Samsung Strains Up First Server Buyer For 3nm Fabs

Though Samsung Foundry was the primary contract fab to formally begin mass manufacturing of chips on a 3 nm-class course of, to this point, the corporate’s newest course of has largely been relegated to producing tiny cryptocurrency mining chips. But it surely seems like issues will begin choosing up for Samsung’s foundry enterprise quickly, as this week it was introduced that the corporate has landed a extra substantial order which can see the Samsung make a server-grade system-in-package (SiP) with HBM reminiscence for an unknown shopper.

Per this week’s press releases, Samsung Foundry is about to provide a server-grade processor with HBM reminiscence that’s set to be designed by ADTechnology, a contract chip developer from South Korea, for an American firm. For now, particulars on the chip are gentle, so all we all know in regards to the 3 nm-based datacenter product is that it’ll will use 2.5D packaging together with HBM reminiscence. All of which factors to a high-end system-on-chip (SoC) – or slightly a system-in-package (SiP).

“This 3nm venture will likely be one of many largest semiconductor merchandise within the trade,” mentioned Park Joon-Gyu, chief government of AD Know-how. “This 3nm and a couple of.5D design expertise will likely be a big differentiation issue between different firms and AD Know-how. We’ll do our utmost to ship the perfect design outcomes to our prospects.”

In the meantime, it’s unclear which of Samsung Foundry’s 3 nm-class course of applied sciences the corporate is about to make use of for the venture. At the moment the corporate is producing cryptocurrency mining ASICs utilizing its SF3E course of expertise, which is the preliminary model of Samsung’s gate-all-around (GAA) manufacturing tech.

The corporate is about to roll-out an enhanced SF3 course of expertise subsequent 12 months. This model of the node supplies further design flexibility, which is enabled by various nanosheet channel widths of the GAA machine throughout the identical cell kind. All of this can, in flip, enhance the efficiency, energy, and space traits of SF3 in comparison with SF3E, making it extra appropriate for server designs. But, the corporate can also be prepping SP3P expertise with efficiency enhancements for 2025, which is more likely to be even higher for server-grade silicon.

“We’re happy to announce our 3nm design collaboration with AD Know-how,” mentioned Jung Ki-Bong, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Foundry Enterprise Growth group. “This venture will set an excellent precedent within the collaboration program between Samsung Electronics Foundry Division and our ecosystem companions, and Samsung Electronics Foundry Division will strengthen our cooperation with companions to supply the highest quality to our prospects.”

Sources: ADTechnology, Pulsenew