TSMC poised to begin 3nm production despite weaker chip demand

Taiwanese chip giant TSMC is to begin volume production of 3nm silicon within weeks, amid warnings that demand for semiconductors is weakening with Korean companies reporting the first drop in shipments for three years. TSMC has revealed that its production of 3nm semiconductors is due to start in September, as indicated by …

[John Smith 19]

Astonishing. <15 Si atoms wide

Historically the oxide layer is 1/10 the minimum line width, but I think they have different methods to do the isolation now.

How long did it take to get this generation on line?

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Astonishing. <15 Si atoms wide

There is no actual 3nm dimension in a 3nm design

The most generous description would be that if you extrapolated the last real planar junction designs in terms of transistors /mm^2 it would be as if a planar transistor design was 3nm

Alternatively you could accept that it's just the odd number less than the previous named technology. Don't know what they are doing in 2025 after 1nm. Either 0.5nm and we start going fractional or we get silly and say -1nm

[bazza]

> Construction work on a TSMC fabrication plant in Arizona that will manufacture 5nm-process chips was recently completed, although this is not scheduled to begin semiconductor production until 2024.

By which time it will be properly old fashioned.