TSMC will begin shipping 0.11-micron wafers in Q1 of 2004

[rwolf]

Wow, I wasn't expecting the .11 micron process to be available this soon. Makes me wonder if the ATI R420 is going to be .13 micron. I would guess that it will be, but all the mid-range and low end cards may be .11 micron.

http://www.eet.com/semi/news/OEG20031030S0036

 

[KimB]

Given that ATI played it conservatively for the R300, do you really think that ATI is going to be aggressive in fab process now? I doubt it.

Even then, I doubt that "shipping" means that they'll be shipping any complex processors in Q1. I would expect that they won't be shipping anything complex until Q3 or so (depending on how quickly they ramp up the process).

 

[bloodbob]

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8218

Will answer a few of your queries

 

[rwolf]

Yes, I read that as well. Most of it is xbitlabs take on what ATI's CEO said.

90-nanometer production will begin in the second half of 2004

Looks like this may be the process for the R500.

 

[KimB]

Depends on when the R500 is set to hit the market.

I find it more likely that ATI is not planning on skipping .11 micron, and also will not be producing a high-end R4xx part on that process. Hence...

 

[rwolf]

Given that ATI played it conservatively for the R300, do you really think that ATI is going to be aggressive in fab process now? I doubt it.

Even then, I doubt that "shipping" means that they'll be shipping any complex processors in Q1. I would expect that they won't be shipping anything complex until Q3 or so (depending on how quickly they ramp up the process).

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised if the low end and mid range part are used to test the waters with the new process. I seem to recall that ATI is suppose to be releasing a new mobility part as well.

March-April next year should be very interesting.

 

[bloodbob]

Put it this way rwolf if ATI can compete with the NV40 with .15 micron tech ( without using like GeSi) then I'm gonna be very surprised.

Off topic but could be interesting does anyone know if asynchronous logic circuits would make a big difference on GPUs (especially ones that can dynamically allocate resources )? One of the server cpus use some ansynchronous part I think its the latest SPARC chips.

 

[KimB]

Put it this way rwolf if ATI can compete with the NV40 with .15 micron tech ( without using like GeSi) then I'm gonna be very surprised.

The R420's going to be .13 micron.