AMD to Outpace Apple as TSMC’s Biggest 7nm Customer in 2020

AMD within the second half of 2020 might outpace Apple as the most important foundry buyer of TSMC for its 7 nm silicon fabrication nodes (DUV and EUV mixed). There are two key components contributing to this: AMD considerably rising its orders for the yr; and Apple transitioning to TSMC’s 5 nm node for its A14 SoC, releasing up some 7 nm allocation, which AMD grabbed. AMD is at present tapping into 7 nm DUV for its “Zen 2” chiplet, “Navi 10,” and “Navi 14” GPU dies. The firm might proceed to order 7 nm DUV till these merchandise attain EOL; whereas additionally introducing the brand new “Renoir” APU die on the method. The foundry’s new 7 nm+ (EUV) node will probably be utilized for “Zen 3” chiplets and “Navi 2#” GPU dies in 2020.

Currently, the top-5 clients for TSMC 7 nm are Apple, HiSilicon, Qualcomm, AMD, and MediaTek. Barring AMD, the others within the top-5 construct cellular SoCs or 4G/5G modem chips on the node. AMD is predicted to high the record because it scales up orders with TSMC. In the primary half of 2020, TSMC’s month-to-month output for 7 nm is predicted to develop to 110,000 wafers per thirty days (wpm). Apple’s migration to five nm in 2H-2020, coupled with capacity-addition might take TSMC’s 7 nm output to 140,000 wpm. AMD has reportedly booked the complete capacity-addition for 30,000 wpm, taking its allocation as much as 21% in 2H-2020. Qualcomm is switching to Samsung for its next-generation SoCs and modems designed for 7 nm EUV. NVIDIA, too, is predicted to constructed its next-gen 7 nm EUV GPUs on Samsung as a substitute of TSMC. These strikes by massive gamers might unencumber vital foundry allocation at TSMC for AMD’s volumes to develop in 2020.