jmke

We already gave you details on the architectural side. GT300 or G300 or NV70 is consisted out of 512 cores [or Shader Processors, whatever you like], features a 512-bit memory controller connecting to GDDR5 memory and well, it is a beast. nVidia packed everything in around 2.4 billion transistors using TSMC's 40nm high-performance process [yes, the one with currently sucky yields]. Given that the original GT200 packed 240 shaders in 1.4 billion trannies, one could argue that nVidia did some heavy dieting on its own architecture and managed to get a body builder shader power in a size zero body. GT300 packs 512 MIMD-capable cores and yet it uses "just" one billion transistors extra. I'll be first to admit that I wondered how GT300 packs at least three billion transistors, but according to our highly confidential source, the 2.4 billion transistors are packed in just 495mm2.

Yes, you've read that correctly. 2.4 billion in less than 500mm2 will put sweat on both ATI and Intel's forehead, since this chip could be profitably manufactured and yet pack performance to potentially blew the competition out of the water. Each of original 65nm GT200 chips took 576mm2 of wafer space, while 55nm refresh GT206/GT200b eats up 490mm2.

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news...-larrabee.aspx

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