Globafoundries Announces 7 nm FinFET Technology

GeniusPr0

2016-09-16 09:41

Would be nice for notebooks, seeing as that's what's really benefited the most. Could put a Fury X in a notebook on 7nm.

#5335337

d_mouse

2016-09-16 10:47

Well if they can hit the 2018 target that would be nice but I'm doubtful considering how long they've been stuck on 32/28nm

#5335338

alanm

2016-09-16 10:51

So is TSMC. In about same time frame. While GF will spend "multi-billions" in FAB 8, TSMC can re-use about 95% of their 10nm equipment for 7nm. http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/tsmc-7nm-2017/

#5335345

MainFrame Alpha

2016-09-16 11:15

Bold move skipping the 10nm process node, someone made a smart calculated move investing in GF 🤓 hope they just play it right.

#5335402

Kaarme

2016-09-16 14:22

Well if they can hit the 2018 target that would be nice but I'm doubtful considering how long they've been stuck on 32/28nm

They aren't stuck on 32/28nm. They are already commercially producing 14nm chips, after all. But 2018 is indeed ambitious, all things considered.

#5335594

Aura89

2016-09-16 21:31

Well if they can hit the 2018 target that would be nice but I'm doubtful considering how long they've been stuck on 32/28nm

Do you believe this because AMD has been "stuck" on those? AMD is not their only customer.....

#5335609

MasterBash

2016-09-16 22:03

I am still astonished at how much more power efficient nvidia is than amd, on their newest cards... I dunno what to think about this, I mean sure 7nm is a good thing but if the end results are not very good then I dunno...

#5335623

ammaross

2016-09-16 22:50

Process Nodes

Interesting, Intel's first high performance 10 nm CPU, Ice Lake, won't be ready until likely end-2018. It's successor Tiger Lake in late 2019/early 2020 will still be on the 10 nm process. AMD might release a 7 nm CPU before Intel does.

7nm at GlobalFoundries is a marketing term. It means "FinFET Equivalent to Planar 7nm" to describe essentially a 10nm FinFET process node, which isn't entirely accurate either, but is closest in pitch size vs Intel's process node scale of the same physical size.

#5335788

sykozis

2016-09-17 15:10

I am still astonished at how much more power efficient nvidia is than amd, on their newest cards...

AMD and NVidia use completely different architectures. The architecture itself determines power efficiency more so than the process node.

#5335931

Brasky

2016-09-18 02:17

I found this video that explains the process a little. Very cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYDNG4crRCs&feature=youtu.be

#5335942

ManofGod

2016-09-18 03:53

Not really sure why they bother since they have not even got their present day process nodes working well yet either. Just ask AMD.

#5335943

ManofGod

2016-09-18 03:54

I am still astonished at how much more power efficient nvidia is than amd, on their newest cards... I dunno what to think about this, I mean sure 7nm is a good thing but if the end results are not very good then I dunno...

Doesn't seem like the end results have been very good for the last few years, unfortunately.

#5336023

d_mouse

2016-09-18 14:12

They aren't stuck on 32/28nm. They are already commercially producing 14nm chips, after all. But 2018 is indeed ambitious, all things considered.

I didn't mean they are still stuck there, I mean that given how long there were stuck there for, skipping 10nm and going from 14nm straight to 7nm might not be as quick and easy as they are saying

#5336025

d_mouse

2016-09-18 14:17

Do you believe this because AMD has been "stuck" on those? AMD is not their only customer.....

Not at all, just saying that GloFlo was stuck there for a lot longer than Intel and if it wasn't for a deal with Sammy they wouldn't have beaten TSMC to 14nm. Skipping 10nm seems a bit ambitious

#5336069

Texter

2016-09-18 17:31

Skipping 10nm seems a bit ambitious

ASML EUV magic, apparently...

#5496087

Evlmj

2017-11-28 12:26

[youtube=ttbaaI5xUcg] This is the new device that promises the new revolution in the lithography process and dip below 7nm https://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/leading-chipmakers-eye-euv-lithography-to-save-moores-law - here's the tech explained Aparently TSMC / Samsung / Intel / GlobalFoundry all have billions invested in ASML's EUV tech with hopes to get first production up and running by next year. But, as with all chip production, yield aka profits are the bottom line. But EUV brings hope of dipping towards the quantum potential of the silicon wafers that is afaik 2-3nm with multiple patterning.