Intel Corporation
has announced it will invest up to $1.5bn in its Rio Rancho site to retool Fab 11X for production on Intel's next generation 45 nanometre (nm) manufacturing process.
Fab 11X will be the company's fourth factory to use the 45nm process, with production in
Marking one of the biggest advancements in fundamental transistor design in 40 years, Intel's 45nm high-k and metal gate process consists of a combination of new transistor materials that reduce transistor leakage and increase performance. When 45nm production begins later this year, the company will use a new material with a higher-k (dielectric constant), and a new combination of metal materials for the transistor gate electrode.
Initial production of Intel's 45nm products will be done at its
Fab 11X currently manufactures 90nm computer chips on 300mm wafers. Fab 11X began production in October 2002 and was Intel's first 300mm, or 12 inch, high-volume manufacturing facility. It was also Intel's first fully automated, high volume factory producing 300mm wafers.
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