IBM's chip gang touts 28-nanometer advancement

An IBM consortium that includes chip manufacturing players Chartered, GlobalFoundries, Infineon, Samsung and STMicroelectronics said Thursday it is developing 28-nanometer low power semiconductors. The consortium also extended technology pacts between its members.

The manufacturing processes for 28nm chips are in place for so-called "early risk production"---real early adopters---in the second half of 2010. 

While semiconductor wonks will monitor the high-k metal gate (HKMG) details and other manufacturing processes (statement), the rest of us just need to know these chips will get smaller and cut power consumption. 

Target markets include mobile Internet devices, consumer electronics and other devices. The IBM consortium has already developed 32nm technology and claims that the migration to 28nm won't require architecture redesigns. 

Early tests indicate that the 28nm technology provides a 40 percent performance boost and a 20 percent power reduction compared with 45nm chips.