A 1.2 GHz Alpha microprocessor with 44.8 GB/s chip pin bandwidth

Abstract

A 4th-generation Alpha microprocessor running at 1.2 GHz delivers up to 44.8 GB/s chip pin bandwidth and dissipates 125 W at 1.5 V. It contains a 1.75 MB 2nd level write-back-cache, two memory controllers supporting 8 Rambus/sup TM/ channels running at 800 Mb/s, four 6.4 GB/s inter-processor communication ports, and a separate 10 port capable of 6.4 GB/s. The chip measures 21.1/spl times/18.8 mm/sup 2/, contains 130 M transistors and is fabricated in a 0.18 /spl mu/m bulk CMOS process with 7 levels of copper interconnect.