Semiconductor industry and market
Which appropriately describes the role scaling has played in semiconductor cost?
- AIt has fit more transistors in the same area, lowering the cost per transistor
- BIt has lowered manufacturing cost per wafer
- CIt has reduced the number of transistors per chip
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. It has fit more transistors in the same area, lowering the cost per transistor
Scaling has raised manufacturing cost per wafer, but because far more transistors can be packed in, the cost per transistor has fallen. In recent years, cost increases for advanced processes have been large, and this trend is said to be slowing.