from the it-would-be-sweet-if-they-could-make-Necco-wafers dept.
ASML to Ship 30 EUV Scanners in 2019: Faster EUV Tools Coming
ASML said last week that it planned to ship 30 extreme ultraviolet scanners in 2019, up significantly from 2018. The plan is not surprising, as demand for EUV lithography tools is rising and semiconductors manufacturers are building new fabs. In addition, ASML indicated plans to introduce a new EUV scanner that will offer a higher production throughput, the NXE: 3400C.
Last year ASML shipped (only) 18 Twinscan NXE: 3400B EUV scanners. This was slightly below its expectations, to supply 20 machines. In total, as of July 2018, there were 31 EUV scanners installed at various fabs across the world, including several machines in various semiconductor research organizations, including imec. If everything goes as planned, ASML will ship more extreme ultraviolet scanners in 2019 than it did in in years before that.
[...] Samsung Foundry has already started to use ASML's EUV equipment for production of commercial chips using its 7LPP process technology at its Fab S3.
[...] TSMC is set to start using its Twinscan NXE scanners for commercial wafers in the second half of this year to produce chips using its N7+ manufacturing technology. Initially EUV scanners will be used for non-critical layers, but their use will be expanded at the 5 nm node in 2020 – 2021.
[...] Demand for ASML's Twinscan NXE tools will be further boosted by demand from Intel and SK Hynix.
Previously: ASML Says Fire at Supplier Prodrive Will Lead to Delays Early Next Year
Related: TSMC Details Scaling/Performance Gains Expected From "5nm CLN5" Process
Related Stories
TSMC Details 5 nm Process Tech: Aggressive Scaling, But Thin Power and Performance Gains
At a special event last week, TSMC announced the first details about its 5 nm manufacturing technology that it plans to use sometime in 2020. CLN5 will be the company's second fabrication process to use extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which is going to enable TSMC to aggressively increase its transistor density versus prior generations. However, when it comes to performance and power improvements, the gains do not look very significant.
Just like other fabs, TSMC will gradually ramp up usage of ASML's Twinscan NXE:3400 EUV step and scan systems. Next year TSMC will start using EUV tools to pattern non-critical layers of chips made using its second-gen 7 nm fabrication technology (CLN7FF+). Usage of EUV for non-critical layers will bring a number of benefits to the CLN7FF+ vs. the original CLN7FF process, but the advantages will be limited: TSMC expects the CLN7FF+ to offer a 20% higher transistor density and a 10% lower power consumption at the same complexity and frequency when compared to the CLN7FF. TSMC's 5 nm (CLN5) technology will increase the usage of EUV tools and this will bring rather massive advantages when it comes to transistor density: TSMC is touting a 1.8x higher transistor density (~45% area reduction) when compared to the original CLN7FF, but it will only enable a 15% frequency gain (at the same complexity and power) or a 20% power reduction (at the same frequency and complexity). With the CLN5, TSMC will also offer an Extremely Low Threshold Voltage (ELTV) option that will enable its clients to increase frequencies of their chips by 25%, but the manufacturer has yet to describe the tech in greater detail.
1.8x higher transistor density and up to 15% frequency gain or 20% power reduction? You should be thankful you're getting anything!
Related: TSMC to Build 7nm Process Test Chips in Q1 2018
TSMC Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for "5nm" Fab, Production to Begin in 2020
AMSTERDAM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Semiconductor industry bellwether ASML said on Monday a fire at one of its suppliers, electronic components maker Prodrive, would lead to some product delivery delays in early 2019.
The Dutch company, a key supplier to the world's largest computer chip makers, said in a statement it did not expect any change in 2018 deliveries, and it would take several weeks to assess the overall impact to its business.
[...]
ASML makes lithography systems, machines which can cost up to 100 million euros each and are used by Samsung, Intel, TSMC and others to help map out the circuitry of semiconductors.
ASML is the only supplier of tech required for the next generation of microchips (see: 7 nm).
TSMC[*] this week said that it has completed development of tools required for design of SoCs that are made using its 5 nm (CLN5FF, N5) fabrication technology. The company indicated that some of its alpha customers (which use pre-production tools and custom designs) had already started risk production of their chips using its N5 manufacturing process, which essentially means that the technology is on-track for high-volume manufacturing (HVM) in 2020.
TSMC's N5 is the company's 2nd generation fabrication technology that uses both deep ultraviolet (DUV) as well as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The process can use EUVL on up to 14 layers (a tangible progress from N7+, which uses EUVL on four non-critical layers) to enable significant improvements in terms of density. TSMC says that when compared to N7 (1st Gen 7 nm, DUV-only), N5 technology will allow chip developers to shrink die area of their designs by ~45%, making transistor density ~1.8x higher. It will also increase frequency by 15% (at the same complexity and power) or reduce power consumption by 20% power reduction (at the same frequency and complexity).
[*] TSMC - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
Same chip(let) size? Approximately double the core count.
Previously: TSMC Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for "5nm" Fab, Production to Begin in 2020
TSMC Details Scaling/Performance Gains Expected From "5nm CLN5" Process
TSMC Tapes Out Second-Generation "7nm" Chip Using EUV, Will Begin Risk Production of "5nm" in April
Related: Samsung Plans to Make "5nm" Chips Starting in 2019-2020
ASML Plans to Ship 30 Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUV) Scanners in 2019
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Wednesday January 30 2019, @04:06AM
has decided the way to keep making money is to keep making their widgets better, and sell more of what they have now.
Gotcha.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 30 2019, @04:07AM (2 children)
What is controlling the price of these machines?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday January 30 2019, @04:16AM
https://seekingalpha.com/article/3980332-can-anyone-beat-asml-sub-10nm-features-maybe [seekingalpha.com]
If things got real bad, big players like Intel and Samsung could pump money into a competitor.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday January 30 2019, @06:41AM
The ROI gods
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 30 2019, @05:26AM (5 children)
Can we take a break from the topic, please?
No? Still need to learn what AMD will be doing? But, maybe after it? Pretty please?
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday January 30 2019, @06:22AM (3 children)
Need fish with chips [bbc.com]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 30 2019, @07:10AM (2 children)
With microchips, only microfish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Informative) by MostCynical on Wednesday January 30 2019, @09:25AM (1 child)
like this [bt.com]?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 30 2019, @10:25AM
Mmm... vintage Champagne crispy batter... sounds second only to crispy bacon.
But yes, those black small thingies sprinkled on top seem to hint of microfish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 30 2019, @10:39AM
What news do you prefer? Stuff about trump? Fake or overhyped medical advances/discoveries?
(Score: 2) by Debvgger on Wednesday January 30 2019, @12:18PM (2 children)
This is a general question I've always had. This sort of equipment is way, way way way out of question for homebrew guys like me, but what about the old machines? Is there a second hand market for these? Is there a way to buy this sort of industrial stuff from a few decades ago?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 30 2019, @12:33PM
https://www.4semi.com/mallitems.cfm?menuid=m_3_6 [4semi.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 30 2019, @07:31PM
a small mosis run in pretty cheap these days. perhaps ~10k for an old process?