TSMC makes progress on 5nm with complete infrastructure design and risk production

guest · Apr 7, 2019

TSMC makes progress on 5nm with complete infrastructure design and risk production
Risk production is ongoing and volume production looks good for 2020
April 6, 2019
https://www.techspot.com/news/79541-tsmc-makes-progress-5nm-complete-infrastructure-design-risk.html

TSMC has announced that it has completed infrastructure design on its 5nm process node that will leverage the company's second generation of extreme ultraviolet (EUV), as well as deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography. TSMC's 5nm chips will be aimed at SoC designs, 5G mobile applications, AI, and high performance computing.

According to early numbers on an Arm Cortex-A72 core, TSMC's 5nm process will deliver 1.8 times the density and a 15 percent gain in clock speeds compared to 7nm, and that's based on process refinements alone.
TSMC continues to maintain process prowess and leadership, and earning a lot of chip contracts as such. Meanwhile, a lot of companies have seemingly lost faith in Intel, the once market leader.
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guest · Jul 19, 2019

TSMC speeds up 5-nanometer chip manufacturing process due to 5G demand
July 19, 2019
https://venturebeat.com/2019/07/19/...-chip-manufacturing-process-due-to-5g-demand/

Overall demand for semiconductors may be dropping somewhat in 2019, but key chip manufacturer TSMC is seeing increased demand for cutting-edge processors, thanks to sales of early 5G devices, and is preparing to roll out more advanced technology “a little” earlier than expected.
That’s the news from the company’s latest quarterly earnings conference (via DigiTimes), where TSMC said its new 5-nanometer (nm) chipmaking process will begin volume production in the first half of 2020, enabling the first 5nm chips to hit stores by this time next year.

The 5nm process is expected to enable CPUs that previously fit into smartphones to shrink into wearables [...] It will also enable next year’s 5G devices to deliver as much or more power as today’s models while running cooler, with less energy consumption.
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guest · Oct 23, 2019

TSMC Outlines 5nm Plans, 7nm and EUV Progress
October 23, 2019
https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/tsmc-outlines-5nm-plans-7nm-and-euv-progress

During the latest conference call following the company's announcement of its Q3 2019 results, TSMC had the chance to comment on the progress made to its 5nm and 7nm manufacturing processes, and the implementation of EUV in the chip making procedure.

TSMC expects its 5 nm (N5) manufacturing technology to provide significant benefits when it comes to performance, power, and area scaling, which is why the contract maker of semiconductors expects a tangible number of its customers to adopt this process.
Mr. Wei said that the 5 nm N5 technology has already entered risk production with good yield. He added that N5 will adopt the EUV "extensively" and is well on track for volume production in the first half of next year.
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guest · Dec 8, 2019

TSMC to start production on 5nm in second half of 2020, 3nm in 2022
TSMC is gearing up for 5G
December 8, 2019
https://www.techspot.com/news/83080-tsmc-start-production-5nm-second-half-2020-3nm.html

In context: 2020 is shaping up to be a big year for TSMC as the company continues to advance its 5nm and 3nm process nodes, due in 2020 and 2022, respectively. TSMC is also making moves to capitalize on the emerging 5G market, which is expected to see serious growth next year with the first 5G-capable handsets.

TSMC's migration towards ever smaller transistors continues unabated, as announced by JK Wang, the company's senior vice president for fab operations. According to Wang, TSMC looks good to enter volume production with its 5nm process in the second half of 2020.
In fact, TSMC is preparing to break ground on a new facility aimed at 3nm development.
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guest · Jan 2, 2020

TSMC will reportedly start production of A14 chip for this year’s iPhones in Q2, new 5 nanometer process
January 2, 2020
https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/02/tsmc...-years-iphones-in-q2-new-5-nanometer-process/

Once again, TSMC appears set to be the exclusive supplier of Apple’s custom iPhone SoC chip designs. Digitimes reports that the foundry will begin manufacturing the A14 chip for this year’s iPhones in the second quarter.

The new ‘A14’ chip will be manufactured using TSMC’s new 5 nanometer production process, down from 7 nanometer fabrication seen in the A12 and A13.
As TSMC is on the forefront of 5 nm, and most of its capacity is taken up by Apple orders, it is very likely that the 2020 iPhones will be the first smartphones touting 5 nanometer engines.

