The Dunnington processor contains 1.9 billion transistors (functioning components) and was designed for Intel's latest 45nm process technology. Microprocessor design and product development is an intricate process and requires precise functioning of all the different components across a large number of variable vectors.

This processor was also the first 45nm product to be developed outside the United States. As we were developing this complex product for the very first time in India, there were numerous risks facing us through the programme.

The hardworking and innovative team of engineers came up with novel solutions to the different problems they encountered and got this complex microprocessor delivering amazing performance and rich feature set for the MP server market. It is a really big deal!

Was it fully developed at the Bangalore development centre?

The Intel India team planned and executed end-to-end design activities, including front-end design, pre-silicon logic validation and the back-end design for Dunnington which completes the transition of the entire Intel Xeon family to Intel's 45nm Hi-k manufacturing process.

All design activities were undertaken at Intel's Bangalore lab except actual chip manufacture, sample development and a part of post silicon validation.

Dunnington was required to meet Intel's highest standards of specification in quality including reliability, application compatibility, functionality, manufacturability, physical parameters, performance and platform design compliance.

The team also worked with the ecosystem to develop specialised debug tools for the latest technology validation and met performance benchmark targets and longevity goals to protect end customers' investment in Intel high-end server technology.

Image: Dunnnington Team Members before the 'Die' photograph. | Photograph, courtesy: Intel India

Also read: Top 10 technology breakthroughs of 2008

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