Intel's Tick-Tock Model

Driving technology innovation on a reliable and predictable timeline, Intel developed a model designed to deliver ongoing innovation. Referred to as our “tick-tock model” Intel has successfully alternated and delivered the next-generation of silicon technology as well as new processor microarchitecture year after year.

Tick-tock in action

Year 1: First the "Tick"

Intel delivers new silicon process technology, dramatically increasing transistor density while enhancing performance and energy efficiency within a smaller, more refined version of our existing microarchitecture.

Year 2: Then the "Tock"

Intel delivers entirely new processor microarchitecture to optimize the value of the increased number of transistors and technology updates now available.

Predictable processor advancements

Intel design teams work in parallel around the globe to deliver coordinated technology advances based on our tick-tock model. The results can be seen in launches such as the Intel® Core™2 processor family, delivering industry-leading performance and energy efficiency on 65nm Intel® Core™ microarchitecture (tock). More recently, the same microarchitecture was refined and implemented on 45nm Intel® process technology (tick), delivering significant performance gains while dramatically decreasing transistor size.

Moore's Law

Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years. See how Intel has kept that pace for nearly 40 years.

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Intel's tick-tock breakthroughs

Intel® 65nm silicon technology (Tick)
Original Intel® Core™ microarchitecture (Tock)
Intel® 45nm silicon technology (Tick)
New Intel Core microarchitecture (Tock)
Intel® 32nm silicon technology (Tick)

Where we're going and where we've been

Innovation driven by microprocessor advances.

Supporting industry-wide innovation

Thousands of vendors use Intel® processors in their product designs. To help ensure and meet their needs, Intel invests heavily in research efforts to support next-generation solutions at the silicon level, while driving industry-wide standards. Combined with the predictability of Intel’s tick-tock model, these efforts help enable faster, more efficient innovation throughout the industry.

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