TSMC Reiterates 28 nm Readiness by Q4 2011

[btarunr]

TSMC reiterated that it will be ready with a 28 nanometer manufacturing process by Q4 2011. The semiconductor company handles manufacturing of graphics processors for both AMD and NVIDIA. After the current 40 nm process, 32 nm, the next milestone process, was canceled for GPU makers to leap to 28 nm, this caused the foundry transition to the next process to take longer than usual. The current 40 nm process already seems to be saturated by GPUs with over 3 billion transistors, which are barely able to maintain acceptable thermal specs without using some sort of power-load throttling mechanism.

TSMC Chairman and CEO, Morris Chang, confirmed that tape-outs will be starting as early as in Q3, and production of 28 nm chips will start in Q4. Chang expects that up to 3% of TSMC's revenues will be made from 28 nm chips by the end of the year. "We plan to have around 2% or 3% of our total revenue in the fourth quarter [to] be 28nm. The tape-outs of the 28-nanaometer will start to ramp in the second half, starting in the third quarter and then more in the fourth quarter. But the real momentum [for 28nm], we believe, will be next year," Chang said. Apart from GPUs, the 28 nm process will also benefit ARM processors, with multi-core ARM chips clocked at 3 GHz being on cards. The 28 nm bulk process will also dish out AMD's next generation accelerated processing units (APUs).

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[TAViX]

I don't trust TSMC. Even today, they still have problems with yields on 40nm process. (nvidia knows why... )
Besides, Intel is already aiming for 22nm this year, so 28nm doesn't seems that spectacular.

 

[laszlo]

lower the nm higher the losses & errors ....

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

... but increase the yield per wafer?

Speaking of, I was just looking at a 1155 chip without the heatspreader. Seems full up. Is there any room left for adding more cores to 1155?

 

[streetfighter 2]

I don't trust TSMC. Even today, they still have problems with yields on 40nm process. (nvidia knows why... )
Besides, Intel is already aiming for 22nm this year, so 28nm doesn't seems that spectacular.

What do you mean nvidia knows why? As I recall nvidia was greatly disadvantaged by TSMCs problems with 40nm.

So far as I know there isn't a whole hell of a lot stopping AMD from switching to GlobalFoundries or other closely allied fabs (can't remember names right now...).

Speaking of, I was just looking at a 1155 chip without the heatspreader. Seems full up. Is there any room left for adding more cores to 1155?

I didn't believe you until I checked out the pics for myself:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4118/a-closer-look-at-the-sandy-bridge-die

Those are some packed chips! Nevertheless I'm pretty sure I heard that 1155 would still be getting some Ivy Bridge chips (with more cores).

 

[TAViX]

What do you mean nvidia knows why? As I recall nvidia was greatly disadvantaged by TSMCs problems with 40nm.

LOL

That's what I've said )

 

[robal]

I didn't believe you until I checked out the pics for myself:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4118/a-closer-look-at-the-sandy-bridge-die

Lol, where are the times when CPUs used to be a 'dot_on_a_plate': https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/KL_AMD_Duron_Spitfire.jpg

 

[happita]

This is a step in the right direction. I cannot wait for next gen 22nm CPUs and 28nm graphics cards! Sooooooooooo exciting!!

 

[bear jesus]

I was kind of hoping that the tape-outs would start around Q2 then start to ramp in Q3 for product releases at the end of Q3/start of Q4 but i guess from this the release times of the next gen 28nm chips will be around the same kind of time frames as the past two 40nm product generations, something like mid Q4.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

KEPLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TSMC better not bend nvidia over backwards and F*** them again!

 

[bear jesus]

KEPLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TSMC better not bend nvidia over backwards and F*** them again!

And Nvidia better not screw me and many others by only allowing 2 active displays per GPU

I really want Nvidia to be a viable option to users who want to run three monitors from a single card, i also hope both AMD and Nvidia can bring out their 28nm cards pretty close together so it's easier/little waiting time to chose between them.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

And Nvidia better not screw me and many others by only allowing 2 active displays per GPU

I really want Nvidia to be a viable option to users who want to run three monitors from a single card, i also hope both AMD and Nvidia can bring out their 28nm cards pretty close together so it's easier/little waiting time to chose between them.

yeah i hear ya.

 

[largon]

nanaometer

Nana-o-meter!