip using the 2-nanometer process, will have 50 billion transistors. This translates into 45% performance and 75% lower energy consumption, over the existing 7-nanometer process.

IBM, once a research giant, experienced a massive decline with the arrival of the PC, but it's been recently trying to remake itself. IBM does not run a foundry, so it's expected to license the process to other companies. Chips using the new process, could be on the market as early as 2024.

The Biden administration is proposing investing $50B to grow US chip R&D and manufacturing.

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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

Yeah but who are they likely to license it to..... 😔

Sure not anywhere in the US there's only one foundry in the US and that's Intel.

They never were at the best of terms, to put it politely.

Northwest · M

@DeWayfarer Intel, currently, relies on TSMC, to make its most advanced chips.

On the heels of the Biden administration's announcement of a $50B investment in R&D and manufacturing in this space, Intel announced it will be investing $20B in fabs in Arizona, so they can cut off their reliance on TSMC for the advanced chips.

If this goes through Congress, we could have multiple fabs in the US capable of producing the new chips.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@Northwest [big][b]IF![/b][/big]

As much as I would like it to happen, I don't see how that would go through congress. 😔

These bills are going to get reduced. That will probably be the first to go.

Northwest · M

@DeWayfarer Currently, our entire commercial supply of the most advanced CPUs, and memory chips, comes from TSMC (Taiwan) and Samsung (South Korea). Even a minor issue with China, KJU or both, can disrupt this. What's protecting us from political maneuvering, for now, is that China is just as reliant on TSMC as we are.

Congress needs to realize that this is an emergency situation.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@Northwest oh I totally agree. Still don't see it happening. Even the majority is at stake on this bill though. Forget about any Republican support.

It's going to get reduced. 😔