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by Charlie Demerjian October 15, 2009 PEOPLE WATCHING TSMC'S process development might have noticed a radical change in messaging a few months ago. The foundry not only changed its high-K/metal gate (HKMG) strategy, but it also pulled in the timetables at the same time. Insiders had been telling us that the TSMC 32nm process was in deep trouble, and 22nm wasn't looking good either. Then one day, poof, things got better. This quite remarkable turnaround is due to one thing, Intel....
by Charlie Demerjian October 15, 2009 PEOPLE WATCHING TSMC'S process development might have noticed a radical change in messaging a few months ago. The foundry not only changed its high-K/metal gate (HKMG) strategy, but it also pulled in the timetables at the same time. Insiders had been telling us that the TSMC 32nm process was in deep trouble, and 22nm wasn't looking good either. Then one day, poof, things got better. This quite remarkable turnaround is due to one thing, Intel....
This is an old rumor from last August based on the speculations of Dick James from ChipWorks after TSMC changed its 28nm HKMG process from a "Gate first" to a "Gate last" approach.
But (maybe I'm misreading them) they seem to confirm what Charlie wrote as much as deny it.
This quote: “Under the MOU, Intel would port its Atom processor CPU cores to the TSMC technology platform including processes, IP, libraries, and design flows.”
Is later followed by: "the emphasis back then was on the IP, and whether the arrangement would affect TSMC’s long-standing relationship with ARM for low-power CPUs. At the time it was implied that that there was no transfer of high-k technology to TSMC."
So maybe it's just coincidence, but it's quite a coincidence. Intel instantly claiming there wasn't any transfer of any process tech (without being asked) was almost too strong - though I don't see what there is to hide, either (process transfer was in the public MOU!). It's an interesting story.
But (maybe I'm misreading them) they seem to confirm what Charlie wrote as much as deny it.
Artwork, you are quoting from the speculations, read David's conclusions in his post after the denial.
- It's only about the gate first/last HKMG approach, not the whole process. - Intel's 32nm process uses entirely different lithography equipment as TSMC's.
But (maybe I'm misreading them) they seem to confirm what Charlie wrote as much as deny it.
Artwork, you are quoting from the speculations, read David's conclusions in his post after the denial.
- It's only about the gate first/last HKMG approach, not the whole process. - Intel's 32nm process uses entirely different lithography equipment as TSMC's.
But (maybe I'm misreading them) they seem to confirm what Charlie wrote as much as deny it.
Artwork, you are quoting from the speculations, read David's conclusions in his post after the denial.
- It's only about the gate first/last HKMG approach, not the whole process. - Intel's 32nm process uses entirely different lithography equipment as TSMC's.
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