Discussion Leading Edge Foundry Node advances (TSMC, Samsung Foundry, Intel) - [2020 - 2025]

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DisEnchantment

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Mar 3, 2017
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TSMC's N7 EUV is now in its second year of production and N5 is contributing to revenue for TSMC this quarter. N3 is scheduled for 2022 and I believe they have a good chance to reach that target.

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N7 performance is more or less understood.
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This year and next year TSMC is mainly increasing capacity to meet demands.

For Samsung the nodes are basically the same from 7LPP to 4 LPE, they just add incremental scaling boosters while the bulk of the tech is the same.

Samsung is already shipping 7LPP and will ship 6LPP in H2. Hopefully they fix any issues if at all.
They have two more intermediate nodes in between before going to 3GAE, most likely 5LPE will ship next year but for 4LPE it will probably be back to back with 3GAA since 3GAA is a parallel development with 7LPP enhancements.


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Samsung's 3GAA will go for HVM in 2022 most likely, similar timeframe to TSMC's N3.
There are major differences in how the transistor will be fabricated due to the GAA but density for sure Samsung will be behind N3.
But there might be advantages for Samsung with regards to power and performance, so it may be better suited for some applications.
But for now we don't know how much of this is true and we can only rely on the marketing material.

This year there should be a lot more available wafers due to lack of demand from Smartphone vendors and increased capacity from TSMC and Samsung.
Lots of SoCs which dont need to be top end will be fabbed with N7 or 7LPP/6LPP instead of N5, so there will be lots of wafers around.

Most of the current 7nm designs are far from the advertized density from TSMC and Samsung. There is still potential for density increase compared to currently shipping products.
N5 is going to be the leading foundry node for the next couple of years.

For a lot of fabless companies out there, the processes and capacity available are quite good.

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FEEL FREE TO CREATE A NEW THREAD FOR 2025+ OUTLOOK, I WILL LINK IT HERE
 
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511

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2024
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So long as no one tells him that little of Apple's stuff will be made in the US, because Arizona only gets a new node when the even newer node enters mass production in Taiwan.
After 3-4 years and barely any capacity compared to Taiwan.
 

ToTTenTranz

Senior member
Feb 4, 2021
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I am totally taking it with a grain of salt - that Intel would fab their iGPUs and dGPUs at TSMC while NVidia would fab their at Intel fabs

If Nvidia has a significant architectural advantage over Intel in GPUs, it's not unthinkable that Intel would need to pay more to get their chips made on TSMC for some added competitiveness from the process, while Nvidia pays less for Intel's process.
 

marees

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2024
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As per jobless korean tweeter (internet analyst) Jukanlosreve:

Samsung Electronics has announced that it has signed a new $16.5 billion contract to supply semiconductors to a "major global corporation" — which is rumored to be Tesla for FSD chips.

The new $16.5 billion contract started on July 24, 2025 and runs through to December 31, 2033.

 
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poke01

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Mar 8, 2022
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As per jobless korean tweeter (internet analyst) Jukanlosreve:

Samsung Electronics has announced that it has signed a new $16.5 billion contract to supply semiconductors to a "major global corporation" — which is rumored to be Tesla for FSD chips.

The new $16.5 billion contract started on July 24, 2025 and runs through to December 31, 2033.

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welp, no Intel here
 

marees

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2024
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It is Tesla
And 2nm

Samsung Electronics did not specifically identify its customers through the disclosure, but it is known that it plans to mass-produce semiconductors from American big-tech companies through the 2㎚ process of Taylor Fab (fab factory) in Texas, USA.

 

marees

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2024
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As per jobless korean tweeter (internet analyst) Jukanlosreve:

Samsung Electronics has announced that it has signed a new $16.5 billion contract to supply semiconductors to a "major global corporation" — which is rumored to be Tesla for FSD chips.

The new $16.5 billion contract started on July 24, 2025 and runs through to December 31, 2033.

Samsung is barely managing to stay afloat living on the crumbs of TSMC leftovers

Samsung Electronics will produce Tesla's AI6 chips at its Taylor fab in Texas, USA. The order is said to include 2nm process as well as 4nm process volumes.

An industry official stated, "The production cost per wafer for the 2nm process exceeds $20,000, and Samsung Electronics likely offered a lower price to Tesla to enhance competitiveness." They added, "Amidst this, the 2nm process yield remains sluggish at 20%, indicating that Samsung is focusing on publicizing the reference externally, even if it means incurring a loss."

Following the disclosure of this order, it is rumored that internally within Samsung Electronics' foundry division, there was an evaluation expressing "puzzlement as the current 2nm process yield is not at a level to handle such a large order." Nevertheless, the decision to proceed with the order despite anticipating a loss is because securing a large big tech customer for the 2nm process alone carries significant implications for the industry.

the Tesla AI6 chip order is seen as an opportunity for Samsung Electronics to make its presence felt among TSMC's customers. As foundry process yields improve with increased utilization, securing a reference alone can contribute to enhancing external credibility.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics' foundry division incurred an operating loss of over KRW 4 trillion in the first half of this year alone. Analysts suggest that it will be difficult to significantly improve profitability in the short term due to current yield issues.

 

Joe NYC

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Jun 26, 2021
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After 3-4 years and barely any capacity compared to Taiwan.

After 3-4 years of construction of Phase I. Ramp to 20k wafers per month is expected this year.

BTW, Intel broke ground nearby on their foundry, and the expected output this year is 0 wafers per month. While Intel were boasting how much better Intel is at constructing fabs, how it has none of the problems encountered by TSMC.
 
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511

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Jul 12, 2024
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BTW, Intel broke ground nearby on their foundry, and the expected output this year is 0 wafers per month. While Intel were boasting how much better Intel is at constructing fabs, how it has none of the problems encountered by TSMC.
0 I have a bridge to sell you they are running wafers through Arizona rn where is the source for 0 wafer from ?
Intel made 1 Million wafers last year in US alone btw
 

Joe NYC

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Jun 26, 2021
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0 I have a bridge to sell you they are running wafers through Arizona rn where is the source for 0 wafer from ?
Intel made 1 Million wafers last year in US alone btw

I am talking about Intel's Arizona fab, which broke ground same year (2021) as TSMC and was supposed to go into production in 2024. This was wat Gelsinger was bragging about.

Instead, TSMC fab is now in full production and output from Intl Arizona fab is now delayed to 2026.

I wonder if the original plan was to produce 20A Arrow Lake there...
 

511

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Jul 12, 2024
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I am talking about Intel's Arizona fab, which broke ground same year (2021) as TSMC and was supposed to go into production in 2024. This was wat Gelsinger was bragging about.

Instead, TSMC fab is now in full production and output from Intl Arizona fab is now delayed to 2026.

I wonder if the original plan was to produce 20A Arrow Lake there...
than you are right but that was cancelled with 20A to produce ARL there in 2025 they are currently running Wafers in Arizona Intel ain't got customer beside Intel Products
 

511

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Jul 12, 2024
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Intel needs 5 Billion$ in external Foundry revenue to make it viable. Imagine being the creator and the joke of Chips industry at the same time