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IBM (Quote, Chart) and AMD (Quote, Chart) have devised a new silicon transistor technology they claim will boost the speeds of single- and dual-core chips. (excerpts) The process, known as "Dual Stress Liner," uses IBM and AMD's jointly developed strained silicon technology and could increase transistor speed as much as 24 percent without using any additional power, the two companies said. IBM and AMD said the technique works without the help of additional new processes, which may be welcome news for chipmakers struggling to boost chip speeds without overheating computer systems. "Innovation has surpassed scaling as the primary driver of...

Time for new thinking on China trade By Douglas B. Fuller  |  August 24, 2004 IN RECENT MONTHS the United States has claimed several victories in keeping trade with China free and fair. From China's decision to postpone indefinitely its protectionist wireless networking standard to the recent US-China semiconductor agreement, China has dropped policies favoring domestic firms in the face of US pressure. US trade officials have been quick to point to these agreements as proof that trade liberalization under the World Trade Organization rules is working. Critics of US trade policy such as Alan Tonelson have charged that China...

Chinese government policies that favor Chinese companies over foreign firms are driving some U.S. tech companies from the booming market. This month, chipmakers Intel and Broadcom said they'll stop selling wireless Internet, or Wi-Fi, chips in China. A new law requires that the chips include a security technology licensed by Chinese companies. The technology can hurt chips' performance and compatibility with other devices, says Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy. And implementing it requires U.S. chipmakers to share valuable intellectual property with Chinese companies, says Semiconductor Industry Association President George Scalise. The Wi-Fi dispute is one of several being waged between the...