Samsung Could Become Apple's Newest Chip Supplier

[AleksandarK]

Apple has recently announced its transition to Apple Silicon, meaning that every processor inside its products will be custom designed by the company. However, that seems to be becoming a bit of a problem. The sole supplier of chips for Apple has been Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which Apple collaborated with for the past few years. The sheer capacity of TSMC is enough to satisfy the demand from several companies and thus it allows some of them to book its capacity. With Apple demanding more and more capacity than ever before, it is becoming quite hard to keep up with it. That is why Apple is, according to some analysts for Business Korea, looking for a foundry beyond TSMC's to manufacture its chips.

According to the source, Apple is looking at the direction of Samsung Electronics and its silicon manufacturing facilities. Samsung has recently started the production of its 5 nm silicon manufacturing node. We have reported that the first SoCs are set to arrive soon. However, it may be possible that Apple's M1 lineup of SoCs will be a part of that first wave. Apple is reportedly going to tap both TSMC and Samsung to qualify enough supply for the huge demand of the products based on the latest 5 nm technology.


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[silentbogo]

That'd be a real doozy. Not only will that make Samsung a manufacturer of all popular mobile chipsets (I'm not even counting mediatek and huawei at this point), but a one-stop shop for three most critical components in Apple's mobile devices (sAMOLED screens, RAM, SoC).

 

[Fouquin]

Samsung has an incredibly high target to hit and Apple is already going to push the precision of TSMC to the limit during the next couple generations. Samsung may not get flagship contracts if they can't match TSMCs quality.

 

[Space Lynx]

I hope Apple enjoys sub-par quality in products and unable to fill demand (looking at you samsung 8nm rtx 3000 series)

First PlayStation 5 that died was due to its SSD

While PlayStation 5 has not been officially launched yet there are already reports of the first fatality and everything seems to point to the (Samsuing) SSD failing....

www.guru3d.com

ps5 uses a soldered on samsung nvme ^

 

[bulldozer]

Isn't that what AMD is doing? Using TSMC for CPU's and Samsung for GPU's. At least that is what I heard will be happening with RDNA3 next year as the GPU's will be at 5nm from Samsung. Which means AMD is already using them I would assume and has orders in for them.

 

[goodeedidid]

I hope Apple enjoys sub-par quality in products and unable to fill demand (looking at you samsung 8nm rtx 3000 series)

First PlayStation 5 that died was due to its SSD

While PlayStation 5 has not been officially launched yet there are already reports of the first fatality and everything seems to point to the (Samsuing) SSD failing....

www.guru3d.com

ps5 uses a soldered on samsung nvme ^

You don't need to be that cringe now do you?

 

[dicktracy]

Good. Taiwan and TSMC is a timebomb.

 

[Ashtr1x]

I hope Apple enjoys sub-par quality in products and unable to fill demand (looking at you samsung 8nm rtx 3000 series)

First PlayStation 5 that died was due to its SSD

While PlayStation 5 has not been officially launched yet there are already reports of the first fatality and everything seems to point to the (Samsuing) SSD failing....

www.guru3d.com

ps5 uses a soldered on samsung nvme ^

I don't understand this argument at all, as if TSMC 7nm would magically make a 3080 as fast as a 3090 or 6900XT, It will at most let it run at perhaps less power but that doesn't make it easily run at lower temps as the transistor density is even more tight nor even increase the 88C max that Nvidia set for Ampere. And Samsung has the best in class memory technology until that 980Pro where they conceeded their MLC leadership, B-Die we don't even need introduction. I hope people realize that Zen 3 has I/O die made in U.S at GloFo on 12nm for the Ryzen and TR while EPYC is on 14nm yeah how many still remember this thing ? & Xbox SX/PS5 full SoC with RDNA2 and Zen 2 is on TSMC 7m. It's basically Economies of scale.

 

[Makaveli]

Isn't that what AMD is doing? Using TSMC for CPU's and Samsung for GPU's. At least that is what I heard will be happening with RDNA3 next year as the GPU's will be at 5nm from Samsung. Which means AMD is already using them I would assume and has orders in for them.

