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Thursday, March 14, 2013, 03:45 am
Apple's next-gen A7 processor reportedly being readied for production by TSMC
A report from the Far East cites sources who expect Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to "tape out" Apple's A7 SoC this month ahead of risk production in early summer, suggesting that future iOS devices may not rely solely on silicon manufactured by Samsung.
According to DigiTimes, industry sources say that TSMC is ready to "tape out" the new A7 chip on its 20nm process, with the processors scheduled to be implanted into Apple products in the first quarter of 2014. While the publication has a questionable track record, Thursday's report echoes recent accounts that said TSMC has started production of certain Apple chips as part of a long-rumored partnership.
As noted by CNET, TSMC is expected to reach the "tape out" stage — which references the photomasking process that is one of the final steps in circuit design — for the A7 in March and move into early production in either May or June. The firm will reportedly expand operations at its "14-fab" located in Tainan Science Park, with investments in production facilities said to reach nearly $17 billion.
TSMC set a capital expenditure budget of $9 billion for 2013, an increase of $700 million from 2012. The report claims that about 90 percent of this year's capex will be put toward bolstering output of chips based on company's 28nm process. The Taiwanese firm said in January that it forecasts a near 100 percent ownership of the 28nm chip market during 2013, a statement that sparked speculation of massive orders from Apple.
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Previous Comments View All
"TSMC is ready to "tape out" the new A7 chip on its 20nm process"
That doesn't make sense. Tape-out is done by the chip designer.
A7 with 3d FinFet transistors
From tapeout to production its at least 6 month! For example X86 at least 12 month.
Even with risk wafers they would never get SoCs into production before October.
(To many uneducated news reporters that talk about Intel, TSMC, Samsung and so on... Its not just to move production. A new tapeout is required for each manufacture redesign of the SoC to meet the specific manufactures rules. Apple need 50-70K wafer starts per month. People have to understand how much that is. TSMC total output is 90K. )
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilBoogie
1. Why doesn't DigiTimes interview Phil Schiller, try getting info straight from the horses' mouth?
2. TSMC getting '100% ownership of the 28nm chip market during 2013' is that actually a good thing, competition-wise?
3. I wonder if their subsidiary WaferTech (outside of Portland) is able to produce chips for Apple, putting more US build parts into iPhones et cetera.
1. Why doesn't DigiTimes interview Phil Schiller, try getting info straight from the horses' mouth?
2. TSMC getting '100% ownership of the 28nm chip market during 2013' is that actually a good thing, competition-wise?
3. I wonder if their subsidiary WaferTech (outside of Portland) is able to produce chips for Apple, putting more US build parts into iPhones et cetera.
1. Schiller may never do another interview again in his life. Seriously, though, I wonder what that WSJ thing was. It was not an interview, it was some kind of ambush. We may hear something about this.
2. If they seriously have such a process jump on everbody else, how is it not a good thing for Apple to be using their whole output exclusively?
3. "Project Azalea." So mysterious. Is this a huge strategy shift for Apple toward Taiwan and the U.S., and away from you-know-who?
4. They gotta do something about that logo.
Quote:
Mised that one!
Originally Posted by Flaneur
1. Schiller may never do another interview again in his life. Seriously, though, I wonder what that WSJ thing was. It was not an interview, it was some kind of ambush. We may hear something about this.
1. Schiller may never do another interview again in his life. Seriously, though, I wonder what that WSJ thing was. It was not an interview, it was some kind of ambush. We may hear something about this.
Quote:
Apple will go with the manufacture that can provide the best process for the types of chips it needs. All of these discussions about getting back at Samsung are non sense,Apple needs the best possible processes to keep their products on the bleeding edge. If Samsung comes out as a winner that is who will get the work.
2. If they seriously have such a process jump on everbody else, how is it not a good thing for Apple to be using their whole output exclusively?
Quote:
Semiconductor manufacturing is hot right now, Azalea could be associated with any number of companies. Apple could very well partner with any number of companies, and may not even be involved in Azalea.
3. "Project Azalea." So mysterious. Is this a huge strategy shift for Apple toward Taiwan and the U.S., and away from you-know-who?
Quote:
Why?
