Monolithic VLSI vs. MCM a perspective on performance, yield, and manufacturing

MCMs are touted as the emerging challenge to monolithic VLSIs. The purported driving forces are performance and economics. While the potentials are attractive, many practical problems remain before MCMs become viable. Furthermore, it is not at clear that MCMs will replace monolithic VLSIs as suggested. The author contrasts these technologies. Using the implementation of a CPU function as an example, he examines the evolution of performance, yields, economics, of both the VLSI implementation and the MCM alternative. It is evident that, at the present time, the lack of a well-developed MCM technical and manufacturing infrastructure limits its penetration. An agenda to address these concerns will be presented. He concludes that MCM is an emerging technology that builds on the continued success of monolithic VLSIs and will augment rather than replace VLSIs