Source: Content compiled from semiwiki by Semiconductor Industry Observer (ID: icbank), thank you.
With the TSMC Technology Seminar to be held next month, the internals of the fable semiconductor ecosystem are exciting. Not only will TSMC provide an update to N3, we should also hear details about the upcoming N2 process.
hopes TSMC will share again the number of slices confirmed by its latest process nodes. Given the news I've heard in the ecosystem, N3's tapping volume will hit an all-time high. Intel not only joins TSMC's multi-product large-volume N3 production, it is reported that Qualcomm and Nvidia will also use N3 to produce their leading SoCs and GPUs. In fact, it would be easier to list companies that won't use TSMC for 3nm, but I don't know yet. It is obvious that TSMC has definitely won the FinFET battle with a very big advantage.
"The most prominent news in 2021 is that it has successfully attracted more new businesses from Intel while maintaining good relationships with existing customers such as AMD, Qualcomm and Apple. With its 3-nanometer N3 going into mass production later in 2022 with good yields, and the 2-nanometer N2 development is expected to achieve mass production in 2025, TSMC is expected to continue its technological leadership to support its customer innovation and growth. Due to the demand for cutting-edge technologies, TSMC's foundry leadership seems to have become more specific in recent years." said
Gartner analyst SamuelWang.
SemiWiki reported on the TSMC event in the past 11 years, and we will also have bloggers participating this year. This is the number one exchange activity for TSMC customers, partners and suppliers, so I can assure you that there will be a lot to write about.
The following is the latest update of TSMC's technology development:
TSMC's 3nm technology development is progressing smoothly, and a complete HPC and smartphone application platform support has been developed. TSMC N3 will enter mass production in the second half of 2022, with good yields.
TSMC N3E will further expand its 3nm family to enhance performance, power and yield. The company also observed high customer engagement in N3E, which is planned for mass production one year after N3.
Faced with the ongoing challenge of significantly improving semiconductor computing capabilities, TSMC focuses on R&D work and contributes to the success of customers' products by providing leading technology and design solutions. In 2021, the company began to risk production of 3nm technology, which is the 6th generation platform that utilizes 3D transistors, while continuing to develop the leading technology of 2nm in the semiconductor industry today. In addition, the company's research work has promoted exploratory research on nodes above 2nm. TSMC's 2nm technology has entered the technology development stage in 2021, and development is expected to achieve mass production in 2025.
TSMC also launched the N4P process in October 2021, a performance-centric enhancement of the 5nm technology platform. N4P's performance is 11% higher than the original N5 technology and 6% higher than the N4. Compared to the N5, the N4P will also provide a 22% power efficiency improvement and a 6% transistor density improvement.
TSMC launched the N4X process technology at the end of 2021, with a performance improvement of up to 15% compared to the N5, or up to 4% higher than the faster N4P at 1.2 volts. The N4X can achieve drive voltages of over 1.2 volts and provide additional performance. TSMC expects N4X to enter the risk production phase in the first half of 2023. With N5, N4X, N4P and N3/N3E, TSMC customers will have a variety of attractive options in terms of power, performance, area and cost of their products.
In my opinion, this will be one of the more exciting TSMC technical seminars. TSMC N2 has been under NDA, while IDM foundries have been leaking details of their upcoming 2nm process. This is a classic marketing move. There are no competitors today, so I will talk about it tomorrow.
One thing we should all remember is that except for Samsung , all the leading semiconductor companies are working with TSMC. The TSMC ecosystem is unique, consisting of hundreds of customers, partners and suppliers.If you think another foundry will have a higher yield of 2nm process that can support a wide range of products, you are wrong.
According to people familiar with the matter, TSMC, the world's largest chip foundry company, is considering building a semiconductor factory in Singapore to help solve the global supply shortage.
One of the people said that no final decision has been made and details of the plan are still under discussion, but preliminary negotiations involve a large factory with construction costs of up to billions of dollars. Some of the people familiar with the matter said Singapore is an important chip manufacturing center, and the local government may provide funding for the factory. TSMC is currently negotiating with the Singapore Economic Development Authority .
Since the beginning of last year, semiconductor shortages have disrupted production in many industries, including automobile manufacturing, and governments, including the United States and Japan, have worked hard to introduce chip production facilities. In addition, reducing high reliance on Taiwan’s chip production and preventing cutting-edge technologies from falling into China is also a priority for the United States and its allies.
One of the people who knows the project said: "Ensure the supply chain of key components is a priority of the Singapore government, and Singapore is also following the United States and Japan in this regard."
Another person familiar with the matter said that for the above-mentioned Singapore project, TSMC is studying the feasibility of producing production lines of 7-nanometer to 28-nanometer chips. These chips are based on older production technologies and are widely used in cars, smartphones and other devices.
TSMC is increasing its investment in these chips, and these types of chip shortages have caused some of the most serious supply chain bottlenecks, including the supply to Apple. TSMC executives said that setting up production bases in more countries has brought the company closer to its main market customers and is also a means to avoid travel restrictions and other interference during the epidemic.
TSMC's capital expenditure budget this year is between $40 billion and $44 billion.
In response to this, TSMC pointed out yesterday (19th), "We do not rule out any possibility, but there are currently no specific plans." Industry insiders analyzed that TSMC has successively launched the construction of new overseas factories in the United States, Japan and other countries, and is considering setting up factories in Europe. The main considerations should be related to reducing global geopolitical interference and meeting customer needs.
According to many people, the Singapore government may assist in providing factory construction funds, and consultations with the Star Economic Development Bureau are still underway. The chip shortage of
continued from last year to this year, and has impacted the automotive and other industries. Governments such as the United States and Japan are rushing to attract semiconductor companies to build chip production lines locally. For the United States and its allies, the top priority is to reduce the intensity of chip production in Taiwan and prevent cutting-edge technologies from falling into the hands of mainland China.
A person familiar with the matter said: "Mastering the supply chain of key components is an important issue for the Singapore government. Star National is also following the steps of the United States and Japan." Another said that TSMC is evaluating the feasibility of setting up a 7-nanometer to 28-nanometer process production line in Singapore to produce chips needed for cars, smartphones and other devices.
TSMC currently has an 8-inch wafer factory in Singapore. The factory started construction in 2000 and started production in 2001. It was jointly invested by TSMC, Philips Semiconductor, the predecessor of NXP, and the Singapore Economic Development and Investment Bureau (EDBI). The factory is located in the Brazilian Fab Factory Industrial Park in Singapore. The initial production process is mainly 0.25 micron and 0.18 micron. In 2002, 0.15 micron and 0.12 micron processes were introduced, with a full monthly capacity of to reach 30,000 pieces.
TSMC's existing Singapore factory is called SSMC. The CMOS-Logic chip products it produces can be used in a variety of fields, including telecommunications, multimedia, consumer digital electronics, networks, etc.
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