As introduced final week by TSMC, later this yr the corporate is ready to start out high-volume manufacturing on its N3P fabrication course of, and this would be the firm's most superior node for some time. Next yr issues will get a bit extra fascinating as TSMC can have two course of applied sciences that would really compete in opposition to one another once they enter high-volume manufacturing (HVM) within the second half of 2025.
| Advertised PPA Improvements of New Process Technologies Data introduced throughout convention calls, occasions, press briefings and press releases |
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| Compiled by AnandTech |
TSMC | ||||||||
| N3 vs N5 |
N3E vs N5 |
N3P vs N3E |
N3X vs N3P |
N2 vs N3E |
N2P vs N3E |
N2P vs N2 |
A16 vs N2P |
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| Power | -25% -30% |
-34% | -5% -10% |
-7%*** | -25% -30% |
-30% -40% |
-5% -10% |
-15% -20% |
|
| Performance | +10% +15% |
+18% | +5% | +5% Fmax @1.2V** |
+10% +15% |
+15% +20% |
+5 +10% |
+8% +10% |
|
| Density* | ? | 1.3x | 1.04x | 1.10x*** | 1.15x | 1.15x | ? | 1.07x 1.10x |
|
| HVM | This autumn 2022 |
This autumn 2023 |
H2 2024 |
H2 2025 |
H2 2025 |
H2 2026 |
H2 2026 |
H2 2026 |
|
*Chip density printed by TSMC displays 'combined' chip density consisting of 50% logic, 30% SRAM, and 20% analog.
**At the identical space.
***At the identical pace.
The manufacturing nodes are N3X (3nm-class, excessive performance-focused) in addition to N2 (2nm-class). TSMC says that when in comparison with N3P, chips made on N3X can both decrease energy consumption by 7% on the similar frequency by decreasing Vdd from 1.0V to 0.9V, improve efficiency by 5% on the similar space, or improve transistor density by round 10% on the similar frequency. Meanwhile, the important thing benefit of N3X in comparison with predecessors is its most voltage of 1.2V, which is necessary for ultra-high-performance functions, corresponding to desktop or datacenter GPUs.
TSMC's N2 might be TSMC's first manufacturing node to make use of gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet transistors and this may considerably improve its efficiency, energy, and space (PPA) traits. When in comparison with N3E, semiconductors produced on N3 can minimize their energy consumption by 25% – 30% (on the similar transistor depend and frequency), improve their efficiency by 10% – 15% (on the similar transistor depend and energy), and improve transistor density by 15% (on the similar pace and energy).
While N2 will definitely be TSMC's undisputed champ on the subject of energy consumption and transistor density, N3X might probably problem it on the subject of efficiency, particularly at excessive voltages. For many shoppers N3X may even have a advantage of utilizing confirmed FinFET transistors, so N2 won’t be routinely the most effective of TSMC's nodes within the second half of 2025.
2026: N2P and A16
In the next yr TSMC will once more provide two nodes which are set to focus on usually comparable smartphone and high-performance computing functions: N2P (performance-enhanced 2nm-class) and A16 (1.6nm-class with bottom energy supply).
N2P is predicted to ship a 5% – 10% decrease energy (on the similar pace and transistor depend) or a 5% – 10% greater efficiency (on the similar energy and transistor depend) in comparison with the unique N2. Meanwhile, A16 is ready to supply an as much as 20% decrease energy (on the similar pace and transistors), as much as 10% greater efficiency (on the similar energy and transistors), and as much as 10% greater transistor density in comparison with N2P.
Keeping in thoughts that A16 options enhanced bottom energy supply community, it would doubtless be the node of alternative for performance-minded chip designers. But in fact, it would…
