Taiwan Semiconductor and Samsung ready to unveil revolutionary 5-nanometer chip manufacturing lines
SEOUL, South Korea – Two of the world’s largest foundries -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Samsung -- announced in April that they’d climbed one more rung on the Moore’s Law ladder. IEEE Spectrum reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
3 June 2019 -- TSMC officials spoke first, saying their 5-nanometer chip manufacturing process is in what’s called “risk production” -- company officials say they believe they have finished the process, initial customers are taking a chance that it will work for their designs. Samsung followed quickly with a similar announcement.
TSMC says its 5-nanometer process offers a 15 percent speed gain or a 30 percent improvement in power efficiency. Samsung is promising a 10 percent performance improvement or a 20 percent efficiency improvement.
Analysts say these figures are in line with expectations. Compared, though, with the sometimes 50 percent improvements of a decade ago, it’s clear that Moore’s Law is not what it used to be. But judging by the investments big foundries are making, customers still think it’s worthwhile.
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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics