Samsung has reportedly announced a launch for Monday, July 25. The firm began mass production of advanced semiconductors on June 30.
The Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture is used in Samsung 3nm chips. It is a new chip architecture that improves performance and power over the current FinFET (Fin field-effect transistor) architecture. It also allows for a smaller processor footprint.
The Korean company is supplying the initial production run of its 3nm solutions to a Chinese company that manufactures cryptocurrency mining processors. However, due to the nature of the industry with which it is associated, the company does not expect it to be a long-term client. Samsung would like to sign up some reputable clients, such as smartphone manufacturers.
However, it is said to be having difficulties with the yield rate of its 3nm chips. The majority of the advanced chips produced by the company do not meet the required quality standards. This prevents it from producing a large volume of chips in a short period of time, which is typically required by smartphone makers. The Korean behemoth is now working to improve yield rates (80 to 90 percent is said to be ideal) while also improving chip technology. The company intends to start producing second-generation 3nm solutions early next year. They could be for smartphones.
TSMC, which has historically outperformed Samsung in the contract manufacturing space, is also gearing up to start 3nm mass production later this year. However, the company will continue to use the FinFET architecture for one more generation. It intends to shift to GAAFET with 2nm chips in 2025.
However, the Taiwanese firm chip technology has historically been superior to Samsung's. Its solutions typically outperform competing Korean solutions in terms of overall performance and power efficiency. Thermal management is also improved in TSMC chips. As a result, Samsung faces a difficult task in closing the gap with its archrival.
Samsung has yet to give its best to 3nm chips
Samsung is manufacturing its first batch of 3nm chips at its Hwaseong factory in South Korea. However, as the company ramps up production, other factories are likely to get jobs as well. Perhaps the firm hasn't yet used its finest chip manufacturing equipment for a 3nm solution. The company has its best chip equipment at its Pyeongtaek factory, while the Hwaseong campus is mostly used for developing manufacturing technologies (VIA).
It is quite likely that 3nm production will begin at the Pyeongtaek factory after Samsung improves the yield rate. Perhaps the company will manufacture second-gen solutions here. Time will tell whether the Korean firm can eventually challenge TSMC in chip technology.
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