All articles tagged with #3nm
Apple is expected to announce the M5 chip this week, but contrary to previous assumptions, it will likely be fabricated on TSMC’s older 3nm ‘N3E’ process instead of the newer ‘N3P’, possibly due to cost considerations, although this would be unusual given Apple's history of using cutting-edge manufacturing processes.
Arm has unveiled its 2024 CPU core designs, including the Cortex X925, A725, and A520, all based on the enhanced Armv9.2 architecture and transitioning to 3 nm process technology. The new Arm Compute Subsystem (CSS) platform integrates these cores with the Immortalis G925 GPU, promising significant performance, power efficiency, and security improvements for mobile and AI applications. The CSS platform aims to deliver a versatile computing solution across various device form factors, from smartphones to laptops, with enhanced AI capabilities and robust development tools.
TSMC's Q1 2024 revenue reached $18.87 billion, up 12.9% year-over-year but down 3.8% quarter-over-quarter, with HPC processors driving the rebound while N3 (3nm) revenue share steeply declined. N3 wafer sales accounted for 9% of revenue, down from 15% in Q4 2023, while N5 (5nm) and N7 (7nm) revenue shares increased. TSMC attributes the N3 decline to seasonally lower smartphone demand, but expects HPC platform to continue increasing its revenue share, driven by AI processors.
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 is rumored to be the company's first device to feature a 3nm Exynos chip, potentially offering significant energy efficiency gains. While the next-gen Exynos 2400, a 4nm chip, is expected to power the Galaxy S24 flagship phones, the 3nm-based Exynos chip is likely to debut on the Galaxy Watch 7 in the second half of 2024. This advancement could address battery life concerns that previous Galaxy Watch models have faced, representing a significant upgrade for smartwatch users.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported that its N3 (3nm-class) process technology accounted for 6% of its Q3 revenue, marking the first significant revenue recognition for the new node. TSMC's total revenue for Q3 2023 reached $17.28 billion, with advanced nodes now contributing to 59% of the company's earnings. TSMC's long-term plans for the 3nm node include offering variations such as the cost-efficient N3E process technology, which is expected to start volume production in Q4 2024.
Apple has reportedly booked almost 90% of TSMC's first-generation 3-nanometer process capacity for this year, which will be used for future iPhones, Macs, and iPads. The upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to feature the A17 Bionic processor, while the M3 chip for Macs and iPads is also expected to use the 3nm process. TSMC is also working on an enhanced 3nm process called N3E, which Apple devices will eventually migrate to.
Apple's custom silicon is expected to move to TSMC's 3nm process later this year, providing the biggest performance and efficiency leap to Apple's chips since 2020. The increased number of transistors that are made possible by 3nm allows the chip to perform more tasks simultaneously and at a faster rate, while using less power. 3nm chips could also allow for more advanced dedicated chip hardware, such as more advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks, as well as more advanced graphics capabilities. Apple's order of 3nm chips is thought to be so large that it occupies TSMC's entire production capacity for the node this year.
TSMC's 3nm chip production, which is expected to be used for Apple's A17 chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and the M3 chip in future Macs, is struggling to keep up with customer demand, likely from Apple. Yield rates are not yet good enough to charge Apple for every wafer produced, but TSMC expects the 3nm process to be fully utilized in 2023. The next major step will be 2nm chips, expected to begin production in 2025.