Microprocessors

Article Abstract:

Reduced-instruction-set computer (RISC) microprocessors (MPUs) are replacing complex-instruction-set computer (CISC) MPUs in many minicomputer and workstation applications. RISC devices' fewer and simpler instructions, internal pipelining and parallelism, fast clock rates and densities as high as 1.2 million transistors on one chip are driving their use. Example chips include Intel's i860 and i960 IBM's 802, and MIPS Computer Systems' R3000. Some RISC MPUs employ superscalar processing, as do some CISC devices. Some RISC vendors are using emitter-coupled logic technology to increase RISC MPU performance even more. CISC MPU families, such as Motorola's 68XXX and Intel's 80 X 86 lines, still dominate the microcomputer market. The Systems Performance Evaluation Cooperative developed the SPEC benchmark set to improve the measurement of RISC MPU performance.

Microprocessor, CPUs (Central processing units), Processor architectures, Product development, Benchmarking, Benchmark, Products, Processor Architecture, RISC, RISC processors, Complex-Instruction-Set Computers, CISC processors

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The world of silicon: it's dog eat dog

Article Abstract:

The semiconductor industry has grown enormously in the forty years since the invention of the transistor, in 1948. Semiconductors are a growing part of international trade and a fixture in the gross national product. Talks with experts show: manufacturing skills have parity throughout the world; high production costs mean only the largest companies can be competitive worldwide; optical lithography will be useful down to 0.35-micrometer geometries; cooperative ventures and alliance networks are inevitable; the application-specific integrated circuit (IC) market requires different marketing strategies; vertical integration is necessary to remain a leading supplier; and manufacturing technology, not IC design, is the driving force. Improvements in memory or processing power results in designers finding numerous ways to use the improvements.

Officials and employees, Interview, Forecasting, Industry Analysis, Outlook, Companies, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Institute, Noyce, Robert N., International SEMATECH

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Solid state

Article Abstract:

Flash electrical erasable programmable ROMs (EEPROM) combine the memory density of EPROMs with the quick and easy reprogramability of EEPROMs. A few memory IC manufacturers are expected to introduce 16Mbit dynamic RAMs, aimed at applications such as high-speed imaging systems, in 1989. The unreliability of cells in dense ICs due to small storage charges may be overcome by trenching, folding a capacitor into a substrate, or by using ferroelectric materials. Analog ICs have been introduced by a number of manufacturers for applications requiring interaction with the real world. Although no US companies have gone into the dynamic RAM market, research consortium Sematech is an effort aimed at improving IC manufacturing skills of US manufacturers to surpass the Japanese. International technology exchange agreements continued during 1988.

EEPROM

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