The roadmap for a 5nm iPhone is not new, in fact almost a year ago it was reported that the 2020 iPhones would be able to take advantage of a 5nm process. Apple’s custom silicion continues to lead the industry, and the move to 5nm process is just another step in that chain.
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guest · Mar 22, 2020

TSMC Details 5 nm
March 21, 2020
https://fuse.wikichip.org/news/3398/tsmc-details-5-nm/

For the past decade, TSMC has been operating at a fairly consistent cadence. The company started risk production of its latest node, 5-nanometer, in March 2019. 5-nanometer is expected to ramp around the second quarter of this – likely April or May timeframe as long as COVID-19 does not disrupt operations.

This article sources its information from a number of places including Arm Techcon 2019, 65th IEEE IEDM conference, and ISSCC 2020. We are also a little disappointed that, despite the significance of the paper, TSMC’s IEDM paper lacked real substance and was accepted without meeting the conference high quality standard we have come to expect from IEDM. [...]
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Final Thought
TSMC execution has been remarkable the last couple of nodes. Since their 16 nm node, each process node has been ramping quicker than its predecessor.
TSMC says it expects its N5 node to ramp even quicker. 5-nanometer entered risk production in March 2019. The process is expected to ramp in Q2 this year – likely in April or May. When ramped, this will be the densest process in terms of both transistor density and SRAM density – leapfrogging both Samsung and Intel. Samsung 5-nanometer is only slightly denser than their 7-nanometer and is not competitive with TSMC 5 nm.

Samsung’s next big jump is their 3-nanometer node. Intel will likely capture the density lead with their 7-nanometer node, however, that node isn’t coming until late next year – a solid 1.5 years behind.
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guest · Apr 6, 2020

Samsung’s plan to beat TSMC to 3-nanometer chips suffers setback
April 6, 2020
https://www.cultofmac.com/699307/samsungs-plans-to-beat-tsmc-to-3-nanometer-chips-suffers-setback/

The A-series chip in this year’s iPhone 12 is going to include one of the world’s first 5-nanometer chips, created by Apple partner TSMC.

But chipmakers are already looking beyond 5-nanometers when it comes to developing the ultra powerful chips of tomorrow. Rivals TSMC and Samsung, both of whom have previously made A-series chips for Apple, are busy exploring 3-nanometer production processes.
However, according to a report published Monday, Samsung just hit delays with their attempts at creating the next-next-gen chip process.
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Samsung vs. TSMC: Apple chipmakers compete for 3nm
Digitimes says that Samsung had been aiming to beat TSMC to the first 3-nanometer chip. In recent years, TSMC has been the common manufacturer for Apple’s A-series chips.

TSMC is also racing to get 3nm chips in the works. According to JK Wang, TSMC’s senior vice president of fab operations, TSMC is on track to build chips with its 3nm process in 2022. In other words, from the sound of things, it could be neck-and-neck to see which company has the technical advantage once Apple decides on the chips for its 2022-era iPhone.
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guest · Apr 24, 2020

TSMC sees increase in orders as Nvidia plans 5nm product
AMD has also increased its orders
April 24, 2019
https://www.techspot.com/news/84971-tsmc-sees-increase-orders-nvidia-plans-5nm-product.html

In a nutshell: A lot of companies are suffering during this pandemic, but the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) isn’t one of them. According to a new report, the firm is ramping up production to meet demand from Nvidia and AMD, with the former set to use TSMC’s new 5nm process node.

According to Digitimes’ “industry sources,” (via Tom’s Hardware), TSMC will post strong results for the first half of 2020 thanks to upcoming short lead-time orders. The Taiwanese firm is benefitting from Nvidia’s forthcoming Ampere GPU and AMD’s Ryzen and Epyc CPUs.
Digitimes doesn’t go into detail about Nvidia’s 5nm intentions—Ampere is known to be based on the 7nm process—so we don't know what it could be for. AMD is also planning similar orders—a recent roadmap revealed it would use 5nm for its Epyc Genoa chips—and Apple is reportedly moving to 5nm nodes.
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guest · Jun 10, 2020

TSMC reportedly on schedule for 3nm process fabrication line installation
How much smaller can manufacturing processes get?
June 10, 2020
https://www.techspot.com/news/85568...nm-process-fabrication-line-installation.html

In context: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is on track to start volume producing chips based on its 3nm manufacturing process by the second half of 2022. If true, we could be on the cusp of a major advancement in mobile processing technology.

