Samsung sees rising yields on its 3nm chip production line

Sean — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 09:21:35 +0000

Samsung has been working on perfecting its advanced 3nm process technology and it seems like that production yield results for its most cutting edge chip fabrication line has almost been perfected.

Back in 2022, the South Korean tech giant was the first to kick off mass production of 3nm chips. Around this period, the company’s rate of production yield was in the range of 10 percent. Now, it appears that the first generation of 3nm process nodes have reached a “perfect” level of production yield, as per a source close to the matter. The report also claimed that the Samsung Foundry had begun taking orders from fabless clients to begin mass production of its most advanced chips earlier this week.

According to the source, “We are now developing second-generation 3nm chips without delay.” For those unaware, the production yield is basically how many chips remain on the wafer and are key to the profitability of the semiconductor process node. Notably, the 3nm process technology is all the first process node where Samsung applied its first generation GAA structure transistors. Simply put, it is a method on improving the chip performance and energy efficiency.

On the other hand, the world’s largest contract chipmaker TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) employs its FinFET technology for the 3nm process, which entered mass production just last month. But while TSMC was months behind Samsung, the former also has Apple as one of its major customers.

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Samsung plans to invest US$200 billion to enhance chip fabrication

Divyansh Mehta — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 04:45:24 +0000

Samsung Electronics Co. proposed investing about $200 billion to develop 11 new chip factories in the US over the next two decades, according to records filed with the state of Texas on Friday. It is to be noted that over 20,000 Americans are employed by Samsung, which has more than 40 years of manufacturing history in the US.

The petitions that the South Korean tech behemoth submitted to the Taylor and Manor school districts, asking for tax exemptions for the prospective building of 11 new chip production facilities in the state—nine in Taylor and two in Austin—describe the anticipated investment.

Site of the chip fabrication plant in Taylor, Texas (SOURCE: Samsung Electronics Co.)

Samsung is now constructing a $17 billion plant in Taylor, close to its existing massive chip factory in Austin. It was announced in November last year.

The largest memory chip manufacturer in the world has not indicated if it is determined to invest the suggested $192.1 billion.

Samsung declared, “We currently do not have specific plans to build at this time, however, the Chapter 313 applications to the State of Texas are part of a long-term planning process of Samsung to evaluate the viability of potentially building additional fabrication plants in the United States,”

According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, Chapter 313 “allows public school districts to offer tax incentives for businesses that invest in their communities.” Additionally, it is due to expire at the end of the year, so companies must reapply to continue receiving the tax benefits.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, endorsed the idea. “This potential investment will bring billions of additional capital to continue growing our world-class business climate and diverse, highly skilled workforce,” he said in a statement.

The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) Act was also recommended by Abbott to be passed by the US Congress in order to assist the US in establishing “a secure semiconductor supply chain, which is vital to our nation’s economy and national security.” The CHIPS Act aims to strengthen supply chains, increase US chip manufacturing capacity, and eventually restore the country’s manufacturing expertise.

In order to increase manufacturing capacity and address a persistent chip shortage, Samsung urged Washington in March to grant international chipmakers an equal opportunity to apply for state incentives under the legislation.

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Samsung sees rising yields on its 3nm chip production line

Samsung plans to invest US$200 billion to enhance chip fabrication