Samsung’s Latest Foundry Update: June Reveal of 2nm, Production of Second-Gen SF3 3nm

Samsung has revealed its plans for the rest of the year regarding its Foundry unit during its Q1 earnings announcement. The company remains on track to begin mass production of chips on its SF3 (3 nm-class, 2nd Generation) technology in the second half of the year. Additionally, Samsung Foundry will officially introduce its SF2 (2 nm-class) process technology in June, which promises improved performance and efficiency. Furthermore, the company is developing a variation of its 4 nm-class technology for integration into stacked 3D designs.

Samsung will unveil key details about its SF2 fabrication technology at the VLSI Symposium 2024 on June 19. This process node is based on gate-all-around (GAA) multi-bridge channel field-effect transistors (MBCFET) and offers higher performance and lower leakage compared to traditional FinFET-based nodes. Samsung claims that SF2 enhances the performance of narrow transistors by 29% for N-type and 46% for P-type, as well as wide transistors by 11% and 23% respectively. It also reduces transistor global variation by 26% and product leakage by approximately 50% compared to FinFET technology. The design infrastructure for SF2, including the PDK, EDA tools, and licensed IP, will be finalized in the second quarter of 2024, allowing chip development partners to begin designing products for this production node. Samsung is also collaborating with ARM to optimize Arm’s Cortex cores for the SF2 process.

Samsung’s SF3 technology, introduced as the first GAAFET-based node, has been in production for nearly two years. However, only small cryptocurrency mining chips have been publicly disclosed as being made on this process so far. With the experience gained from SF3E, Samsung is now preparing to produce larger processors using GAAFETs. The updated SF3 node is scheduled to enter production in the second half of 2024 and is expected to offer a 22% performance boost, a 34% lower power consumption, and a 21% reduction in logic area compared to its direct predecessor, SF4. Samsung sees SF3 as a key competitor to TSMC’s N3B and N3E nodes.

In addition, Samsung is developing a variant of its SF4 FinFET technology node for use in 3D chiplet stacking. As transistor density improvements have slowed down, 3D chip stacking has become a way to enhance overall chip performance, particularly in multi-tile processor designs. While details on this node are limited, Samsung is making optimizations to enable SF4-fabbed chiplets to communicate both vertically and horizontally in a 3D-stacked design. The company expects to complete the preparatory work on the chip-stacking SF4 variant during the current quarter.

Samsung’s plans for its foundry unit demonstrate its commitment to advancing semiconductor technology and meeting the demands of various industries. With the introduction of SF2, SF3, and SF4 variants, Samsung aims to offer improved performance, efficiency, and compatibility with emerging design trends.

Background Information

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About ARM:

ARM, originally known as Acorn RISC Machine, is a British semiconductor and software design company that specializes in creating energy-efficient microprocessors, system-on-chip (SoC) designs, and related technologies. Founded in 1990, ARM has become a important player in the global semiconductor industry and is widely recognized for its contributions to mobile computing, embedded systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ARM's microprocessor designs are based on the Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture, which prioritizes simplicity and efficiency in instruction execution. This approach has enabled ARM to produce highly efficient and power-saving processors that are used in a vast array of devices, ranging from smartphones and tablets to IoT devices, smart TVs, and more. The company does not manufacture its own chips but licenses its processor designs and intellectual property to a wide range of manufacturers, including Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, and NVIDIA, who then integrate ARM's technology into their own SoCs. This licensing model has contributed to ARM's widespread adoption and influence across various industries.

  

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About Samsung:

Samsung, a South Korean multinational conglomerate, has established itself as a global leader in various industries, including electronics, technology, and more. Founded in 1938, Samsung's influence spans from smartphones and consumer electronics to semiconductors and home appliances. With a commitment to innovation, Samsung has contributed products like the Galaxy series of smartphones, QLED TVs, and SSDs that have revolutionized the way we live and work.

  

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About TSMC:

TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, is a semiconductor foundry based in Taiwan. Established in 1987, TSMC is a important player in the global semiconductor industry, specializing in the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers for a wide range of clients, including technology companies and chip designers. The company is known for its semiconductor fabrication processes and plays a critical role in advancing semiconductor technology worldwide.

  

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Technology Explained

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chiplet: Chiplets are a new type of technology that is revolutionizing the computer industry. They are small, modular components that can be used to build powerful computing systems. Chiplets are designed to be used in combination with other components, such as processors, memory, and storage, to create a complete system. This allows for more efficient and cost-effective production of computers, as well as more powerful and versatile systems. Chiplets can be used to create powerful gaming PCs, high-end workstations, and even supercomputers. They are also being used in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Chiplets are an exciting new technology that is changing the way we build and use computers.

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chiplets: Chiplets are a new type of technology that is revolutionizing the computer industry. They are small, modular components that can be used to build a variety of computer systems. Chiplets are designed to be highly efficient and cost-effective, allowing for the creation of powerful and complex systems without the need for large, expensive components. They are also highly customizable, allowing for the creation of systems tailored to specific needs. Chiplets are being used in a variety of applications, from high-end gaming PCs to embedded systems and even supercomputers. They are also being used to create powerful AI systems, allowing for the development of more advanced and intelligent machines. Chiplets are revolutionizing the computer industry, allowing for the creation of powerful and efficient systems at a fraction of the cost.

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EDA: EDA stands for Electronic Design Automation, and it refers to a category of software tools and solutions used in the design and development of electronic systems and integrated circuits. EDA tools assist engineers and designers in creating complex electronic designs, from individual components to entire systems, by automating various aspects of the design process. These tools encompass a wide range of functionalities, including schematic capture, simulation, layout design, verification, and testing.

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Foundry: A foundry is a dedicated manufacturing facility focused on producing semiconductor components like integrated circuits (ICs) for external clients. These foundries are pivotal in the semiconductor industry, providing diverse manufacturing processes and technologies to create chips based on designs from fabless semiconductor firms or other customers. This setup empowers companies to concentrate on innovative design without needing substantial investments in manufacturing infrastructure. Some well-known foundries include TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), Samsung Foundry, GlobalFoundries, and UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation).

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