According to a recent report from DigiTimes, the semiconductor foundry “has been engaged in the installation of 3nm process fabrication lines and related facilities” and is still on schedule to complete the project as originally planned. TSMC will reportedly be ready for risk production next year ahead of the aforementioned volume production the second half of 2022.
Should these dates hold, it potentially means that one of TSMC’s biggest clients – Apple – could have its first 3nm-based SoC ready in time for inclusion in 2022 model iPhones.

In the interim, TSMC is said to be volume producing 5nm chips and is working on enhanced process variants. Apple’s next-gen iPhone, tentatively dubbed the iPhone 12, is expected to ship with a 5nm-based SoC that could be called the Apple A14 Bionic.
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guest · Jul 21, 2020

TSMC well on way to making 3nm chips for Macs, iPhones
July 21, 2020
https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/mac/tsmc-3nm-chips-3793037/

When Apple releases its upcoming Apple Silicon-based Macs, it will be possible for the processors to be made using a new, more power-efficient manufacturing process. TSMC, which manufactures all A-series processors, is well on its way to mastering 3-nanometre (3nm) technology, writes AppleInsider.

TSMC currently manufactures its most advanced chips, such as Apple's A13 processors, with 7nm technology. The latest reports suggest that this year's new A14 processors for the iPhone 12 will be manufactured with 5nm technology.
The 3nm technology that TSMC is developing will have around 15% higher transistor density, give 10–15% higher performance and draw 20–25% less current.
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guest · Aug 24, 2020

TSMC details its 5nm and 3nm process nodes, with up to 30% more power efficiency
August 24, 2020
https://www.neowin.net/news/tsmc-de...ess-nodes-with-up-to-30-more-power-efficiency

Taiwan Semiconductor, or TSMC, kicked off its 26th Technology Symposium event today, starting with a look forward at the company's upcoming processor technologies. The company discussed its 5nm nodes - N5 and N5P, the 4nm N4 node, and the 3nm N3 node, which will be coming to market over the next couple of years.

The N5 node is already in mass production, and it makes use of EUV technology. It promises up to a 30% improvement in power consumption or up to 15% more performance over the current N7 node, along with a 1.8x improvement in logic density. This process node is now in high volume production, so it wouldn't be surprising to see products based on it in the near future.

TSMC also has an enhanced 5nm node, N5P, in development, with plans to ramp up production in 2021.
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Tom's Hardware: TSMC Dishes on 5nm, 4nm, and 3nm Process Nodes, Introduces 3DFabric Tech

TSMC puts Intel in the rearview
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guest · Sep 9, 2020

TSMC to begin manufacturing 5nm Apple chips in Q4 2020
September 9, 2020
https://www.gsmarena.com/tsmc_to_begin_manufacturing_5nm_apple_chips_in_q4_2020-news-45182.php

Apple is preparing to move most of itslineup to in-house chipsets, with the MacBooks joining the iPhone 12, the Watch Series 6 and the iPads. According to reports from Taiwan, TSMC has received an order from Apple for mass production of Apple Silicon for Q4 2020, based on the 5nm process technology.

The report claims the monthly capacity of wafers will be between 5,000 and 6,000 but we can’t calculate the right amount of actual chips due to many variables, including the density of chips on a single wafer, wastage from manufacturing, etc.
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Digitimes: Apple to increase 5nm wafer starts at TSMC in 4Q20

Apple will kick off its 5nm wafer starts at TSMC for its new Apple Silicon processors starting the fourth quarter of 2020, with monthly output estimated at 5,000-6,000 wafers, according to industry sources.
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guest · Sep 21, 2020

Analysts believe that a single TSMC 5nm wafer costs $17,000
Anomalously expensive node is a high-performing one
September 20, 2020
https://www.techspot.com/news/86813-analysts-believe-single-tsmc-5nm-wafer-costs-17000.html

In brief: CSET (The Center for Security and Emerging Technologies) has published a new report, titled “AI chips: What they are and why they matter,” in which they calculate the sales price of silicon wafers. They found that TSMC’s 5nm node requires exceptionally expensive wafers that aren’t cheaper on a per-chip basis than 7nm chips. However, they still believe that 5nm chips are a popular purchase.

