Report: TSMC CoWoS Production Line at Full Capacity as Demand Increases
Despite the downturn of events around the world, TSMC is witnessing a significant increase in demand for its Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) packaging, according to DigiTimes' unnamed industry sources. The Taiwanese silicon manufacturer is purportedly running its CoWoS production lines at full capacity.
CoWoS as is a 2.5D method of packaging multiple individual dies side-by-side on a single silicon interposer. The benefits are the ability to increase the density in small devices as you run into the limits of how big individual dies can be produced, better interconnectivity between dies and lower power consumption.
According to DigiTimes, AMD, Nvidia, HiSilicon, Xilinx and Broadcom have placed orders for the tech, with demand for high-performance computing chips, high bandwidth memory (HBM)-powered AI accelerators and ASICs during the past two weeks.
Examples of CoWoS packaged silicon are [...] AMD's Vega VII graphics cards, as well as Nvidia's V100 cards, which have HBM on the same silicon interposer where the GPU is. With the GPU and memory so close together, memory bandwidth is significantly higher on these chips compared to those using GDDR6 memory located elsewhere on the graphics card's PCB. Additionally, the PCB becomes much smaller.
Also at Wccftech.
Previously: TSMC Shows Off Gigantic Silicon Interposer
TSMC's Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) Connects Multiple Interposers
Related Stories
TSMC Shows Colossal Interposer, Says Moore's Law Still Alive
In the company's first blog post, TSMC has stated that Moore's Law is still alive and well, despite the zeitgeist of recent times being the reverse. The company also showed a colossal 2500mm2 interposer that includes eight HBM memory chips and two big processors.
Godfrey Cheng, TSMC's new head of global marketing, wrote the blog post. He notes that Moore's Law is not about performance, but about transistor density. While performance traditionally improved by increasing the clock speed and architecture, today it is more often improved by increasing parallelization, and hence requires increases in chip size. This enhances the importance of transistor density because chip cost is directly proportional to its area.
[...] "one possible future of great density improvements is to allow the stacking of multiple layers of transistors in something we call Monolithic 3D Integrated Circuits. You could add a CPU on top of a GPU on top of an AI Edge engine with layers of memory in between. Moore's Law is not dead, there are many different paths to continue to increase density."
[...] [System-technology co-optimization (STCO)] is done through advanced packaging, for which TSMC supports silicon-based interposers and fan-out-based chiplet integration. It also has techniques to stack chips on wafers, or stack wafers on top of other wafers. As one such example, TSMC showed a nearly-2500mm2 silicon interposer – the world's largest – on top of which two 600mm2 processors are placed and eight 75mm2 HBM memory chips, which makes for 1800mm2 of compute and memory silicon on top of the interposer-based package, well over two times the conventional reticle size limit.
Related: Dual-Wafer Packaging (Wafer-on-Wafer) Could Double CPU/GPU Performance
Another Step Toward the End of Moore's Law
Intel's Jim Keller Promises That "Moore's Law" is Not Dead, Outlines 50x Improvement Plan
TSMC & Broadcom Develop 1,700 mm2 CoWoS Interposer: 2X Larger Than Reticles
TSMC and Broadcom have also been playing with the idea of oversized chips, and this week they've announced their plans to develop a supersized interposer to be used in Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) packaging.
Overall, the proposed 1,700 mm² interposer is twice the size of TSMC's 858 mm² reticle limit. Of course, TSMC can't actually produce a single interposer this large all in one shot – that's what the reticle limit is all about – so instead the company is essentially stitching together multiple interposers, building them next to each other on a single wafer and then connecting them. The net result is that an oversized interposer can be made to function without violating reticle limits.
The new CoWoS platform will initially be used for a new processor from Broadcom for the HPC market, and will be made using TSMC's EUV-based 5 nm (N5) process technology. This system-in-package product features 'multiple' SoC dies as well as six HBM2 stacks with a total capacity of 96 GB. According to Broadcom's press release, the chip will have a total bandwidth of up to 2.7 TB/s, which is in line with what Samsung's latest HBM2E chips can offer.
Also at Guru3D.
