---
layout: post.vto
title: the scale of a chip
category: post
---

## The Scale of a Chip

Over the years, chip technology has evolved at an incredible rate. Let’s take a journey through time, exploring how the size of chips has changed, and compare their scale to everyday objects.

### 1. **Intel 4004 (1971)**
The Intel 4004 was the world's first microprocessor. Measuring around **12 mm²**, it housed 2,300 transistors. Back then, it was a revolution, even though its size was comparable to a postage stamp. 
![Intel 4004](/img/die_shot_intel_4004.png)

### 2. **Pentium (1993)**
Jumping forward to the Intel Pentium, this chip had a size of around **294 mm²** and featured more than 3 million transistors. If the 4004 was the size of a postage stamp, the Pentium was more akin to a quarter. 
![Pentium](/img/die_shot_pentium_orig.jpg)

### 3. **Core i7 (2010)**
With the Intel Core i7 (Nehalem), chips took a quantum leap forward. This processor had a die size of **263 mm²** but boasted billions of transistors, allowing for enormous computational power. In comparison, the size was more like a large coin or poker chip.
![Intel Core i7](/img/die_shot_intel_i7_nehalem.jpg)

### 4. **Apple M1 (2020)**
Fast-forward to the Apple M1 chip, which boasts a die size of around **120 mm²** and incorporates 16 billion transistors. Despite being smaller in physical size, its processing power dwarfs older chips. The M1 is about the size of a fingertip.
![Apple M1](/img/die_shot_apple_m1.avif)

### 5. **NVIDIA A100 (2020)**
The NVIDIA A100 GPU, targeted at AI and machine learning, has an astonishing die size of **826 mm²** with over 54 billion transistors. The size of the die is comparable to a matchbox.

### 6. **Modern Chips (2023)**
Chips today, like the **AMD Zen 4** or the **Intel 14th Gen**, have shrunk in size but grown in performance. These chips are often smaller than a dime, but they pack incredible processing power, utilizing cutting-edge 5nm and 3nm manufacturing processes.

### Comparison Summary

| Chip | Year | Size (mm²) | Transistors | Size Comparison |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Intel 4004 | 1971 | 12 | 2,300 | Postage Stamp |
| Intel Pentium | 1993 | 294 | 3 Million | Quarter |
| Intel Core i7 | 2010 | 263 | Billions | Poker Chip |
| Apple M1 | 2020 | 120 | 16 Billion | Fingertip |
| NVIDIA A100 | 2020 | 826 | 54 Billion | Matchbox |

As technology progresses, chip sizes shrink while transistor count grows, leading to more powerful and efficient processors. The journey of microchips is a testament to human ingenuity in miniaturization.