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Scientists Build First Properly 3D-Stacked Processor, Run It At 1.4GHz
Posted by Kit Eaton at 9:10 PM on September 16, 2008
Stacked-up chip technology isn't new, but scientists at the University of Rochester have built the first properly-3D chip recently. Unlike previous attempts, with layered standard 2D chip-circuitry on top of similar layers, the new chip actually has components built into a 3D-matrix, with interconnects between layers.
The neatest bit (and most difficult to design) is that specific segments of the processor are arranged for optimum performance: timing delays and synchronisation issues are thus minimised. Apparently it's the first 3D synchronisation circuitry chip, and it's running at 1.4GHz. It's one possible future for chip tech (should we rename them "cubes"?) As the team leader puts it, horizontal fabbing tech is getting closer to its size limits, but "we're going to start scaling vertically, and that will never end." [HotHardware]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Technogen
Posted 9:36 PM 16/9/08
@glowplug: Mini water tubes, thats what IBM came up with a cooling system that runs though the chip.
Technogen
Valicious
Posted 9:36 PM 16/9/08
@glowplug: Think cream-filled candy.
Valicious
aussie
Posted 9:35 PM 16/9/08
@glowplug: Yeah, wouldn't they just explode?
aussie
glowplug
Posted 9:28 PM 16/9/08
How do you cool these things? Seems like the center of the "cube" would be prone to over heating.
glowplug
hammertime1994
Posted 9:23 PM 16/9/08
So they are going to reach the limit on transistor size and then just add layers to it. And am I right in saying that the small size of transistors will allow them to stack many layers before it is even noticeably taller than normal?
Anyway, it looks awesome and I can't say I didn't see it coming.
hammertime1994
LittleJon
Posted 10:11 PM 16/9/08
This is an evolution of work done before. Groups have previously stacked the processor cache on top of the ALU and a lot of other teams are working on very similar developments. There's also a fair bit of work on developing the CAD tools needed to work in 3D. One of the key requirements from the tools is effective thermal design to prevent over-heating.
LittleJon
uhm...Bob
Posted 9:58 PM 16/9/08
@glowplug: 3D fans!!?
uhm...Bob
sarwatmj
Posted 9:55 PM 16/9/08
its interesting how i heard about the possibilities of this technology some 6 years ago & now i'm seeing it coming to life..
sarwatmj
Kevin
Posted 9:48 PM 16/9/08
I am willing to bet with the combination of rocket and material technology the chip would survive through thermal dynamics. Where in the hell is rocket technology when you need it??
Kevin
Ghede
Posted 10:35 PM 16/9/08
Scaling vertically endlessly.
PREDICTION FOR THE FUTURE.
Computers will fit in the palm of your hand! But the weight will break your arm, making you drop the computer and level three blocks.
Ghede
shpe11
Posted 10:31 PM 16/9/08
"we're going to start scaling vertically, and that will never end"
cubes you say... I like to see the cooling solution for a cube procesor in let's say a 1024planes... who's gonna cool the 512plane?
shpe11
Hamslicer
Posted 10:18 PM 16/9/08
A 2D cross section of a 3D chip. I'd like to see an isometric view in 3D!
And a picture of Jeff Bridges as he gets sucked into it...
Hamslicer
LittleJon
Posted 10:17 PM 16/9/08
@Technogen: IBM made a big deal about that, but they are not the only one, nor the first, to work on microfluidic cooling. Before leaving my last company, I was working on a DARPA project on 3D processors that included microfluidic cooling being developed by the Uni. Arkansas andvone of my former colleagues has been working on his own ideas in this area.
LittleJon
adlyb1
Posted 10:54 PM 16/9/08
3D?
That's so 21st century. I think we should be working on CPUs that extend into higher dimensions, so we can dump all the heat into the 7th dimension...
...because they like it warm in the 7th dimension.
8^)
adlyb1
Open_universe
Posted 10:52 PM 16/9/08
I had this idea back in 1981! WHERE'S MAH MONEY?!?!?!?! :mad:
Open_universe
reddingofish
Posted 10:50 PM 16/9/08
Is it is a marvel of technology but will it iron my shirts.
reddingofish
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Posted 11:24 PM 16/9/08
Up the stairs...
Down the stairs...
Up the stairs...
Down the stairs...
A stack of pancakes! And steamy hot!
SigmundTheSeaMonster
moonphrogg
Posted 11:16 PM 16/9/08
And of course, 3D processors will be integral in destroying Megatron.
moonphrogg
Killjoy
Posted 11:39 PM 16/9/08
I think what's far more newsworthy is that up until now, we've been building these things in only two dimensions. Wouldn't it be far more space-effective to stack 2D processors, given that they have no height to begin with?
Killjoy
Improbus
Posted 12:19 AM 17/9/08
The processor not only runs folding@home at unprecedented speeds it ALSO heats your home!
Improbus
CribbageLeft
Posted 12:19 AM 17/9/08
Why does new technology look like Frogger?
CribbageLeft
Tweak
Posted 12:14 AM 17/9/08
I think IBM got their 3D processor up to 27 layer, or somewhere around there.
Tweak
ZhannTk
Posted 10:08 PM 16/9/08
This is one of the major predictions of Ray Kurzweil's book The Age of Spiritual Machines. And I'm pretty sure it's coming in the time frame he predicted as well.
Bring on the thinking machines!
ZhannTk
D.E.P.C.
Posted 2:32 AM 17/9/08
This is pretty amazing. I'm having trouble imagining how you manage switches going in three directions.
D.E.P.C.
D.E.P.C.
Posted 2:29 AM 17/9/08
@SigmundTheSeaMonster: Pancakes sound really good. MMMMMmmm.. IHOP.
D.E.P.C.
Pretolo
Posted 3:56 AM 17/9/08
I think 3rd dimension processors is what dooms humanity into the whole machine vs man war. Wait for the terminator to show up any time.
Pretolo
Bakkster_Man
Posted 4:33 AM 17/9/08
@D.E.P.C.: There aren't actually any switches in the vertical plane. The real improvement is reducing wire lengths by going up a short distance instead of all the way across the chip. Wire delays are the biggest factor in chip speed, so reducing lengths would be a huge improvement.
Bakkster_Man
LittleJon
Posted 6:03 AM 17/9/08
@Bakkster_Man: That's sp
LittleJon