Previously: TSMC Shows Off Gigantic Silicon Interposer
TSMC Has Started The Development of The 2nm Lithography Process
Earlier this month, we saw that TSMC was getting its CoWoS interposer and 5nm production lines at full capacity. Yesterday, we found out that AMD and Nvidia bought up all of their excess capacity for next-generation GPU and CPU development. They have also been making advancements in 3nm process development, but have not been able to put much work in because many of the tools necessary are currently unavailable or hard to find due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 3nm is already a lot of work as it is, but in a recent shareholders meeting, DigiTimes was able to figure out that TSMC is already planning to start the development of the 2nm Lithographic process.
TSMC's "3nm" node has reportedly been delayed by 6 months due to the pandemic. Samsung is facing similar delays on their own "3nm" node.
TSMC's "5nm" production has not been delayed, and AMD will reportedly use an exclusive enhanced "5nm" node for Zen 4 CPUs in 2021.
Previously: TSMC's Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) Connects Multiple Interposers
High Demand Reported for TSMC's Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate Packaging
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @10:18PM
Taiwan numbah 1.
Fuck CCP.
(Pull out of CCP, TSMC.)
(Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @11:16PM (5 children)
See subject & a NICE DOSE of PUBLIC HUMILIATION for your own local FREAK barbara hudson folks: I "apologized" to you TRANNY twisto https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?cid=937346&sid=35327 [soylentnews.org] ? FUCK NO, not ever: That's NOT me but I DESTROYED YOU PUBLICLY on every level including proving you barb stalk me on THIS SITE https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] with more proof QUOTED FROM YOU DIRECTLY barbara (tom) hudson proving are a technical incompetent brain-damaged transsexual fool BULLSHIT ARTIST FUCKUP worthless creep that also failed on tech vs. me.
My post LITERALLY also shows links to stopping hundreds of threats of MANY KINDS via hosts (since 99% of malicious threats online use hostnames - block them as I do in hosts (less overhead vs. ANYTHING else by FAR & pure kernelmode TCP/IP stack efficient no less)? Can't TOUCH you nor you it. That's ONLY a 1 year only as a sample and I'd done TONS MORE many hundreds more at slashdot before that and yes 99% use hostnames so hosts work against them harming you).
So much for your usual lies barb and useless online troll chatterbox you has never done better work and I fairly challenged you to show you did. You have not.
NOW: You RESORTING TO IMPERSONATING ME on your end only PROVES I really got to you barb/tom hudson tranny.
So much so you are reduced to showing us your true scum bag self in fact. Thought YOU were going to SUE me? LMAO for what? FACTS ABOUT YOU??? LOL!
* YOU WILL ALWAYS FAIL vs. me just as you FAILED @ being a MAN & since you couldn't GET ANY PUSSY you (lmao) DECIDED in your DRUG ADDLED BRAIN to SLICE OFF YOUR COCK & build your OWN pussy (only way you'd "get some", ever).... OMG!
Only thing that "looks like SHIT" is you you FUCKED UP abomination of desolation freak.
TO THE MORON technically WEAK whimp THAT OWNS THIS SITE: Do you REALLY *THINK* (beyond your abilities MORON vs. me) YOU CAN "HOLD ME OUT/DOWN"?
You've tried to for DAYS just as /. did ONLY TO HAVE ME FUCKING SHOW EVERYONE YOU ARE A POWERLESS FUCK vs. me (& believe me - IF I wanted to? I could DROP THIS SITE OFFLINE in minutes, but it is MORE FUN to expose YOU & this shitbag LYING scum TRANZOID barbara hudson, publicly - QUESTION: HOW DO SHITBAGS like you ALL live with yourselves?)
I am IMPOSING MY WILL on you fucker - enjoy.
APK
P.S.=> Hey FREAK? I'm going to PUBLICLY EMBARRASS YOUR ASS SO BAD on this site you will have to SLINK AROUND IN SHAME publicly but then, "your kind" (massive MASSIVE total losers in life) are USED to that, aren't you? You don't LIKE IT but I LOVE doing it, exposing you as the TRASH you are fucker... apk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @11:22PM (4 children)
Does this mean you're so obsessed with Barb that you've given up spamming your hosts file malware?
