[ GLOSSARY DEFINITION ]
Performance
Lithography
The size of the smallest transistor features; smaller generally means more efficient.
Also known as:
Process
Node
Fabrication
Full Definition & Technical Explanation
Lithography describes the manufacturing process (e.g., 3 nanometers, TSMC). Smaller nodes pack more transistors per mm², improving efficiency and allowing higher clocks at lower power.
See Lithography process and Manufacturing: TSMC / Samsung. Node names are partly marketing — see nanometer.
Related Technical Terms
Nanometer
Unit for chip feature size; 3 nm is today's cutting edge for phones and laptops.
Performance
TDP
Sustained power/heat a chip is designed for; higher allows higher performance with more cooling.
Performance
TSMC
The world's leading chip foundry, fabricating Apple, Qualcomm, and AMD chips.
Performance
Transistor Count
The number of transistors on a chip (in billions); more, on a smaller node, means more performance.
Performance