David Lions wrote:

> Why does using a smaller micron process make a chip faster and draw less
> power?

consider an ant and an elephant:
To fight gravity the ant need only lift a milimeter column of antflesh;
a trivial task.
The Elephant however has up to 3-4 meters of flesh bearing down on it's
footprint, strength is not all, this flesh needs to fight extreme
compression as well as actual movement.

The smaller micron process means that just about everything except
resistance is reduced:

->Distance: less area, less track length means signals get there
faster.   Also inductance of tracks is reduced allowing more steeper
logic state change gradients. (edges)

->Area: less area means less heat loss so less power is needed.

->Reduced voltage: less resistive heating, less power, cooler.

->Cost: smaller process means more circuitry in the same area=cheaper.

>
> Thanks,
> David.