TSMC Might Bring 3nm Production to U.S.
As part of its expansion, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. may bring production of chips with its cutting-edge N3 (3nm class) manufacturing technology to Camp, Arizona, according to a Reuters report. The company has already built a fab shell at its site and will install suitable production relatively quickly if it deems there is enough demand for N3 in the US.
“Given the strong customer demand for TSMC’s advanced technology, we will consider adding capacity at a second fab in Arizona based on operational efficiency and cost economic considerations,” TSMC said in a statement. said. Reuters.
wall street journalciting “sources with further information on the subject,” TSMC said N3, N3E, N3P, N3S, and N3X.
When TSMC establishes a new site for a fab, it will purchase enough land to build multiple phases of this fab, sharing common fab utilities such as gas storage and water purifiers. This is the case at the Arizona Camp of the Fab Factory, which can house up to six fab buildings (phases) and currently houses one completed fab that will begin operations in 2024.
About 47% of chips sold worldwide are designed by US-based companies, and the majority of chips manufactured using advanced manufacturing techniques are developed by US companies. Given that, demand for TSMC’s services in the US is expected to be strong.
N3E vs N5 | N3 vs N5 | |
More Speed @ Same Power | +18% | +10% ~ 15% |
Power Reduction @ Same Speed | -34% | -25% ~ -30% |
logic density | 1.7 times | 1.6 times |
HVM start | Q2/Q3 2023 | Second half of 2022 |
It remains to be seen if N3 will be powerful enough to bring it to the US in the next few years. (AMD, Apple, Intel, MediaTek, Nvidia, Qualcomm, etc.), it certainly makes sense for the company to expand its node. N3 production capacity in general.
If TSMC goes ahead with its N3-capable fab in the US, the facility will likely go live in late 2024 or early 2025. Half of 2025.
So the Arizona site could get N3, but TSMC’s fab in Taiwan is still somewhat advanced. However, the gap between his TSMC capabilities in Taiwan and the US is likely to close in the next few years (although this is our speculation, not The Foundry’s official plans).