4. They gotta do something about that logo.
Quote:
Remember we are talking reporters here a job that is currently one or two rungs above being a street walker. The vast majority of reporters have no idea what they are talking about. The info they picked up on could be anything from tape out to pilot production.Originally Posted by shompa
From tapeout to production its at least 6 month! For example X86 at least 12 month.
From tapeout to production its at least 6 month! For example X86 at least 12 month.
TSMC is supposedly far along with their next node so a pilot production effort is a real possibility. The real question though would Apple be able to adapt that quickly to TSMCs production technology.
Quote:
That iIs debatable, there are many factors involved here.
Even with risk wafers they would never get SoCs into production before October.
Quote:
This is all true to an extent but like everything else automation is part of the production chain. Beyond that if Apple has the processors detailed in a portable HDL it ought to make the move easier. Beyond that Apple would have started such a move more than a year ago.
(To many uneducated news reporters that talk about Intel, TSMC, Samsung and so on... Its not just to move production. A new tapeout is required for each manufacture redesign of the SoC to meet the specific manufactures rules.
Quote:
Apple need 50-70K wafer starts per month. People have to understand how much that is. TSMC total output is 90K. )
Apple also has enough cash to build as many plants as TSMC could possible need. If the chip is shrunk enough that could cut wafer starts in half. Frankly I don't expect a big shrink, rather I'd expect Apple to leverage that chip area for more functionality.
I'm far from being an expert in chip design/manufacturing procedures but I think I could do a much better job than these clowns. Here goes: Need to tape up the holes in the shoes so that the SoCs don't get wet.
The A7 is now to be 20nm in length.
Photo masking, which involves painting masks on photos will be a $17 billion industry by 2014
Bloody damn good I think.
Can I be an analyst now?
Quote:
Originally Posted by hfts
I'm far from being an expert in chip design/manufacturing procedures but I think I could do a much better job than these clowns. Here goes: Need to tape up the holes in the shoes so that the SoCs don't get wet.
The A7 is now to be 20nm in length.
Photo masking, which involves painting masks on photos will be a $17 billion industry by 2014
Bloody damn good I think.
Can I be an analyst now?
I'm far from being an expert in chip design/manufacturing procedures but I think I could do a much better job than these clowns. Here goes: Need to tape up the holes in the shoes so that the SoCs don't get wet.
The A7 is now to be 20nm in length.
Photo masking, which involves painting masks on photos will be a $17 billion industry by 2014
Bloody damn good I think.
Can I be an analyst now?
Thank you! At last i understand...
Quote:
Originally Posted by shompa 
From tapeout to production its at least 6 month! For example X86 at least 12 month.
Even with risk wafers they would never get SoCs into production before October.
(To many uneducated news reporters that talk about Intel, TSMC, Samsung and so on... Its not just to move production. A new tapeout is required for each manufacture redesign of the SoC to meet the specific manufactures rules. Apple need 50-70K wafer starts per month. People have to understand how much that is. TSMC total output is 90K. )
From tapeout to production its at least 6 month! For example X86 at least 12 month.
Even with risk wafers they would never get SoCs into production before October.
(To many uneducated news reporters that talk about Intel, TSMC, Samsung and so on... Its not just to move production. A new tapeout is required for each manufacture redesign of the SoC to meet the specific manufactures rules. Apple need 50-70K wafer starts per month. People have to understand how much that is. TSMC total output is 90K. )
Hence:
Quote:
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is expected to tape out Apple's A7 processor on a 20nm process in March and then move the chip into risk production in May-June, which will pave the way for commercial shipments in the first quarter of 2014, according to industry sources.
This matches up with GF and TSMC being wafer ready for 20nm and FinFET at 14XM
A well written FAQ: http://www.globalfoundries.com/technology/14XM-FAQ.aspx
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1. Why doesn't DigiTimes interview Phil Schiller, try getting info straight from the horses' mouth?
2. TSMC getting '100% ownership of the 28nm chip market during 2013' is that actually a good thing, competition-wise?
3. I wonder if their subsidiary WaferTech (outside of Portland) is able to produce chips for Apple, putting more US build parts into iPhones et cetera.