They do destroy the chip. Apparently you can strip off layers with the same lithography technique used to etch the silicon in the first place.
Brad > -----Original Message----- > From: Luuk Paulussen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 3:20 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Upgrading my PC, any pointers? > > > > >On Wed, 2003-11-26 at 09:58, Luuk Paulussen wrote: > > > >Maybe - but I'd bet every new card that comes out gets > bought up by > > > >the other guy & completely pulled apart in a lab. > > > > > > I'd like to see someone pull apart a silicon chip and see how it > > > works. > > > >Yes, you probably would. It's a fascinating process. > > I was more referring to the fact that it would be very > difficult to do > without destroying the chip. Even once they have it all > apart, they still > have to translate the transistors to gates and functional > blocks and figure > out what the thing was doing. - No small task when the > transistor numbers > are in the millions. I was mainly thinking of the chips encased in > plastic/resin. I don't think there is really an easy way to > remove the > casing - unless it's etchable... > > ok, this thread is possibly going off topic... > > _________________________________________________________________ > Download MSN Messenger @ http://messenger.xtramsn.co.nz - > talk to family > and friends overseas! > >
