They follow physical limits and manufacturing variations, leading to diverse chip designs rather than uniform scaling.
They follow physical limits and manufacturing variations, leading to diverse chip designs rather than uniform scaling.
I had a fleeting idea, but why do CPUs not increase in size as their power grows? The AMD R3 1200 matches the R9 5950X in dimensions, yet the latter performs significantly better. An Intel 7700 occupies less space than the 12900K even though the latter is more capable. Intel Pentenium specifications remain relatively stable. Server CPUs vary widely. The AMD Opteron lineup is compact compared to the ThreadRipper series, but not proportionally faster. Why?
Typically, the count of faulty big chips per wafer is too expensive and not worth the effort for mass production. Consider why AMD employs chiplet architectures in their high-core Ryzen, Threadripper, and EPYC series with several chiplets. For instance, a single large die can represent four chiplets; would you prefer one defective large die or three working ones out of four? This explains AMD's ability to deliver more cores compared to Intel today. In contrast, an Intel HEDT chip around 18C/36T also saw increasing die size and costs. It’s difficult to match the volume of large monolithic dies from a single wafer with smaller, more reliable chiplets.
Standardizing socket, ILM, and heat spreader dimensions helps ensure various CPUs fit together on the same motherboard despite differences in performance capabilities. Over time, manufacturers have packed more functionality into smaller chip areas, which is measured in nanometers. This value tends to drop, enabling higher CPU density per square inch.
However, you could also look at some videos that demonstrate the manufacturing process of computer chips, which would clearly show why physical dimensions don't affect performance.
Asianometry produces insightful videos that clarify processor creation, their evolution over time, and present-day production challenges. For instance, one video discusses the reasons behind AMD's chiplet products like EPYC, Threadripper, and Ryzen compared to earlier models. In summary, the goal is to boost CPU performance steadily, making chiplet designs more cost-effective than traditional methods.