TSMC Prepping 20nm Manufacturing Process

[N.Broekhuijsen]

TSMC appears to be busier than ever buying and preparing equipment to start the 20 nm production process.

TSMC Prepping 20nm Manufacturing Process : Read more

 

[anxiousinfusion]

This was much quicker than expected. I tip my hat.

 

[aggroboy]

So I guess we are still looking at late 2H 2014 for 20nm GPUs?

 

[danwat1234]

14nm APUs from Intel

 

[Shankovich]

Looks like Maxwell with either be delayed a year or be 28nm then. I really think it'll be delayed then, I don't think nVidia would like to still be on 28nm chips.

 

[bison88]

@Shankovich - Huh? Previous reports were targeting Q2 2014 20nm starting and ramping up in Q3/Q4 2014. Why would Nvidia push back Maxwell (20nm) when their schedule already targets an annual release of next-gen products in the Spring, especially now that TSMC is moving ahead of their previous schedule by a Quarter.

If anything that can almost guarantee Maxwell will be back on schedule at 20nm just in time and if anything I can guarantee you AMD/Nvidia, two of TSMC's biggest clients, are working tightly with them on time lines for each of there products.

 

[vmem]

Maxwell here we come!!!

 

[Shankovich]

@bison88 Last time I checked they were saying Q1 2014, sorry I guess I'm a bit behind in news haha. That's great then, that means AMD and nVidia will launch new architectures in the same window and we'll have even ground (timing wise) again 😀

 

[blubbey]

Maxwell it is then.

 

[ptmmac]

I suspect Apple is working with TSMC to move it's production on 20nm for the iPhone. Apple could easily guarantee 4 or 5 billion in Revenue for the A8 chip. I would not be surprised if Apple updated the chip in the iPhone this June while doing the larger format screen. Their traditional 3 tiered production system which is evident in Macs and iPods would tend to indicate that there is a missing product on this new launch. Apple is also well know for paying for Cap Ex on their suppliers equipment to take some of the risk out of those upfront expenses. It is not like the 150 billion in reserves Apple keeps would be useful in pledging for such endeavors.

 

[Duckhunt]

Can it play Crysis? 😛

 

[Drejeck]

The biggest clients are mobile manufacturers, but VGA chips and architecture is what I look for. I got a Vliw4 40nm VGA, was planning to go with a 770 Phantom but I have to wait the R9s to come out with consequently price drops. Anyway I hope the next gen of cards doesn't come at the last gen crazy prices and over everything I hope they put a stop to recycling bad chips and just do them the right way.

 

[dwisehart]

Xilinx just announced a new line of FPGA's using TSMC's 20 nm process: the Kintex and Virtex Ultrascale FPGAs.