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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511

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Jul 12, 2024
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Intel foundry either needs to provide cheap stuff or stuff that is insanely good to stand out lol.
Samsung will just get few more Government money thrown at them anyway.
 

511

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2024
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its about ptl being stangant in 1t
any efficiency improvement was not leaked? if they can achive a 30% power reduction for similar ST that would still be marketable and considering CGC IS A LNC+(GLC -> RWC) they can save face if the PPA Curve remains the same as LNL than 18A is a disaster.
 
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eek2121

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2005
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yeah it's really funny how Intel is just like getting no foundry wins compared to even SF (badyields struggle sessions galore).

Intel Foundry is dead I guess.

Yeah that's like the funniest part.
Packaging is a low margin business. What you want is to fab stuff, and Intel can't.

I think they just need to execute on at least a single node well and oh boy turns out 18A is NOT THAT

Yes, it is very sad, actually. I know a lot of people have hate for Intel, but there was a time when their products and fans were top notch. Now it seems like they constantly reach for the moon and fall off a cliff.

EDIT: I haven’t been keeping up with this forum, so in case it wasn’t shared here: IFS is said to be done if Intel can’t find customers. They will exit the business completely.
 

poke01

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2022
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Trump just publicly called for Lip Bu Tan to step down. Stock down 3% pre-market. What a disaster....what next?
Remember not just trump we got us senators calling out Tan too. That’s more serious.
 

Josh128

Golden Member
Oct 14, 2022
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Remember not just trump we got us senators calling out Tan too. That’s more serious.

I didnt realize that, have any links? If thats the case, this isnt going away anytime soon. What a PR disaster. Intel cant catch a break lately.
 

poke01

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2022
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poke01

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“In a letter to Intel board Chair Frank Yeary, Cotton pointed to reporting on Lip-Bu Tan’s investments in hundreds of Chinese tech firms, at least eight of which have ties to the Chinese military, according to Reuters“

Wait what??????? I can’t, nah. I changed my mind, Tan can go. Actually the whole board can go.
 

511

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2024
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Better question would be why so many US companies invested into China over the last 30 years, guess all those CEOs needs to be fired too - this cost jobs and manufacturing, where as Tan invested... presumably his own money?
Yes he is a VC so it's expected
 
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Win2012R2

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Dec 5, 2024
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Yes he is a VC so it's expected
If he is VC then he likely pooled money with a bunch of others to share risk, and most likely he won't even be making decisions on most of those companies, there are people who do that stuff working for him.

Either way if it's suddenly illegal to own shares in Chinese companies then this new sudden "law" should apply to all, not just Tan with 10 nanosecond notice.