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Samsung Begins Chip Production Using 3nm Process Technology With GAA Architecture

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Samsung Electronics, the world leader in semiconductor technology, today announced that it has started initial production of its 3-nanometer (nm) process node applying Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture. Multi-Bridge-Channel FET (MBCFET), Samsung's GAA technology implemented for the first time ever, defies the performance limitations of FinFET, improving power efficiency by reducing the supply voltage level, while also enhancing performance by increasing drive current capability. Samsung is starting the first application of the nanosheet transistor with semiconductor chips for high performance, low power computing application and plans to expand to mobile processors.

"Samsung has grown rapidly as we continue to demonstrate leadership in applying next-generation technologies to manufacturing, such as foundry industry's first High-K Metal Gate, FinFET, as well as EUV. We seek to continue this leadership with the world's first 3 nm process with the MBCFET," said Dr. Siyoung Choi, President and Head of Foundry Business at Samsung Electronics. "We will continue active innovation in competitive technology development and build processes that help expedite achieving maturity of technology."




Design-Technology Optimization for Maximized PPA
Samsung's proprietary technology utilizes nanosheets with wider channels, which allow higher performance and greater energy efficiency compared to GAA technologies using nanowires with narrower channels. Utilizing the 3 nm GAA technology, Samsung will be able to adjust the channel width of the nanosheet in order to optimize power usage and performance to meet various customer needs.

In addition, the design flexibility of GAA is highly advantageous for Design Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO), which helps boost Power, Performance, Area (PPA) benefits. Compared to 5 nm process, the first-generation 3 nm process can reduce power consumption by up to 45%, improve performance by 23% and reduce area by 16% compared to 5 nm, while the second-generation 3 nm process is to reduce power consumption by up to 50%, improve performance by 30% and reduce area by 35%.

Providing 3 nm Design Infrastructure & Services With SAFE Partners
As technology nodes get smaller and chip performance needs grow greater, IC designers face challenges of handling tremendous amounts of data to verify complex products with more functions and tighter scaling. To meet such demands, Samsung strives to provide a more stable design environment to help reduce the time required for design, verification and sign-off process, while also boosting product reliability.

Since the third quarter of 2021, Samsung Electronics has been providing proven design infrastructure through extensive preparation with Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFE ) partners including Ansys, Cadence, Siemens and Synopsys, to help customers perfect their product in a reduced period of time.

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Is this essentially equivalent to TSMC’s 5nm?
Probably more in line with 3-4nm. And TSMC will use GAA transistors only starting with 2nm.
 
Anyone know to which TSMC node this is comparable?
This is apparently a pre-emptive strike by Samsung, to say that they started their 3 nm production a quarter before TSMC, as TSMC is supposed to start their N3 note production next quarter.
 
"reduce area by 16% compared to 5 nm"

Wow that's ridiculous low, definitely more a 5nm+ than a 3nm.
 
"reduce area by 16% compared to 5 nm"

Wow that's ridiculous low, definitely more a 5nm+ than a 3nm.
Welcome to the era of diminishing returns of node shrinks.
This is why all the semiconductor fabs are working on moving to different types of solutions to try and maintain the node shrinkage, but we're seemingly not quite there yet.
 
"reduce area by 16% compared to 5 nm"

Wow that's ridiculous low, definitely more a 5nm+ than a 3nm.
Because it doesn’t use backsided power architecture (not sure on the name), that would yield more improvement on top.
 
Remember they are all using the same ASML EUV machines, claimed nm is just that, claimed
 
TSMC's N3 process is a full-node shrink to N5. While its N4 is a rebranded N5+.
So, your statement is incorrect, can't be "3-4".
Oh it can, because Samsung kinda sucks. Your assumption is based on the premise that Samsung is 1:1 competitive with TSMC which they aren’t.
 
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Oh it can, because Samsung kinda sucks. Your assumption is based on the premise that Samsung is 1:1 competitive with TSMC which they aren’t.

it's also wrong just to assume future performance based only on past performances. Sure the past doesn't look good for Samsung but that doesn't automatically mean it will stay like that forever, you just can't know that for sure.
 
These are TSMC '7nm' equivalents at best, you have to understand that the current nanometer numbers make no sense whatsoever anymore, and Samsung is not cheating one step lower, but multiple.

Their 8nm is on par with TSMC 14~12nm go figure. The gap is so huge it makes no sense whatsoever. I don't trust a single statement coming from Samsung wrt technological parity.
 
