Podcasts · The Hardware Podcast with Fexingo: Chips, Devices, and Electronics Engineering Conversations
The Physics Wall Why Chips Cant Shrink Forever
· 9:13 · S1 E2
Episode The Physics Wall Why Chips Cant Shrink Forever
In this episode of The Hardware Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle the semiconductor industry's most pressing challenge: the end of Moore's Law. They explore why transistor scaling has hit a physics wall at the 3-nanometer node, how TSMC and Intel are navigating this transition, and what comes next—from advanced packaging to new materials like graphene and silicon photonics. Lucas explains the concept of Dennard scaling and why power density stopped dropping years ago, while Luna questions whether the industry's obsession with nanometer labels has become marketing theater. They discuss real numbers: the 2.5x increase in design costs per node, the 23,000 watts per square centimeter problem in hot spots, and the role of chiplets and 3D stacking in keeping progress alive. The episode avoids hype, focusing on the genuine engineering trade-offs and the future of specialized hardware for AI and data centers. A grounded look at where silicon goes from here.
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Transcript
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