A new transistor technology from Intel that operates in a true three-dimensional fashion, moving electrons across three dimensions rather than the two dimensions of the traditional planar design. Tri-Gate transistor technology will debut in Intel s Ivy Bridge family of processors in the first half of 2012 and should help Ivy Bridge and future processors from Intel operate at lower voltage with lower leakage, enabling both improved performance and reduced power consumption.
Tri-Gate transistors have a vertical “fin” form that conducts channels on all three sides of the structure, with two channels on each side and one on the top. This enables the transistors to be packed closer together and allows more transistor current to flow when the transistor is on. The 3D Tri-Gate transistor technology is expected to help enable Moore’s Law to continue for at least the next few years.
