TSMC Cleared to Build New 3 nm Manufacturing Factory in Southern Taiwan

[VSG]

The world's largest contract semiconductor manufacturing company, TSMC, has been cleared to commence construction of a new 3 nm chip factory at the Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan. The new factory is expected to use 20 percent renewable energy and 50 percent recycled water.

The factory's environmental impact assessment was accepted by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on Dec. 19, after concerns were raised about use of water and power sources. TSMC is expected to invest NT$600 million (US$19.45 million) in the project, with construction to begin in 2022. Production is planned to start in late 2022 or early 2023. At the same site, TSMC is also building a 5 nm chip factory, which is expected to be up and running in late 2019 or early 2020.



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[Space Lynx]

It only costs them 20 million dollars to build a 3nm factory? That doesn't sound right... it cost Intel 7 billion to build their new one in Arizona I think it is being built, can't remember...

 

[BadFrog]

It only costs them 20 million dollars to build a 3nm factory? That doesn't sound right... it cost Intel 7 billion to build their new one in Arizona I think it is being built, can't remember...

That does sound like a large discrepancy. I guess it’s cheaper in Asia than US? maybe bc Intel is vertically integrated and TSMC is just a job shop? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Xzibit]

It only costs them 20 million dollars to build a 3nm factory? That doesn't sound right... it cost Intel 7 billion to build their new one in Arizona I think it is being built, can't remember...

Intel Arizona Fab42 was 5 billion to build. The 7 billion was projected additional cost for completion including tooling after it sat empty for 4yrs. Still projected to come online 2020-2021. Not sure where those 2019 10nm chips will be coming from.

TSMC 5nm Fab18 cost 3.6 billion to build. Projected 17 billion when finished. Projected to come online early 2020

There are similar in sq/ft (Intel 962,000 / TSMC 950,000)

 

[Easo]

That does sound like a large discrepancy. I guess it’s cheaper in Asia than US? maybe bc Intel is vertically integrated and TSMC is just a job shop? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Its not large, it's 166 times bigger, read, stupidly large. This is probably just the initial investment, others will follow.

 

[SL2]

Not sure where those 2019 10nm chips will be coming from.

Maybe the same place as the 2018 10 nm chips? Does anyone know where they're produced?

 

[Assimilator]

I wonder what this "3nm" actually is... probably 7nm.

 

[Frick]

I wonder what this "3nm" actually is... probably 7nm.

Considering it's due for like half a decade from now I'm guessing it really is supposed to be for their 3nm node.

 

[XiGMAKiD]

While TSMC is on it's way to 3nm with 7nm already in production Intel is yet to release their 10nm

 

[Prima.Vera]

It only costs them 20 million dollars to build a 3nm factory? That doesn't sound right... it cost Intel 7 billion to build their new one in Arizona I think it is being built, can't remember...

Just the building bro, without any equipment inside, lol.

 

[Ravenas]

While TSMC is on it's way to 3nm with 7nm already in production Intel is yet to release their 10nm

TSMC probably classifies their valley measurement differently than Intel. Likely TSMC is 5nm or 7nm in Intel standards.

 

[micropage7]

so we can expect something that smaller, lower power consumption and more powerful chip next