Comment by willis936
5 years ago
>Finally, it's only true that the long-run opex per working transistor is lower on smaller processes. Many processes are actually more expensive on a "per working chip" basis at introduction than their predecessors.
Yes, but if there is a design that uses a fixed amount of transistors, then the chip size will be smaller on smaller nodes. So even if there are more defects per transistor on a new/small node, it is possible that the yield per cost (even with more expensive wafers) might be higher.
That's a possibility, and that's what the manufacturers are driving for, but it's not guaranteed. All the way back in 2015, we were already seeing projections that cost per transistor would flatline or even increase as process nodes continue to shrink (http://www.monolithic3d.com/blog/intel-the-litmus-test for example).
I have no idea where exactly the state of the art stands (certainly Intel was/is having trouble getting their 10nm to squeeze out any type of economically viable product).