Photos: Intel launches its 45nm chips

Intel announced a significant leap forwards in processor design and production late last week. Its new 45nm (nanometre) chips, named Penryn, use two long-sought innovations to increase performance while holding down power consumption. This involves using several elements, including the metallic element hafnium, rather than silicon in part of the transistor.

Intel's Mark Bohr, director of process architecture and innovation, explained during a briefing on Thursday why Intel has decided to use new materials to build transistors on chips that will arrive in the second half of this year. The new materials break with 40 years of tradition but are essential to improving chip performance in the future. Intel plans to use the materials in its Penryn family of 45nm chips, due to ship later this year. The company demonstrated systems running on those chips for a group of reporters and analysts.

You can read a full explanation of the technology behind Intel's 45nm processes, and learn about its rivals' plans, here.

Credit: Tom Krazit/CNET News.com