TSMC has taken the wraps off its subsequent course of node after the 7nm design getting used for AMD’s next-gen Ryzen 3000 processors, and the 7nm+ EUV design set for use for the Zen 3 CPUs in 2020. Can you guess what it’s? Yes, this time we’re speaking 6nm EUV.
Now for those who’re beginning to get a creepy feeling that perhaps that is going to be extra of a marketing-based title change than a real change in transistor measurement – one thing akin to the swap between 14nm and 12nm – then I’m proper there with you. TSMC has, in spite of everything, claimed the brand new lithography goes to be totally suitable with the design guidelines of the prevailing 7nm tech, so merchandise constructed on the earlier lithography may be iterated upon in a short time.
That stated, TSMC is promising round 18% increased logic density from the 6nm elements, which may maybe point out extra of a real actual world die-shrink. That, and the truth that TSMC isn’t anticipating to even get to threat manufacturing till the primary quarter of subsequent 12 months. Though the density enhance does appear in step with what was promised from the EUV-based 7nm+ design, so I’m nonetheless a bit confused about what the distinction really is between 7nm+ and 6nm. Especially contemplating TSMC’s 5nm node is already underneath threat manufacturing in the intervening time and will seem earlier than 6nm… these transistor numbers are beginning to lose all that means to me.
The brief announcement piece has appeared on the ever-reliable DigiTimes web site, and doesn’t actually go into way more element apart from saying that TSMC is concentrating on each high-performance computing and GPUs with the brand new manufacturing course of. Given the timing, and the expectation that Zen three goes to be based mostly on 7nm+, AMD’s subsequent GPU and CPU generations may arrive on a bleeding edge node if it have been to ship in 2021. Whether that bleeding edge can be at 6nm or 5nm I’m undecided.
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Though that’s most likely a bit too quickly for the anticipated AMD Navi refresh coming subsequent 12 months, which would depart each Zen three and Navi 20 sitting on the identical 7nm+ EUV lithography. Which, by all accounts is a powerful node in its personal proper… although that can also be inflicting me some complications.
The current story about TSMC’s 7nm+ design from CommercialTimes means that by utilising EUV expertise that manufacturing course of would provide a rise in transistor density of round 20%. That’s round what the 6nm EUV design is ready to supply, which makes me query what the advantage of going from 7nm+ to 6nm can be.
It’s potential that the brand new DigiTimes report is confused, and 6nm will provide 18% higher transistor density over 7nm+ somewhat than the straight 7nm lithography. That would make it a much more thrilling expertise bump, however it’s additionally potential that there’s really little or no distinction between the 6nm and 7nm+ nodes past a pure advertising and marketing determination to go up towards the brand new course of designs of the competitors.
After all, TSMC isn’t alone complicated the dwelling hell out of individuals with course of node developments. Samsung has simply introduced that its 5nm EUV design is complete and prepared for buyer sampling. And that it’s additionally collaborating with companions on a 6nm EUV node. Meanwhile its 7nm EUV design can be out subsequent 12 months with Nvidia reportedly onboard as a launch companion.
That means subsequent 12 months Samsung can be manufacturing 7nm, 6nm, and 5nm elements, all in varied levels of quantity and threat manufacturing. And from the appears of issues they’ll all be IP suitable so companions can design for one and will probably be simply migrated throughout the silicon ecosystem.
Samsung’s 5nm EUV design will reportedly provide a 25% enhance in logic density over its 7nm EUV course of, however who is aware of what 6nm will provide… 18% perhaps?
Whatever occurs, with Nvidia seemingly placing its religion in Samsung’s new processes and AMD siding with TSMC, we could possibly be a 7nm battle royale subsequent 12 months, or perhaps a 6nm one. Or 5nm. I want a lie down.
*header picture by Fritzchens Fritz
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