According to CSET’s model, a single 300 mm wafer built on the 5nm node costs approximately $16,988. A similar wafer built on the 7nm node reportedly costs $9,346.
The foundry sale price per wafer is calculated as the sum of the "other costs and mark-up per wafer" and the "capital consumed per wafer processed in 2020," or in other words, the sum of the profit margins, assembly cost, and estimated development cost.

rom it, we can deduce that 5nm products, including the processors used in the next generation of Apple handsets, will not be cheaper than existing products.
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However, the 5nm node does require some unique treatments that make it more expensive than older nodes.
Despite the cost, the 5nm node is a promising one. At the same power consumption as a 7nm chip, a 5nm one will run 15% faster.
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guest · Dec 14, 2020

mood said: ↑

TSMC to begin manufacturing 5nm Apple chips in Q4 2020 September 9, 2020

Digitimes: Apple to increase 5nm wafer starts at TSMC in 4Q20
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Lower TSMC 5nm chip production isn't from low iPhone 12 demand, says Ming-Chi Kuo
December 12, 2020
https://appleinsider.com/articles/2...p-production-isnt-due-to-low-iphone-12-demand

The market shouldn't pay too much attention to how much of TSMC's 5nm production is utilized by Apple, TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests, with changes in production likely to be more due to seasonality than unexpectedly low iPhone 12 demand.

For TSMC, the change in utilization of its 5nm production isn't likely to affect its revenue. In October, it was revealed in financial results only 8% of TSMC's total wafer revenue stemmed from 5-nanometer orders.
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As well as being a seasonality issue, the reduced 5nm utilization can be explained by two other factors. An earlier mass production schedule for the "iPhone 13" over the iPhone 12 closer to normal seasonality in 2019 and earlier could force the processor production schedules to shift to match, bringing the "A15" production earlier and displacing the A14.
The other factor relates to the iPhone 12 Pro series, which is seeing more demand than anticipated, according to Kuo.
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guest · Jan 9, 2021

Intel mulls outsourcing some chip production to TSMC
January 8, 2021
https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/01/08/intel-mulls-outsourcing-some-chip-production-to-tsmc

Intel is considering outsourcing some of its chip production to Apple supplier TSMC, but is currently holding out in hopes that its own manufacturing capabilities improve.

Successive delays in the company's chip fabrication processes have spurred it to look at outsourcing options. Intel CEO Bob Swan had previously told investors that he will announce the company's plans for outsourcing and getting production back on track at the chipmaker's earnings call on Jan. 21.
But, according to a Bloomberg report Friday, Intel has yet to make a final decision about outsourcing less than two weeks ahead of that announcement.
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According to Bloomberg, TSMC is preparing to offer Intel chip making capabilities based on a 4-nanometer process with initial testing using a 5-nanometer process.
[/quiote]
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guest · Apr 18, 2021

TSMC to boost 5nm chip output in 2H21
April 16, 2021
https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/tsmc-boost-5nm-chip-output-2h21

TSMC is expected to substantially scale up its 5nm chip output in the second half of 2021 in order to boost 5nm chip sales as a proportion of its total wafer revenue to 20% by the end of the year, market watchers believe.

TSMC will see sales of its 5nm process family consisting of N4 continue to grow in the next several years, driven by robust demand for smartphone and HPC applications, Wei noted.
Both 5nm and 3nm will be large and long-lasting nodes for TSMC, Wei said.

Source: https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20210416PD206.html
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guest · Oct 27, 2021

TSMC promises performance and power efficiency gains with its new 5nm 'N4P' process
An improvement over N5 and N4 processes
October 27, 2021
https://www.techspot.com/news/91946-tsmc-announces-new-5nm-n4p-process.html

Why it matters: This week TSMC announced another five-nanometer process, N4P. The company claims N4P will offer a number of improvements over its previous 5nm nodes in terms of both performance and power efficiency. We may start seeing the first N4P products in the second half of 2022.

On Tuesday, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced its N4P process. The 5nm enhancement should provide more choices for customers alongside its N5, N4, and N3 processes.
The silicon manufacturer is positioning N4P as a refinement of N5 and N4. TSMC claims N4P will have an 11 percent performance increase over N5 and a six percent increase over N4. The process should be 22 percent more power-efficient than N5 and have a six percent higher transistor density.
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TSMC Senior Vice President of Business Development Kevin Zhang said N4P would offer a "further enhanced advanced technology platform" for mobile and HPC.
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