Why are CPU and GPU manufacturers trying to make transistors smaller and smaller instead of making the chips bigger so they can put more transistors?

Question

Why are CPU and GPU manufacturers trying to make transistors smaller and smaller instead of making the chips bigger so they can put more transistors?

In: 11

Answer 1

While some comments touch on the topic of distance and latency, I really want to press the importance of this point. If you get too large then the latency gets to the point where it’s difficult to synchronise across the chip. If things aren’t in sync then it’s not going to function.