AMD reportedly has completed the tape-out of its next-generation GPU, codenamed Southern Islands, on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) 28nm process with High-k Metal Gate (HKMG) technology, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report. The chip is set to expected to enter mass produciton at the end of 2011.
TSMC will also be AMD's major foundry partner for the 28nm Krishna and Wichita accelerated processing units (APUs), with volume production set to begin in the first half of 2012, the report said.
TSMC reportedly contract manufactures the Ontario, Zacate and Desna APUs for AMD as well as the Northern Island family of GPUs. All of these use the foundry's 40nm process technology.
TSMC was quoted as saying in previous reports that it had begun equipment move-in for the phase one facility of a new 12-inch fab (Fab 15) with volume production of 28nm technology products slated for the fourth quarter of 2011. The foundry previously said it would begin moving equipment into the facility in June, with volume production expected to kick off in the first quarter of 2012.
| Foundry partners for next-generation AMD APU and GPU series | ||
|
| 2011 | 2012 |
| Mainstream and high-end APU | Llano | Trinity |
| Foundry partners | Globalfoundries 32nm SOI | Globalfoundries 32nm SOI |
| Entry-level APU targeting tablets | Ontario/ Zacate/ Desna | Krishna/Wichita |
| Foundry partners | TSMC 40nm | TSMC 28nm HKMG, Globalfoundries 28nm HKMG |
| GPU | Northern Islands | Southern Islands |
| Foundry partners | TSMC 40nm | TSMC 28nm HKMG |
Source: Commercial Times, compiled by Digitimes, June 2011
Article translated by Jessie Shen
