Roadmap TSMC: tests on 7nm begin already in 2017 – Leak

How small can be a transistor? In 2017 will be 7nm, according to the Roadmap of TSMC.

TSMC is the largest independent semiconductor, and has announced the start of production of chips based on process of manufacturing of 10nm until the end of the year.

The company did not mention which chips will be manufactured by then, but we already know that one of the first customers will be the MediaTek Helio X30 announced recently. The deca-core MediaTek will reach the market at the beginning of next year.

But the greatest novelty will be the beginning in the research towards the miniaturization of transistors to 7nm. The TSMC will begin production of tests already at the beginning of 2017, with orders open from April.

Recently, the rival Global Foundries has announced its own manufacturing process of 7nm with an emphasis for the architecture of miniaturization only. That is, usually the transistors are miniaturized, but the components of the connection remain in the previous step. Therefore, most of the chips are hybrids, and manufacturing process.

it Will be interesting to see if the TSMC will maintain the path in the hybrid this time.

Via