CPU Die Size

[HeyIAmInfinity]

Hi everyone, this might be a very stupid question but given that my knowledge of CPU engineering is non-existent, i though it might be worth asking.

When i first build my current PC (the first PC i ever build myself), the one thing that surprised me was how small the CPU die is. (I7-7700k)

I know that GPU have a large die and this make me wonder why CPU are this small (for desktop).

Is this just part of the manufacturing process? I have the assumption that a CPU ^2 the size would offer better cooling due to the larger area, is my assumption wrong? When CPU technology will reach the limit and cannot shrink anymore will CPU just grow in size?

 

This might be an interesting topic for a video.

[Stormseeker9]

AMD just went from 14nm to 7nm (zen2) 

 

intel still battling with 10nm 

[PopsicleHustler]

3 minutes ago, HeyIAmInfinity said:

Hi everyone, this might be a very stupid question but given that my knowledge of CPU engineering is non-existent, i though it might be worth asking.

When i first build my current PC (the first PC i ever build myself), the one thing that surprised me was how small the CPU die is. (I7-7700k)

I know that GPU have a large die and this make me wonder why CPU are this small (for desktop).

Is this just part of the manufacturing process? I have the assumption that a CPU ^2 the size would offer better cooling due to the larger area, is my assumption wrong? When CPU technology will reach the limit and cannot shrink anymore will CPU just grow in size?

 

This might be an interesting topic for a video.

Increasing die size would considerably increase manufacturing costs.

[Skiiwee29]

1 minute ago, Stormseeker9 said:

AMD just went from 14nm to 7nm (zen2) 

 

intel still battling with 10nm 

Hes talking package size, not the nm size of the transistors, that has nothing to do with the total package size. 

[Derrk]

I don't think we're close to readhing a minimum size yet. CPU's spin on frequency. Decreasing the size of the die makes it easier for the CPU to reach higher frequencies

[Skiiwee29]

5 minutes ago, HeyIAmInfinity said:

Hi everyone, this might be a very stupid question but given that my knowledge of CPU engineering is non-existent, i though it might be worth asking.

When i first build my current PC (the first PC i ever build myself), the one thing that surprised me was how small the CPU die is. (I7-7700k)

I know that GPU have a large die and this make me wonder why CPU are this small (for desktop).

Is this just part of the manufacturing process? I have the assumption that a CPU ^2 the size would offer better cooling due to the larger area, is my assumption wrong? When CPU technology will reach the limit and cannot shrink anymore will CPU just grow in size?

 

This might be an interesting topic for a video.

Eventually they will shift to a new manufacturing technique and process. Much like GPUs have. Eventually the current way, with Silicon, is going to come to an end, and thats likely to happen in the next 5-10 years as they are nearing the limits of what they can do with Silicon. 

[HeyIAmInfinity]

I think that my question has not been understood or i explained myself wrong, so i'll try to explain with a very simple example: why is the processor (the grey thing that you place in the motherboard) this size, why isn't it the size of a paperback or the size of a oven tray.

I understand that mobile devices needs smaller chips but for servers or desktops there isn't a space concern.

Wouldn't having a larger size "thingy" allow better cooling or better performance by having more transistor without needing to shrink?

[Skiiwee29]

1 minute ago, VegetableStu said:

just to clarify: wafer plates cost the same, but barring lithography, yields, and production costs, it'd be better to produce more chips in a single wafer to sell (and the way to produce a larger number of cakes quickly is to slice them smaller) ._.

 

it's going to stay untill someone finally starts producing the next big (lol) thing at similar volumes ._. so many promises and theory-scale concepts and not many has arrived yet (see also: battery tech)

We havent seen or heard much, but im sure they're working on it. 

[HeyIAmInfinity]

Just now, VegetableStu said:

the processors are chips off a circular wafer (hence the term "computer chips". a-la potato chips, chips off a potato).

if you need bigger chips, you'd either need more wafers or bigger wafers. both if it's grossly oversized

Ok, so its due to the manufacturing, a larger wafer is more expensive? i'm mostly trying to understand why the current CPU size are what they are and not much larger.

Is the current size the most cost effective?

[NineEyeRon]

Circles look so inefficient, squares would be better right?

 

I think this idea could save the industry billions! I can’t believe it hasn’t been thought of before!

[HeyIAmInfinity]

Just now, NineEyeRon said:

Circles look so inefficient, squares would be better right?

 

I think this idea could save the industry billions! I can’t believe it hasn’t been thought of before!

Now you are getting me even more confused, why does the manufacturing use circles?

[HeyIAmInfinity]

Very interesting, thank you. I will need to read a lot to fully understand the manufacturing, i always though it was something like stamping.