Lately we often hear about the offset timing of the development of new technological processes, especially if we are talking about performance of Intel. The principle of “tick-tock” though not sent to a landfill, but is subjected to serious reassessment. “Moore’s law” ceases to be the dogma on which Intel relies in his “lithographic progress, but at the same time and not lose hope to return to this empirical principle to normal.
Until now it was believed that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will begin to master the production of prototypes of products using 10-nm process no earlier than 2017. However, according to DigiTimes, with reference to publications in Chinese media reports, TSMC has already started the transfer in the production of Apple processors A11, are designed based on the manufacturer using 10-nanometer technology FinFET.
It is expected that TSMC will complete the certification of its 10-nanometer production in the fourth quarter of 2016. And in the first quarter of 2017, the customers will get to evaluate product samples. Industry representatives believe that TSMC will start producing small batches of Apple A11 in the second quarter of 2017. The production of this product will begin to generate revenue of TSMC in the third quarter.
Most likely, TSMC will receive approximately two-thirds of all orders on the A11. A11 processor Apple will be the basis for the next models of smartphones iPhone, which is scheduled for the second half of 2017.
In April, the sources among the suppliers of lithography equipment reported that TSMC intends to accelerate development of 7-nm process. Mass production of similar products should start in enterprises TSMC in the first half of 2018. Intel, for example, is going to only do it in 2020. For TSMC, one of the main priorities is the ability to anticipate and Intel, and Samsung in the sphere of development of 7-nm process.
