Moore’s Law survives in Intel’s Cannon Lake chip

Intel has kept Moore's Law relevant by revealing a 2-in-1 device running the firm's Cannon Lake' chip at CES 2017.

Moore's Law, which predicts that the number of transistors in a circuit will double every two years, has proved true since its introduction in the 1960s, but speculation has mounted since 2012 that the law will soon falter as technological progression reaches a peak.

But Intel CEO Brian Krzanich used the new PC to demonstrate that "Moore's Law is alive and well and flourishing", according to Digital Trends.

The publication reported that the unnamed 2-in-1 PC is the first to feature a 10nm chip, which Krzanich said will allow hardware manufacturers to build slimmer, more powerful devices that can better support virtual reality.

He added: "So for those who are wondering if Moore's Law is alive, is 10 nanometers going to be here, the answer is absolutely yes. And I believe Moore's Law will be well beyond my career alive and well and kicking."

Intel's 10nm chip will feature in other products before the end of 2017, Digital Trends reported, with a recent Intel leak suggesting the Cannon Lake processor design could also push into 2018 in the form of Kaby Lake U and H chips.

Qualcomm also announced a 10nm chip, the Qualcomm Centriq 2400, at CES yesterday, after teasing them in December.

Previous reports suggest Intel will start production of 7nm chips in 2020, and 5nm in 2022 if silicon remains a cost-effective material for processors.