Smasung First to GAA Node, Beating Intel, TSMC
When Samsung announced earlier this year that it had begun mass-producing chips using its 3GAE (3nm-class, gate-all-around Early) process technology, it became clear what components it had created at its leading-edge node. It was not. Apparently, Samsung is using his 3GAE to manufacture Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for cryptocurrency mining.
The Samsung 3GAE manufacturing technology is the industry’s first process that relies on gate-all-around (GAA) transistors, which Samsung calls MBCFETs (Multi-Bridge Channel Field Effect Transistors). The GAA transistor architecture reduces leakage current as the gate is surrounded by the channel on all four sides of him. You can also change the performance and power consumption of the transistor by adjusting the channel thickness of the channel. GAAFETs are especially beneficial for high performance and mobile applications. So companies like Intel and TSMC are working hard to have his GAAFET in 2024-2025.
However, the first commercial chip to use GAAFETs appears to be a cryptocurrency mining ASIC. Trend forceAnalysts at TrendForce believe the company will use the 3GAE manufacturing process to produce mobile system-on-chips next year.
Cryptocurrency mining chips are a good way to pipe clean new manufacturing technology. It is relatively simple, small, and contains many similar units and structures that can be used for redundancy to achieve acceptable yields. In contrast, mobile SoCs integrate loads of disparate parts using different transistor structures, so redundant units cannot be built. That said, it makes sense for Samsung to use cryptocurrency mining ASICs to learn more about the performance, power, and defect density of its 3GAE nodes. So SMIC used his MinerVa mining ASIC to test his 7nm class node.
Usually Samsung officially beats TSMC and Intel on a completely new node, but in many cases similar chips made by TSMC can run faster and achieve higher yields. Perhaps the company sets too aggressive goals that cannot be achieved at the same time. Still, Samsung’s 3GAE appears to be good enough to produce cryptocurrency mining ASICs that would later appear in mobile SoCs.
Exactly when could become a more important question, as Samsung typically introduces all-new SoCs for its flagship smartphones at the beginning of the year. While beneficial for smartphones, 3GAE doesn’t seem ready to meet Samsung’s schedule for its next-generation Galaxy S handset.