On Thu, 2007-08-30 at 07:02 -0400, William Case wrote: > Hi; > > I have been reading up on the functions of CPUs. In particular, I have > found a lot of great info about MOSFET transitors. However, I haven't > been able to find (or if I have, I didn't know what I was looking at) > the levels (actual values) of High Voltage, Low Voltage and Threshold > Voltage used by a typical modern Intel or AMD CPU transistor. > > If this is not a sensible or logical question, what should I be asking > or looking for? I just want to get a sense of the amount of electrical > input/output that is being used in processing. > > I don't intend to build transistors in my garage and I am long past the > need to have help with my homework. I am just curious about computers. > > > -- > Regards Bill > Hi, Bill, Go to the INTEL website: www.intel.com. On the right side is a menu. Choose processors. From the list choose a processor of interest, and read the specification sheet (spec sheet is typically what techs call it. Marketeers often call it the Product Specification). Essentially the vdd is the voltage capability of the transistors. The speeds are dependent upon technology used in the design of the chip, the dopant, the quality of the silicon and various physical parameters related to packaging which limits the response speed of the I/O pins. The spec sheet will tell you all these things. What you are likely interested in is Rt or Risetime, Ft or fall time, and maximum clock speed. These parameters will give you the basics. Some additional information about processors that determine their response capability to external signals is what is called setup time (the time one signal must be present before another signal can strobe for it), hold time (the time after the strobe signal which is required for a reliable latch of the signal into the next stage or state), and relative timing of addressing or mode signals. All of this is in the specification. The same process will help you with TI or AMD products as well. Regards, Les H
