TSMC's 5nm technology will be offered in more process variants, including a further enhanced 5nm node in addition to 5nm Plus, according to sources at IC inspection services companies and chipmaking materials suppliers.
TSMC is scheduled to enter the development of a test vehicle using the further enhanced 5nm process, dubbed tentatively N4, in the third quarter of 2020, the sources indicated.
Besides, TSMC's N5P process designed for HPC chips for use in networking, AI and server applications will start being validated by customers in the fourth quarter, the sources said. The N5P node will be ready for commercial production for a US GPU vendor's new HPC product slated for launch in the second quarter of 2021, the sources continued.
In response, TSMC said that technology-related developments will be announced in due course of time.
TSMC has moved 5nm FinFET process dubbed N5 to volume production in the second quarter of 2020. The foundry expects revenue generated from 5nm technology to account for about 10% of its total wafer revenue this year.
TSMC reportedly will roll out enhanced versions of N5
Photo: Digitimes file photo
Article translated by Jessie Shen
