Qualcomm Said to be Considering Samsung for 3 nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips

[TheLostSwede]

It appears it's not only AMD that is eyeing a move to Samsung, when it comes to fabricating upcoming chips, as reports are now suggesting that Qualcomm is considering a second attempt at making flagship mobile SoCs at Samsung's foundry. However, in this case, we're talking 3 nm chips in the shape of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which is expected to launch in devices sometime in 2024. This is said to be Qualcomm's first chip based on cores built by Nuvia, a company that Qualcomm acquired in 2021.

That said, Qualcomm will apparently not rely on Samsung alone, but will also be making the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 at TSMC. This might be because of past experience with Samsung, but the report out of Taiwan, suggests that the chips made by Samsung's foundry business will be used in Samsung branded phones, whereas the TSMC made chips might end up in devices by Qualcomm's other customers. It could also be a bet for Qualcomm to try and get better pricing by both foundries or a means of hedging their bets, to see which foundry produces the better chips. Then there's the situation between the PRC and the ROC, which could potentially put Qualcomm in a situation where it has no chips, so going with Samsung could be a means of covering for all potential risk scenarios.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[ixi]

Yeah, samsung most likely providing alot cheaper prices than TSMC as Samsung income was uber duper triple quad penta lower compared to previous year. Samsung needs money.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Yeah, samsung most likely providing alot cheaper prices than TSMC as Samsung income was uber duper triple quad penta lower compared to previous year. Samsung needs money.

I saw some suggestions that Samsung is cutting production of its own chips (DRAM, flash etc.) due to low demand and is running all kinds of test chips instead. Obviously not the same fabs or nodes that they make these chips in, but even so, it seems like they're not exactly what you'd call busy.
Samsung does indeed appear to need money and if they can deliver a competitive product, assuming they solved the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 issues, with thermals/power, there's no reason not to second source for someone like Qualcomm as well, especially as they can then in turn, sell the chips back to Samsung...

 

[The_Enigma]

Samsung has for many years now tried to entice customers away from tsmc with low prices. Every time someone switches away though they end up moving back to tsmc. Tests of products that have been made at both foundries usually show the samsung one to use more power and/or not clock quite as well. Hopefully this time will be different, as I believe Samsung is the first with a production GAA node and all these companies really seem to like the details they are seeing on it.

 

[henok.gk]

Looks like Qualcomm is gonna make the same "mistake" for the third time. The Snapdragon 888 and Gen 1 were insufferable inside non-gaming phones. Sure manufacturing these SoCs on Samsung chips is a win-win for both companies but the customers are the ones who will have to put up with inefficient and overheating products with crappy battery life.

 

[Fatalfury]

Hoping Nvidia or AMD dont switch to Samsung nodes... the POWER EFFICIENCY is going to be "not so good"

 

[TheLostSwede]

Hoping Nvidia or AMD dont switch to Samsung nodes... the POWER EFFICIENCY is going to be "not so good"

Did you not read the first line in the article?

AMD to Shift Some of its 4 nm CPU Silicon-fabrication to Samsung from TSMC

AMD has reportedly signed up with Samsung Electronics to shift some of its 4 nm processor silicon fabrication from TSMC. The apex Taiwan-based foundry is reportedly operating at capacity for its 4 nm-class nodes, with customers such as Apple and Qualcomm sourcing 4 nm mobile SoCs on the node...

www.techpowerup.com

Looks like Qualcomm is gonna make the same "mistake" for the third time. The Snapdragon 888 and Gen 1 were insufferable inside non-gaming phones. Sure manufacturing these SoCs on Samsung chips is a win-win for both companies but the customers are the ones who will have to put up with inefficient and overheating products with crappy battery life.

At least this time around, those chips might only end up in Samsung devices...

 

[henok.gk]

At least this time around, those chips might only end up in Samsung devices...

Track records aren't everything that said I just don't know how they can stomach selling their own phones with inferior chip named exactly the same with a superior one produced at a different foundry. At least in the case of Exynos you know what you're getting.

 

[Minus Infinity]

Yeah, samsung most likely providing alot cheaper prices than TSMC as Samsung income was uber duper triple quad penta lower compared to previous year. Samsung needs money.

Well if the reports Samsung is getting 60-70% yields on 3nm are true, that would be a big reason. TSMC's N3B is rather poor in yield, price and actual performance compared to N4P and why most are waiting for N3E, but the cost is huge for a wafer. Samsung could also do far sharper pricing. TSMC's problems with N3 are why AMD ismscaling back dense Turin from 256 cores to 192 cores nd has developed two versions of Zen 5 on 4nm and 3nm with the latter only to be a thing if TSMC get the shit together and even then probably only for server.