i think i see what you're talking about.

What you're saying is that Intel changed the transistor ratios for Nehalem as opposed to just changing lambda (design rules)?

But wouldn't they have to have changed the L and W for Penryn anyway? For a simple PMOS process, the length of the transistor is determined by first level lithography and the width, second.

So since they nave a 45nm pitch, they would have had to change the L and W anyway. Had they taken Conroe and brought it directly to 45nm, then yeah, you can just change Lambda, but that's not the case.

I guess what i'm wondering is what you wanted me to read on the PDF.

I'm asking all these questions because i'm doing a VLSI lab right now.