IBM confirms 90 nm yield issues

[klaus]

In a conference call, IBM confirmed that they are having difficulties with the yields for the 90 nm processor technology.

This is causing a delay for several demanding companies, including Apple, for its Xserve's (and probably new powermacs as well)

One of the problems is ongoing yield issues within the company's 300-mm fab in East Fishkill, N.Y. For months, IBM has been struggling with yields in the fab, a 130- and 90-nm plant. "We do see demand, but we need to make the products," Joyce said. "We need to improve our yields in our 300-mm plant. Our yields did see some improvement, but not as fast (as the company had hoped)."

source (http://www.siliconstrategies.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=18901714) -> free registration required

Klaus

[Sun Baked]

Originally posted by M.Isobe:
_G5 production_

Apple officially admitted the problem of G5 supply from IBM. According to http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/04/14/liveupdate/ "IBM is working very very hard" to bring supply demand in balance for (Xserve) G5 chips, expects to catch up with demand this quarter. IBM is the only supplier that's delaying the shipment.
IBM could not fill small demand of Xserve G5. Apparently they won't supply enough 970FX to fill the demand for Power Mac G5.
Do you still praise IBM?The rest of the discussions are somewhere aroung page 60 (http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9080959175&p=60) on at ARS -- with the more recent news on page 61 (http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9080959175&p=61).

[Dont Hurt Me]

Here we go again, so i guess this means a year of no G5 progress just like we had with Moto who by the way just had another year of motostagnation. Apple scratches its head and says why are we loosing more and more market in a growing economy. They should have went with AMD and or Intel. Chip makers that can make chips, that can advance chips. God this sucks.

[MorganX]

Here we go again, so i guess this means a year of no G5 progress just like we had with Moto who by the way just had another year of motostagnation. Apple scratches its head and says why are we loosing more and more market in a growing economy. They should have went with AMD and or Intel. Chip makers that can make chips, that can advance chips. God this sucks.

Keep in mind, Intel may not be having yield problems, but they're definitely having power consumption (leakage) problems with their 90nm process as well.

[aswitcher]

The rest of the discussions are somewhere aroung page 60 (http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9080959175&p=60) on at ARS -- with the more recent news on page 61 (http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9080959175&p=61).


So I guess this suggests no high end 90nm speeds anytime soon, but what about sub 2GHz 90nm for the PBs?

[Makosuke]

Ok, I'd like those few people who seemed to think the lack of Power Mac and G5 Powerbook updates were some sort of personal insult, just because Apple hates its own customers, to apologize now. You can complain that Apple may have backed the wrong horse, but it's not like Apple can control what IBM does wrong, and this is no doubt where the supply problem is coming from.

Although I really don't think this is in the same league as Motorola. There's a difference between poorer-than-expected yields, and just not doing any significant new development on a promising chip line (not to mention reducing production capacity).

I'd like to point out that Intel hasn't exactly been doing wonders with their architecture recently, either--when was the last big P4 boost you remember? 3.0 to 3.2GHz? 3.2 to 3.4? Not what I'd call impressive.

AMD does seem to be doing better, but it'll be interesting to see how fast the G5 scales once IBM gets the glitches worked out. Don't forget that they've got Microsoft waiting as a customer, too!

[benixau]

Don't forget that they've got Microsoft waiting as a customer, too!

The irony in this is KILLING ME.
MS wants a chip that apple helped design.
BTW - sony + nintendo are all interested in it too.

[crazzyeddie]

Here we go again, so i guess this means a year of no G5 progress just like we had with Moto who by the way just had another year of motostagnation. Apple scratches its head and says why are we loosing more and more market in a growing economy. They should have went with AMD and or Intel. Chip makers that can make chips, that can advance chips. God this sucks.

Dude, you make me so sick... you don't even know what youre talking about half the time. IBM makes AMD's chips.

[JamesDPS]

Wow DHM must really hate life... so much negativity here all the time; isn't there some kind of intelrumors.com or somewhere that would be more uplifting for him? Or maybe zoloft would help...