| Globalfoundries 28nm Bulk Prep, CPU Tape Out To Ship Time, 32nm Testing |
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| Written by Chris Tom |
| Friday, 06 November 2009 13:50 |
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The 28nm process should start with risk production in late 2010, it looks like Q4 2010 now, and high end complex graphics chips are the main target for this. We are quite sure that AMD & ATI are interested in 28nm graphics chips and it’s just a matter of time when Nvidia will start considering Globalfoundries as an alternative fab. Also learned is that from CPU tape out to shipping takes about 1 full year. CPU manufacture is much more complex and takes more time than making a GPU and if the new AMD CPU will ship in Q3 2011, it better be taped out by middle of next year. The new K10.5 quad and dual-core revision that should start shipping in Q2 2010 has most likely been taped out by the middle of 2009 and this new core revision can provide some higher clocks and lower TDPs. Lastly he finds out that they are testing out 32nm production with 300mm wafers now. This schedule is part of AMDs design process and has nothing to do with the Fab, but it is too early to talk about the state of the process and yields. The 32nm transition will be a tough one. Despite the fact that transistors and transistor pitch are getting smaller, AMD also needs to implement high metal gate, and as far as we understood, this is not a walk in the park. |