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by h2odragon 925 days ago
When they get below "1nm" what measure will the switch to; and will it have even less relationship with any reality?
2 comments

Intel is using angstroms, so their "2nm" node is "20A" and the "1.8nm" node is "18A". These of course still don't have any more relationship with the physical size of the transistors than previous Intel, TSMC, or Samsung nodes but it keeps it relatively clean without needing a decimal point in the name.
The nm nomenclature is nominal and not an actual measurement. i It's a concept of the level of improvement. Also not what TSMC uses

https://www.pcgamer.com/intel-renames-process-nodes-intros-a...

Sounds like bullshit has replaced a once useful physical measurement. They should've found a new, real and objective measurement or just given up and used a date or arbitrary version scheme.
The shape and construction of the gates and transistors changed. Minimum feature size ceased to correlate with density/performance in some senses. This scheme has been somewhat arbitrary since about 20nm or so afaik, but expectations are set around what the number communicates, so here we are.