AMD uses TSMC for Cpu's and Gpu's Nvidia is the one using Samsung for GPU's. And I agree with lynx29 above I would have prefered them use someone else for their SSD's.

 

[bonehead123]

Apple just needs to friggin BUY TSMC already, and be done with it.... that way they could control E V E R Y T H I N G, from R&D, mfgr'ing, packaging, marketing, etc etc...which will fit their MO perfectly, hehehe

 

[Easo]

Good. Taiwan and TSMC is a timebomb.

Yeah... I don't want to think what would happen to CPU production and development for the whole world if China decided that the time has come.

 

[Minus Infinity]

I hear that Nvidia we very magnanimous in offering their Samsung contract to Apple for a good price.

 

[Verpal]

Yeah... I don't want to think what would happen to CPU production and development for the whole world if China decided that the time has come.

I am not saying it will happen, but both US and Japan ran through simulation for X day, and US election chaos is one of the better opportunity.

That being said, current administration have repeatedly guarantee safety of Taiwan, and have increased arm sales, it is unlikely that China make any move, considering chinese economy have somewhat stabilized after long lock down.

 

[Vya Domus]

Apple's monstrously wide cores wont go well with an inferior node. Anyway, I see companies are still trying to threaten TSMC because of their prices, Apple is a pretty big customer I wonder if they'll budge this time.

 

[lexluthermiester]

ps5 uses a soldered on samsung nvme ^

That's a mistake in design. I think I might skip the PS5 until the drive is replaceable.

 

[Space Lynx]

That's a mistake in design. I think I might skip the PS5 until the drive is replaceable.

yeah it is a horrible design, especially if the rumors are true and it starts failing in a widespread manner. a firmware update can't fix it I bet. and it's not like a simple replacement item can be shipped to the customer. Sony may have very well shot themselves in the foot on this one. we will know in 6-8 months. it will take that long to see if the failure rate is wide spread or not I imagine...

 

[bonehead123]

I think I might skip the PS5 until the drive is replaceable.

I think the whole WORLD would be well advised to avoid the PS5, as in a boycott, that would surely force Shlony to both acknowledge & fix the problem ASAP, and replace their shitty designs with user-replaceable/upgradeable drives, AND immediately offer free replacement units to everyone who has already bought one of the defective models....

As always people, you can choose to vote with your wallet/credit cards, hahaha

 

[Space Lynx]

I think the whole WORLD would be well advised to avoid the PS5, as in a boycott, that would surely force Shlony to both acknowledge & fix the problem ASAP, and replace their shitty designs with user-replaceable/upgradeable drives, AND immediately offer free replacement units to everyone who has already bought one of the defective models....

As always people, you can choose to vote with your wallet/credit cards, hahaha

well if nvme drives start failing in mass in 4-8 months, Sony is in deep deep trouble, might even bankrupt them since there will be no easy fix... soldering the nvme drive to mobo was a terrible idea.

I just wish more exclusives would come to PC, those games would be so much more fun with a mouse and keyboard... all the aiming in Uncharted, last of us, god of war (axe and bow and arrow), etc.

 

[Ashtr1x]

well if nvme drives start failing in mass in 4-8 months, Sony is in deep deep trouble, might even bankrupt them since there will be no easy fix... soldering the nvme drive to mobo was a terrible idea.

I just wish more exclusives would come to PC, those games would be so much more fun with a mouse and keyboard... all the aiming in Uncharted, last of us, god of war (axe and bow and arrow), etc.

God of War, I highly doubt if we can pull the super fast combos on KBM, DS4 RPCS3 is fantastic, I suggest everyone to play the whole Greek Mythos series on the RPCS3 only, it runs superb. Only 2 titles are left out of 5, rest all are playable 100% with super smooth. I like Hack n Slash action games a lot, DMC 5 plays good on KBM but with DS4 you can pull off insane moves as for RDR and Uncharted, yep need KBM for proper aim, and for Killzone as well, much better if we have KBM. We can emulate the Mouse mapping along with KB in Emulator but it's a lot of work to do and remember on top..

 

[stimpy88]

Samsung is not up to TSMC's quality, or output. But I could see Apple potentially moving older, non-cutting edge chips over to them.