Nm is an acronym for Nanometer. It is used to measure the length in a metric system like centimeters, meters, etc. A nanometer is also used to reveal dimensions on the atomic scale. It is often referred to as a technology node or process node in technology.
One nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter. So you can’t use nanometers to measure extended distances. Instead, they are used to measure microscopic objects or devices like transistors found in CPUs or atomic structures.
Companies use nanometer technology to measure the distance between adjoining transistors in processors or sizes of transistors used in tablets, laptops, phones, etc. Nanometers are also great for measuring the dimensions of integrated circuits like computer processors since they consist of tiny components.
Various types of processors are measured using nanometers. Manufacturers use different numbers to indicate the distance between the transistors and other parts in the CPU.
Manufacturers like Intel, TSMC, and Samsung use nanometers in manufacturing procedures because that’s how you will know how transistors are placed in the processor. If the number is small like 4nm, 5nm, 7nm, 10nm, etc., it means more transistors are placed in the same areas. This allows for more efficient and faster processors.
It is also essential to note that numerous chipset manufacturers use nanometers differently. For example, the 10nm node can compete with TMSC’s 7nm node in terms of efficiency despite the different numbers.
The performance of transistors is not directly proportional to their sizes, and that is because manufacturers measure them differently. Therefore, it is better to use these numbers as a marketing strategy to segment transistors rather than their power or accurate sizes.