AMD's 65 nano silicon ready to roll

CHIP FIRM AMD will officially open its Fab 36 extension in Dresden in mid-October.

And it's already moved in tools and other equipment to produce 65 nanometre processors, reliable sources said.

The same sources added that AMD has been running preliminary 65 nanometre engineering silicon since June this year.

Production of 65 nanometre silicon will start in 2006, the firm said. That's also when Intel will start throwing out 65 nanometre chips. We'd expect AMD to be a little behind Intel producing the shrink, but both companies appear to be engaged in a 21st century version of "Beat the Clock". So it will be interesting to see whether there is a lag, and if so what the lag is.

AMD is not prepared to discuss which firm is providing it with its 65 nanometre tools. But as there's only a few firms capable of producing such tools, no special intuition is required. µ