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @11:33PM (2 children)
Best sales pitch he has is what he put up where he totally dismantles tranny barbara tom hudson https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] so he should thank barb/tom for it. Barb is an imbecile of the highest order clearly. Read that and know what I am saying. Seriously. Then the moron who owns this site thinks he can hold apk out? Nobody ever could. STUPID stupid stupid. Especially impersonating him only to eat shit publicly on barb and this site owner's parts.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @01:14AM (1 child)
His hosts file bullshit is so small-time and obscure, I spent over an hour trying to track down any reliable references to it with the google machine, and came up blank. Every trail led back to and ended at a rambling slashdot comment. I guess now they'll lead here. Maybe I should try the wayback machine, I think that's where all the ancient history is usually found.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @04:55PM
Yet you haven't done better yourself big talker since it seems to work where I saw links of it being very effective against malware where apk tore apart barbara hudson on many technical grounds https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] in addition to him proving by quoting barbara hudson the tranny that she asked others to stalk and harass apk too.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @03:07AM
I was convinced j michael Hudson, barb and apk were manifestations of the one tortured spirit, are you saying they're separate folk?
United States of Tara featuring Marvel's Brie Larson - mind blown.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 14 2020, @12:08AM
See subject & a NICE DOSE of PUBLIC HUMILIATION for your own local FREAK barbara hudson folks: I "apologized" to you TRANNY twisto https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?cid=937346&sid=35327 [soylentnews.org] ? FUCK NO, not ever: That's NOT me but I DESTROYED YOU PUBLICLY on every level including proving you barb stalk me on THIS SITE https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] with more proof QUOTED FROM YOU DIRECTLY barbara (tom) hudson proving are a technical incompetent brain-damaged transsexual fool BULLSHIT ARTIST FUCKUP worthless creep that also failed on tech vs. me.
My post LITERALLY also shows links to stopping hundreds of threats of MANY KINDS via hosts (since 99% of malicious threats online use hostnames - block them as I do in hosts (less overhead vs. ANYTHING else by FAR & pure kernelmode TCP/IP stack efficient no less)? Can't TOUCH you nor you it. That's ONLY a 1 year only as a sample and I'd done TONS MORE many hundreds more at slashdot before that and yes 99% use hostnames so hosts work against them harming you).
So much for your usual lies barb and useless online troll chatterbox you has never done better work and I fairly challenged you to show you did. You have not.
NOW: You RESORTING TO IMPERSONATING ME on your end only PROVES I really got to you barb/tom hudson tranny.
So much so you are reduced to showing us your true scum bag self in fact. Thought YOU were going to SUE me? LMAO for what? FACTS ABOUT YOU??? LOL!
* YOU WILL ALWAYS FAIL vs. me just as you FAILED @ being a MAN & since you couldn't GET ANY PUSSY you (lmao) DECIDED in your DRUG ADDLED BRAIN to SLICE OFF YOUR COCK & build your OWN pussy (only way you'd "get some", ever).... OMG!
Only thing that "looks like SHIT" is you you FUCKED UP abomination of desolation freak.
TO THE MORON technically WEAK whimp THAT OWNS THIS SITE: Do you REALLY *THINK* (beyond your abilities MORON vs. me) YOU CAN "HOLD ME OUT/DOWN"?
You've tried to for DAYS just as /. did ONLY TO HAVE ME FUCKING SHOW EVERYONE YOU ARE A POWERLESS FUCK vs. me (& believe me - IF I wanted to? I could DROP THIS SITE OFFLINE in minutes, but it is MORE FUN to expose YOU & this shitbag LYING scum TRANZOID barbara hudson, publicly - QUESTION: HOW DO SHITBAGS like you ALL live with yourselves?)
I am IMPOSING MY WILL on you fucker - enjoy.
APK
P.S.=> Hey FREAK? I'm going to PUBLICLY EMBARRASS YOUR ASS SO BAD on this site you will have to SLINK AROUND IN SHAME publicly but then, "your kind" (massive MASSIVE total losers in life) are USED to that, aren't you? You don't LIKE IT but I LOVE doing it, exposing you as the TRASH you are fucker... apk