[New Zhiyuan Introduction] TSMC and Samsung announced in April that they have once again climbed the ladder of Moore's Law. TSMC first said that its 5-nanometer manufacturing process is now in so-called "risk production", and Samsung quickly followed up with a similar statement. Analysts say the data meet expectations. However, compared to the 50% efficiency improvement ten years ago, Moore's Law is obviously no more than in the past. But judging from the investments of large OEMs, customers still think it is worth it.
The two largest foundries in the world, , TSMC (TSMC) and Samsung (Samsung), announced in April that they have taken another step on the ladder of Moore's Law. TSMC spoke first, saying that its 5-nanometer manufacturing process is currently in the so-called "risk production" stage, and the company believes that it has completed this process, but initial customers are trying whether this process can be used on their own products. Samsung then quickly issued a similar statement.
TSMC says its 5nm process provides 15% speed gain or 30% energy efficiency improvement. Samsung promises to improve performance by 10% or 20% energy efficiency. Analysts say the numbers are in line with expectations. However, compared to the 50% improvement a decade ago, it is clear that Moore's Law is not as it used to be. But judging from the investments of large OEMs, customers still think it is worth it.
Why is 5 nanometers special?
5 nanonode is the first to be made using extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) technology from the beginning. At a wavelength of only 13.5 nanometers, EUV lamps can produce very fine patterns on silicon. Some of these patterns can be made with previous generation lithography tools, but these tools must place three or four different patterns in succession to achieve only one step in the EUV.
Performance and Energy Efficiency Improvement
No EUV, the foundry started the 7nm production, but later used it to replace the lithographic steps and increase the yield. At 5 nm, the foundry is considered to use 10 to 12 EUV steps, and if the old technology is used, it will take 30 steps or even more if it can use the old technology.
Because the mask containing patterns is very expensive, and the investment per lithography machine itself is as high as $100 million, so "the EUV cost per layer is higher," said G.Dan Hutcheson of VLSI Research. But for every wafer, this is a net income gap, and EUV will form the core of all future processes.
Who will use this new process?
The new manufacturing process is not suitable for everyone. At least not yet. But both companies identified a number of possible early adopters, including suppliers that produce smartphone application processors and 5G infrastructure. "You have to have a lot of products, and you need speed or energy efficiency improvements," said Len Jelinek, a semiconductor manufacturing analyst at IHS Markit. "It's also important who you are competing with. Graphics processing units, field programmable gate arrays and high-performance microprocessors were once the first to exploit Moore's Law. But as competition in these markets decreases, mobile processors need new technologies to differentiate themselves, he said.
only is it left for TSMC and Samsung?
Only TSMC and Samsung provide 5nm foundry services. According to analysts, global foundries abandoned production at 14 nanometers, while Intel (Intel) has been several years late to launch a product equivalent to competitor 7 nanometer technology, so it is believed to be withdrawing from its foundry service.
Samsung and TSMC continue to exist because they can afford investment and expect reasonable returns. By revenue, Samsung was the largest chip manufacturer in 2018, but its foundry business ranked fourth, with TSMC leading the way. TSMC capital expenditure in 2018 was US$10 billion. Samsung expects to reach this level every year by 2030.
Only two companies have the most advanced manufacturing processes. Can the industry operate? "Is the question not possible for the industry to function?" Hutcheson said. “It has to work."As long as we have at least two viable solutions, the entire industry will be very comfortable." ”
What is next?
Traditionally, chip manufacturers’ layouts are: 5 nanometers below 7 nanometers and 3 nanometers below 5 nanometers. But analysts say foundries are expected to offer a variety of technologies and make incremental improvements to fill the gap. In fact, both Samsung and TSMC are providing what they call a 6-nanometer process. Foundries will need these intermediate products to meet customers’ needs close to the edge of Moore’s Law. After all, there are not many numbers between 5 and 0.
Reference source:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/another-step-toward-the-end-of-moores-law
