Intel, samsung and TSMC semiconductor mitsuo competition continued strength in the field of advanced process, after 14/16 nano competition, and focus on the plan of next year's production of 10 nanometers.
For a long time, samsung and TSMC released 10 nm production schedule is more clear, both companies are locked in import customers finalized "design" by the end of this year, in the first quarter of next year production; By contrast, Intel is less publish information about 10 nm.
But, at the recent Intel developer BBS (IDF) 2016, proudly announced the cooperation matters with ARM, in the heart of the 10 nanometers wafer foundry into the ARM architecture and IP. This means that the ARM chip design companies will be able to choose Intel's 10 nanometers wafer line do OEM service, makes the battle for the next 10 nm more hasten is heating up.
Cooperate with ARM on the 10 nanometers
In the global semiconductor industry, "the head Evergrande" trend has become increasingly apparent, Intel, samsung and TSMC three-pillar trend has become, continues for the leading position. In this case, the advanced process control to become one of the main means of three companies compete with each other.
In recent years, three companies have carried out large-scale investment in advanced technology. At present, the focus of the competition are moving from 14/16 nano technology to 10 nm. If the watch will be found that nearly one or two years, every once in a while, will expose a TSMC or samsung for apple, qualcomm, mediatek processor OEM orders, such as foreign release 10 nanometers progress message. It also makes the samsung and TSMC 10 nanometers production process more clearly. Among them, TSMC announced in 2015 time, said in 2016, TSMC will achieve 10 nm technology demonstration, is expected in 2017 into mass production; Samsung semiconductor senior director Kevin Low, said in a speech late 2016 samsung semiconductor 10 nm process technology will put into production, have the confidence to samsung semiconductor process technology on the lead again.
High on semiconductor leading position, by contrast, Intel has been appear in the "old god", and few foreign shows its progress 10 nm. However, IDF in just 2016, Intel's high-profile announced its new authorization agreement with ARM company, under the terms of the deal, Intel plans to allow a third party semiconductor company to use its 10 nm production line to make smart chip based on ARM. "This means that apple could help Intel it OEM series A chip." The personage inside course of study tells a reporter. Thus it can be seen that under the pursue of TSMC and samsung, occupy the leading position of Intel is finally some impatient.
Advanced technology for tend to be more intense
Over the past 10 years, the global semiconductor manufacturing technology, has been developing under the leading of Intel follow Moore's law, Intel also worked out a processor alternation of generations Tick - Tock strategy, Tick is to switch to the next generation of the new process, Tock new next generation processor architecture is adopted. Such as Intel in 2011 when the new Sandy Bridge processor architecture was introduced, using 32 nm, but the same architecture of Ivy Bridge in 2012, has to process a miniature to 22 nm generation. In 2013 by Intel Haswell new architecture, USES the 22 nm process, 2014 Broadwell process miniature to 14 nm. However, Intel in 10 in 2015 nm process encountered difficulties in miniature, so in the past two years, a Tick - Tock product circulation, in the 14 nm generation has been extended to three years, product cycle is changed to Tick - Tock Tock strategy.
But now, samsung and TSMC are actively pursued, announced in 2016 to complete design finalized 10 nm, Intel, although its 10 nm production process is not yet clear, but has it can be seen that under the pursue of TSMC and samsung, Intel is also to speed up the response. Advanced process is becoming Intel, samsung and TSMC for semiconductor lead an important means.
About this, another example can prove that. On July 14, at TSMC quarterly news conference, some analysts questioned on the spot after two years of 7 nm TSMC process, requirements, TSMC announced its performance compared with Intel 10 nanometers, TSMC executive declined to answer, the unexpected events in the industry, the media has long, can have more knowledge of semiconductor process in industry "digital magic" problem, namely process are exaggerated. The personage inside course of study points out that even TSMC currently production of cutting-edge technology ©¤ ©¤ alone eat apple processor A10 16 nano technology, the performance on Intel only about 20 nanometers.
Great kang, semiconductor experts said: the market is competitive, and are of public opinion guide. No matter TSMC, samsung or Intel, have an axe to grind. Said TSMC, samsung lying on it is inappropriate, the key is the lack of standards, be they take advantage of the time. It is worth noting that Intel started trying to tell this problem now, which means that the Intel's hard times, need to push it a public opinion.
More key ecological battle
IDF2016, in addition to Intel announced on 10 nanometers and ARM's cooperation, also issued a series of related self-driving cars, VR, artificial intelligence, new technologies and products. It send a signal to the industry: the business and the market will become more and more important, Intel will no longer PC as a priority to the development of business.
Pushing the Moore's law the "train" continuous need two wheels, if one is technology, another is the market. Future semiconductor manufacturing to 10 nanometers, 7, 5 nano evolution, market driving force from smart phones undoubtedly, VR, artificial intelligence, etc.
At present, apple, qualcomm, mediatek processor has successively into the era of 10 nanometers. Recently, samsung electronics will not fall, is the next generation processor will also take a 10 nanometers, 30% growth performance, power consumption will be greatly reduced. These are all Intel and ARM close ranks, cooperation on 10 nanometers. LG electronics will be put into production of world-class mobile platform based on Intel's custom OEM department development of 10 nm design platform.
However, it is important to note that for 10 nanometers battle is not only focus on manufacturing, but to compete for 10 nanometers node of the whole ecological dominance. As vice President,, Intel technology and manufacturing and custom OEM department joint Zane, general manager of Intel Ball after announced in collaboration with the ARM post points out: "we are further push forward the ecological system. Based on the most advanced ARM kernel, and processor architecture series, our OEM customer oriented 10 nm design platform will provide ARM Artisan physical IP."
In order to extend the platform of wafer foundry, Intel in the past few years with independent third party of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and IP supplier for a wide range of cooperation, such as ANSYS, Cadence, new technology (Synopsys), Mentor, etc.
