[SA] TSMC is rumored to have killed its 32nm node - Overclock.net

rico2001 · 11-20-09

TSMC is rumored to have killed its 32nm node

Quote:

TSMC is rumored to have killed its 32nm node

WORD JUST IN from the far east says that TSMC may have canceled its 32nm process node. On the surface this might seem very bad, but it is much more nuanced than that.

SemiAccurate has not heard it directly from TSMC yet, but given the circumstances, we believe this report to be accurate. As we pointed out earlier in the week, some of the 32nm processes at TSMC are delayed and somewhat underperforming. Given how well 40nm has shaped up, or not, the earlier news is likely only the tip of the iceberg. As far as we can tell, this will be the first time TSMC has canceled a node entirely.

Three scenarios come to mind as to why this happened, a good, a bad, and a sarcastic set of possibilities. Lets start with the good. The 32nm node was delayed, but delays are pretty normal for TSMC lately, and is likely more indicative of overly eager schedule makers than any serious technical problem. Marchitecture meets graphing software, all in the hands of salespeople, a dangerous combo.

So, the 32nm node slipped a month or two, and was almost assuredly going to slip a little more. At that point, the rather small delay between 32nm and 28nm became vanishingly small, a few months. 32nm is the unloved process variant of late anyway, Global Foundries dropped it a long time ago to focus on making a 40nm process along with one at 28nm. It said that was because of low customer demand, and from what I understand, uptake on TSMC's 32nm is about as strong.

Given the lack of customers, and the need for engineers on 40nm and 28nm, it only made sense for TSMC to stop beating its head against the wall, and focus on where the money is, or will be. Since the delay will only be a few more months from when 32nm is scheduled, now, customers won't mind that much. They can easily be placated with a well timed discount.

The good version is that it is a minor delay, customers don't really mind, and will lead to a better 28nm and 40nm ramps. All is happy in Hsinchu, time to hit the night market for some celebratory stinky tofu.

If you are a bit more jaded, the bad version might be more to your liking. That one says that TSMC can't make 40nm wafers if their company depends on it, and it does. It is a year late, yields are in the toilet, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel yet.

The 32nm process was flawed, badly, late and power hungry. High-K and Metal Gate (HKMG) technology wasn't working out, and there was no way things would be ready by the time TSMC promised they would be. Canning 32nm gave TSMC a few more months of running around in circles trying to fix the mounting problems that it had. Hopefully, this will be enough time to figure out why things are broken before...

Source

nub · 11-20-09

Off topic but from the linked article:

Stinky tofu vendors....

nolonger · 11-20-09

Core i9 delayed?

voice · 11-20-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolonger

Core i9 delayed?

No?

Intel has their own fabs. They don't use TSMC.

Shadow_UGZ · 11-20-09

If this is true than Global Foundries is looking like a pretty good investment for AMD/ATI especially since GF is going straight to 28nm I believe.

angrysasquatch · 11-20-09

They're just going to concentrate on 28nm, there's only a 14% difference between the two, and none of their customers are going to want 32 when 28 is right around the corner. They've still got all the know-how they've gotten developing 32 to put into 28, just they aren't going to actually produce any 32 parts.