question on video cards

[iseeu_3]

Hello,

I was reading C.P.U. today and this "episode" was talking about the new ATI 9800 pro xt and 9600 pro xt, now they were talking about the processor being ".13 micron process", what' that mean? i noticed that they use the same "micron process" for processors as well. i think i heard someone on here talking about an AMD or Intel chip saying it was .18 micron or something. how would the micron's have to do with performance? would the higher micron mean less performance?


thanx in advance,
<shad>

[VHockey86]

I believe it has to do with the size of the internal electrical channels within a processor and/or chipset

.13 micron for example would be .13 micrometers

[John Prophet]

some info here...as u know stuff keeps getting smaller

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/13micron.htm

[OuTpaTienT]

Common Items and their respective particle sizes in microns:

Postage Stamp, 1 inch high......25,400 microns
Eye of a Needle.................1,230 microns
Beach Sand......................100 to 2000 microns
Human Hair......................40 to 300 microns
Pollens.........................10 to 1000 microns
Mold Spores.....................10 to 30 microns
Coal Dust.......................1 to 100 microns
Oil Smoke.......................0.03 to 1 micron
Tobacco Smoke...................0.01 to 1 microns
Typical Atmospheric Dust........0.001 to 30 microns

[John Prophet]

Bill Clintons conscience .00003401 microns



(sorry, it slipped out,lol)

[iseeu_3]

so the "poly-silicon gate" is where data flows, like to the ram and other components? and i guess the smaller the micron, the least ammount of power is used and higher clockspeed?

<shad>