Oh it can, because Samsung kinda sucks. Your assumption is based on the premise that Samsung is 1:1 competitive with TSMC which they aren’t.

Look at the information: 3 nm process - Wikipedia
Samsung's 3GAE should be like TSMC N4 process.
TSMC N4 - 196.6 MTra / sq. mm.
Samsung 3GAE - 202.85 MTra / sq. mm.

1656578110951.png



1656578279424.png

5 nm process - Wikipedia
 
These are TSMC '7nm' equivalents at best, you have to understand that the current nanometer numbers make no sense whatsoever anymore, and Samsung is not cheating one step lower, but multiple.

Their 8nm is on par with TSMC 14~12nm go figure. The gap is so huge it makes no sense whatsoever. I don't trust a single statement coming from Samsung wrt technological parity.

they had trouble getting the latest ASML tech in the last couple of years, but they just comited recently to the new machines, korea gov was involved i think
 
it's also wrong just to assume future performance based only on past performances. Sure the past doesn't look good for Samsung but that doesn't automatically mean it will stay like that forever, you just can't know that for sure.
It seems to be company policy and culture to tout new developments as the ultimate step forward and leading tech, when in fact they've just managed to copy over what is true leading tech, and do so with yields and quality levels that are below what you'd expect. Even their most successful tech, which I'd say is their advancements on (flash) memory, isn't free of issues.

they had trouble getting the latest ASML tech in the last couple of years, but they just comited recently to the new machines, korea gov was involved i think

Yeah, let's see what they manage to do with it. Having access to EUV doesn't mean you're going to magically make great chips with it. Devil's in the details...

Look at the information: 3 nm process - Wikipedia
Samsung's 3GAE should be like TSMC N4 process.
TSMC N4 - 196.6 MTra / sq. mm.
Samsung 3GAE - 202.85 MTra / sq. mm.

View attachment 253019


View attachment 253020
5 nm process - Wikipedia

Ah, where is that Samsung 5LPE process at then? 2018 is four years ago :) This info seems pretty optimistic and rather nonsensical. A bit like throwing feces at the wall. If its not in a product, you can't say what the density is either. Nor how it can be tuned/what the V/F curves will be... etc.
 
It seems to be company policy and culture to tout new developments as the ultimate step forward and leading tech, when in fact they've just managed to copy over what is true leading tech, and do so with yields and quality levels that are below what you'd expect. Even their most successful tech, which I'd say is their advancements on (flash) memory, isn't free of issues.

They no longer use the incorrect "nm" labeling, instead call something with big letter "N" or as in the 3-nm-class-or-equivalent "3GAE".
 
Ah, where is that Samsung 5LPE process at then? 2018 is four years ago :)
oh absolutely, i just meant the other way around, in the last couple of years they never managed to secure the latest tech from ASML so that may explain the disavantage... or not.
 
They no longer use the incorrect "nm" labeling, instead call something with big letter "N" or as in the 3-nm-class-or-equivalent "3GAE".
No, none of the labelling they use now and since Intel went below 14nm is actually 'correct'. Its a classic strategy. You just develop so much terminology nobody knows the truth anymore. Its also the way most information is presented on the internet. FUD everywhere, so who can say what's true anymore? Only those truly in the know and who apply actual historical context (sourced and factual) are going to know what's what. The rest is reduced to sheep with the illusion of knowledge. This is the paradox of transparent and lots of information.

Its marketing departments one-upping each other every gen so shareholders 'see progress'.
 
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I don't understand the Samsung bashing on here. GAA could be exciting tech, so shouldn't enthusiasts be rooting for them? Who cares that their record's been spotty before, dismissing a product (or in this case, just a process to make products) before it's released doesn't do anyone any good.
 
Look at the information: 3 nm process - Wikipedia
Samsung's 3GAE should be like TSMC N4 process.
TSMC N4 - 196.6 MTra / sq. mm.
Samsung 3GAE - 202.85 MTra / sq. mm.

Theoretical densities at best ! As it has been demonstrated effective densities are far lower compared to theoretical densities and the gap between those two increases on each generation : The TRUTH of TSMC 5nm .

https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd81bbefc-fccd-4b37-a641-a507b0fe33b2_1024x263.png


Also something to keep in mind is GAA offers more advantages than simple increase in denistiy compared to FinFet ( reduced leaking / higher frequency etc ) .
 
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