P7 CPU Chip

[Takeda]

While working for IBM, I developed, and taught a semiconductor (microelectronics) course. One of my "show and tells" was a P7 CPU chip (wafer, and modules). The P7 was developed by IBM in 2009, using a 45nm (nanometer) technology. 45nm is the minimum feature size (poly width) for the chip design. The P7 successor is the P8 CPU.

Here are some photos, that I thought would be of interest. The DOF is extremely shallow in some of the photos, even at f/22.


1 300mm silicon wafer. Red rectangle is one of many P7 CPU chips on the wafer.



2 Closer image of P7 CPU chip.



3 P7 CPU chip size comparison to penny.



4 Magnified edge of P7 CPU chip.



5 Magnified edge of P7 CPU chip.



6 Eye of needle used for size reference. Spherical shapes are solder balls used for I/O, power, and ground connections to chip.



7 Black rectangle is backside of “diced” chip attached to ceramic substrate. Chip solder balls are reflowed to attach chip to ceramic substrate.



8 Edge of ceramic substrate.



9 Bottom of ceramic substrate. Gold pads are for chip connections to socket/card.



10 Top of completed module.

[Takeda]

11 Edge of completed module.



12 Bottom of completed module.

[Zone 5]

That is REALLY cool!!!

[MacGyver]

Definitely cool stuff!

[cfm]

[MMarsha]

I'd like to know more about chips and how they are made and what an engineer thinks about when improving them and so on.

[Skill Saw 30]

Originally Posted by MarylandMark

I'd like to know more about chips and how they are made and what an engineer thinks about when improving them and so on.

if I gave you one of my "vlsi" text books,,it would give you a headache.

[Zone 5]

Originally Posted by MarylandMark

I'd like to know more about chips and how they are made and what an engineer thinks about when improving them and so on.

What S30 said. One of my friends is a design engineer and has a few patents on different kinds of chips. I've looked at the drawings of the layers, and the amount there is mind boggling.

[Skill Saw 30]

Originally Posted by Zone 5

What S30 said. One of my friends is a design engineer and has a few patents on different kinds of chips. I've looked at the drawings of the layers, and the amount there is mind boggling.

well,now computers do the lay out,you just specify the modules job.old days they did it by pen and paper.

[Takeda]

Originally Posted by Zone 5

What S30 said. One of my friends is a design engineer and has a few patents on different kinds of chips. I've looked at the drawings of the layers, and the amount there is mind boggling.

Originally Posted by Sutphen30

if I gave you one of my "vlsi" text books,,it would give you a headache.

Originally Posted by Zone 5

Yup, its like what is making the BF's server do its magic.

Here is one you can buy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-pSeries-...-/160660958501

Originally Posted by Sutphen30

well,now computers do the lay out,you just specify the modules job.old days they did it by pen and paper.

Thanks guys!

[Zone 5]

Originally Posted by Sutphen30

well,now computers do the lay out,you just specify the modules job.old days they did it by pen and paper.

He did a ton of it on AutoCad. He had the blow ups printouts on his office windows. pretty neat stuff.

[GRH]

Those are really cool pics.. I don;t understand them... but they are cool! You are/were an IBM'er.... today was my wife's thirty-third anniversary with IBM.... 1/14/81....

[MIKES280]

that is really cool , way over my head but something tells me I use them and don't even know it.

[Takeda]

Originally Posted by Zone 5

That is REALLY cool!!!

Originally Posted by MacGyver

Definitely cool stuff!

Originally Posted by cfm

Originally Posted by MarylandMark

I'd like to know more about chips and how they are made and what an engineer thinks about when improving them and so on.

Originally Posted by GRH

Those are really cool pics.. I don;t understand them... but they are cool! You are/were an IBM'er.... today was my wife's thirty-third anniversary with IBM.... 1/14/81....

Thanks Everybody!

I retired from IBM March '12 with 39 years of service.

[GRH]

Originally Posted by Takeda

Thanks Everybody!

I retired from IBM March '12 with 39 years of service.

Well then as you already know.... 30+ years at IBM is becoming a rarity.... congratulations on your retirement