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A CT scanner reveals surprises inside the 386 processor's ceramic package
Intel released the 386 processor in 1985, the first 32-bit chip in the x86 line. This chip was packaged in a ceramic square with 132 gold-pl...
Lumafield performed a 3-D CT scan of the chip for me, revealing six layers of complex wiring hidden inside the ceramic package. Intel selected the 132-pin ceramic package to meet the requirements of a high pin count, good thermal characteristics, and low-noise power to the die. Thus, by adding bond wires, Intel could easily create special chips with these pins connected, perhaps for debugging the test process itself.
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