Question About Architecture

[SirJ]

Hey guys,
I've been researching processors I've been seeing the Penryn/Nehalem 45nm vs. the Westmere 32nm. My question is, what does the size (I'm assuming nm stands for nanometer? might be way off on that) have to do with performance?

 

[Muncher]

Hey guys,
I've been researching processors I've been seeing the Penryn/Nehalem 45nm vs. the Westmere 32nm. My question is, what does the size (I'm assuming nm stands for nanometer? might be way off on that) have to do with performance?

If I've got this right, smaller chips mean there's less distance between parts, so they can be run faster; also, chip-makers can fit more cores and more complex cores in the same space as older chips.

Basically, Smaller = faster + more expensive

 

[SirJ]

Oh duh, that seems really obvious now that I see that.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Muncher]

Oh duh, that seems really obvious now that I see that.
Thanks for the help.

Hey, you got the nanometer part right.