[Business Korea] Nvidia dumping TSMC in favor of Samsung

[Mondozei]

So it looks like AMD's assumed node advantage is melting down by the minute. Nvidia is now essentially dumping TSMC's 16 nm FinFet for Samsung's equivalent Business Korea reports.

Just for those who are unaware of the background story, this is a good read to explain how all of this happened.

 

[Grooveriding]

Couldn't this end badly for us if Samsung screws it up ? Have they built any high performance chips before ? I thought they only made SOCs for the most part ? Maybe they make more than that, I have no idea.

 

[Silverforce11]

1. Samsung are making 14ff stuff for a few big companies, NV included. What they are making, is less clear.

2. Nobody should take Samsung lightly, this is why TSMC will pay dearly for their arrogance. GloFo is already onboard with Samsung's 14ff, so whenever they are ready, expect it for AMD products.

 

[96Firebird]

Looks like Samsung/GloFo have 2 fabs in the US that are 14nm mass-production sites; that is something I can get behind.

 

[Silverforce11]

Couldn't this end badly for us if Samsung screws it up ? Have they built any high performance chips before ? I thought they only made SOCs for the most part ? Maybe they make more than that, I have no idea.

Samsung makes a lot of products, including hardware & computing for military and space industries too.

Their record is nothing but astounding.

Their only short coming thus far is a very lack lustre GPU tech for mobiles.

 

[5150Joker]

If I had to guess, NVIDIA will probably start off by having Samsung make Tegra chips and then see how well they can deliver. Then they might trial a few low and middle tier GPUs before making the full switch. They've had a long relationship with TSMC so I don't see them dumping them quite yet. Oh and the guy that screwed TSMC really did a number on them but that's typical Samsung, they're a conglomerate based on ripping other's technology.

 

[Elixer]

If that story is correct, and if sammy did steal trade secrets, I would think TSMC has a huge club in their hands, and would see who stays 'loyal' to them and who don't.
Then, once enough volume was produced by sammy, TSMC swoops into the courts, bans all products made with that stolen tech, and all those companies that switched are now in a dire position.

/me gets out the popcorn.

 

[3DVagabond]

Wait and see if Samsung steals nVidia IP?

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Their record is nothing but astounding.
Their only short coming thus far is a very lack lustre GPU tech for mobiles.

Their mobile division sh*t the bed and are taking my company along for the ride.
At least Samsung put a bunch of their mobile execs on the chopping block.

 

[Ken145]

Could this be what Kepler patent trolling was all about? To get a better deal on samsung finfets?

 

[bononos]

If that story is correct, and if sammy did steal trade secrets, I would think TSMC has a huge club in their hands, and would see who stays 'loyal' to them and who don't.
Then, once enough volume was produced by sammy, TSMC swoops into the courts, bans all products made with that stolen tech, and all those companies that switched are now in a dire position.

/me gets out the popcorn.

TSMC would still want those companies to be its partners for the next season and going forward into the future. Putting them out of business wouldn't be in its best interests. Getting a large compensation and disciplining the turncoat employee is more likely what TSMC would want.

 

[JoeRambo]

Great news! I guess rumours about TSMC doubling R&D expenditure were true I hope competition will make them pay dearly for arrogance and incompetence. Imagine if we had GTX980 on 22nm+FF like node...

 

[NTMBK]

Notice how it talks about "AP" in that article? AP = Application Processor. This could well just be referring to Tegra... same as the "OMG NVidia 20nm in 2015" rumours turned out to be about Tegra X1.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Notice how it talks about "AP" in that article? AP = Application Processor. This could well just be referring to Tegra... same as the "OMG NVidia 20nm in 2015" rumours turned out to be about Tegra X1.

Yep. Samsung isnt even designing a high performance node either. And if Samsung isnt, then GloFo isnt. I dont think Samsung even got a single IC customer with a design over 10W.

 

[Silverforce11]

Yep. Samsung isnt even designing a high performance node either. And if Samsung isnt, then GloFo isnt. I dont think Samsung even got a single IC customer with a design over 10W.

The question is will there be a dedicated "high performance" (high clocks) node moving forward? Most of the revenue now come from mobile SOCs.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The question is will there be a dedicated "high performance" (high clocks) node moving forward? Most of the revenue now come from mobile SOCs.

Its a niche node for anyone but Intel really. It will come, but it wont be the first one. Thats also why the GPU is playing second fiddle or even third in the node race. However we are looking at TSMC again to supply that.

 

[Haserath]

he worked for a few years at American processor vendor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and then returned to Taiwan at the age of 40 in 1992 to work for TSMC.

In 2003, TSMC's home-grown technology overtook IBM's, and the company drew worldwide attention for its 0.13 micron copper damascene process...contribution of Liang, who was responsible for the Advanced Modules Division,

It goes back further than they thought!()

 

[dangerman1337]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nvidia moves off from TSMC entirely seeing how Apple will be gobbling up supply.

 

[n0x1ous]

Nice find OP - thanks for the links!

 

[Despoiler]

That was a great article! Thanks OP.

 

[NTMBK]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nvidia moves off from TSMC entirely seeing how Apple will be gobbling up supply.

Apple are going back to Samsung for 14nm.

 

[gdansk]

Looks like TSMC is going to take a beating on the 16nm process.

 

[blastingcap]

If I had to guess, NVIDIA will probably start off by having Samsung make Tegra chips and then see how well they can deliver. Then they might trial a few low and middle tier GPUs before making the full switch. They've had a long relationship with TSMC so I don't see them dumping them quite yet.

I concur.

 

[geoxile]

I guess it's pretty much confirmed that Samsung fixed their FF yield issues while TSMC is still suffering.

 

[lopri]

Could this be what Kepler patent trolling was all about? To get a better deal on samsung finfets?

That is what I think. They probably wanted access.