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Samsung (Samsung) announced the mass production of 3 nanometer GAA technology. It attracted strong attention from inside and outside the industry. Due to the competitive situation between Samsung and TSMC in the field of advanced manufacturing processes, the Taiwanese industry is paying even more attention to this. According to Taiwanese media reports, industry experts on the island said that the global GAA ecosystem is not yet fully in place. Mass production of Samsung's 3-nanometer GAA technology is "rushing the duck to the shelves". It should only be used by itself at present, and there are no external customers.
Samsung is actively competing for the wafer foundry market. In order to overtake its rival TSMC in a corner, it decided to adopt the surround gate (GAA) architecture in 3nm, and in the first half of the year before TSMC’s 3nm mass production in the second half of the year. On the last day, mass production of 3nm GAA technology was announced.
Although South Korean semiconductor analyst Greg Roh was interviewed recently, he viewed the progress of Samsung's 3-nanometer process positively, saying that the yield rate of Samsung's 3-nanometer process has increased much faster than market expectations, and the rate of new customers is quite fast. It is reported that mining machine chip designer Shanghai Pansilicon Semiconductor is a customer of Samsung's 3-nanometer process. In addition, American chip manufacturer Qualcomm has also ordered Samsung's 3-nanometer production capacity, but it will be put into production depending on the situation.
However, Yang Ruilin, research director of the International Institute of Obstetrics and Mechanics of Taiwan Industrial Research Institute, holds a different view. He pointed out that ASML is the first high-numerical aperture extreme ultraviolet (high-NA EUV) lithography exposure equipment produced by Belgian Microelectronics Research Center . It is expected that It will be completed and used for research and development in 2023. It is speculated that Samsung's 3-nanometer GAA technology mass production will not use high-NA EUV lithography exposure equipment. In addition, GAA-related etching and measurement problems have yet to be overcome, and materials, chemicals, etc. also need to be improved. Yang Ruilin said that the global GAA ecosystem is not yet fully in place, and mass production of Samsung's nano-GAA technology at this time is "rushing the ducks to market." .
Yang Ruilin believes that if Samsung adopts existing solutions in the market, it is not that it cannot mass-produce 3-nanometer GAA technology. The key is that the cost will increase, the delivery time will be lengthened, the yield rate will be slow, and the quality may not be good. Since it is difficult to establish a cost model, it is difficult for Samsung to quote prices to customers. It is expected that Samsung's 3-nanometer GAA technology will only be used by itself and will not have external customers. In addition, Liu Peizhen, a semiconductor research expert on the island, also said that Samsung has not yet received actual orders for 3 nanometers and announced mass production of the 3 nanometer process. The promotional significance should be greater than the substantive significance.
Although TSMC’s 3-nanometer chips will not be mass-produced until the second half of the year, Yang Ruilin believes that TSMC’s advanced process development schedule is relatively reasonable and gradual. TSMC’s 3-nanometer chips will be equipped with the innovative FINFLEX architecture to provide chip designers with diverse choices, including support for ultra-high performance , The best power consumption efficiency and transistor density and high efficiency balance between the two.
Shortly before Samsung announced the mass production of 3-nanometer chips, Mi Yujie, senior vice president of research and development at TSMC, said at the North American Technology Forum that TSMC will obtain high-NA EUV exposure equipment in 2024 in response to customers' push for innovation. need. In this regard, Yang Ruilin said that by then the GAA technology-related ecosystem will become more complete, and the 2-nanometer process that is in line with TSMC's nanosheet transistor architecture will begin mass production in 2025. It is expected that TSMC will still maintain its lead in advanced process technology. status.
Liu Peizhen said that TSMC’s 3-nanometer process has already secured orders from Apple ( Intel ) ( Intel ) and other heavyweight customers. Obviously, customers are more interested in TSMC’s 3-nanometer process yield rate, mass production stability and output. Confidence, believing that TSMC will continue to lead the world in advanced manufacturing processes.
