For the past 10 years or so, Intel has been developing new chips through its ‘Tick-Tock’ methodology. However, Intel has ran into complications with the methodology when it comes to the company’s own 10nm technology. Today, the company has went ahead a declared that ‘Tick-Tock’ is dead.
In a recent form 10-K filing by Intel, the company has stated that it would be lengthening the amount of time they will “utilize our 14nm and our next-generation 10nm process technologies, further optimizing our products and process technologies while meeting the yearly market cadence for product introductions.”
Thus far, Intel has a development model whereby the company would first upgrade its manufacturing technology to make circuits smaller. This is known to Intel as the “Tick.” As that manufacturing technology matured and chip design teams become more familiar with the technology, Intel would then use said technology to manufacture chips with changes in its microcode, resulting in a faster and more energy efficient chip. This is known as the “Tock.”
From this point forward, Intel will be employing a three-step methodology for future chip development, known as “Process, Architecture, and Optimization.” This methodology is expected to slow down the pace of innovation and would result in consumers having to wait an extra year before they can see significant speed improvements, resulting in less reason to upgrade your current hardware.
Despite the dropping of ‘Tick-Tock’, Intel has maintained that it will introduce 10nm chips before its competitors. Intel believes that their competitive advantage “will be extended in the future as the costs to build leading-edge fabrication facilities increase.” Other companies that are slated to release their own 10nm chip includes Samsung and TMSC.
Source: Engadget, The Motley Fool