TSMS beats IBM in low-k process

[jpeter]

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) may begin volume production on a low-k dielectric process on its 0.13-micron process in the third quarter of this year, gaining an important technological lead over rivals, most notably, IBM Microelectronics, sources said.

That means that we'll see loci and nv40 with this new technology?

http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2003/06/23&pages=02&seq=3

 

[Dave Baumann]

Given that NVIDIA have said they've already sampled their late '03/early '04 product at IBM the thought is that this would be NV40, so NVIDIA have likely gone with whatever IBM have said will be ready at this point.

Lord knows if R420 would be low-k or not. If TSMC were advising it would be ready at that point then ATI may have gone with it, but you have to wonder if NV30 would be playing on their mind as well.

 

[JohnH]

That story makes it looks like they've managed to reduce the K of FSG as apposed to changing to a new material (they're still calling it FSG)...

 

[nonamer]

This could actually be good news for Nvidia: They could release a superfast version of the GFFX 5900 and possibly get rid of that huge cooling fan for the current version.

 

[DegustatoR]

This could actually be good news for Nvidia: They could release a superfast version of the GFFX 5900 and possibly get rid of that huge cooling fan for the current version.

Make a superfast version OR get rid of cooling fan, i suppose

 

[asicnewbie]

Seems like all wasn't necessarily rosy at IBM's "leading edge" fabs:
http://www.siliconstrategies.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=12800155 - IBM's foundry yields climb

And looks like UMC as finally realized that TSMC's "pure-play foundry" strategy is better than its own "virtual IDM" (integrated device manufacturer) strategy. http://www.eetimes.com/semi/news/OEG20030715S0017

 

[elroy]

Looks like IBM might be having problems at it's East Fishkill fab - http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...38&e=1&u=/nm/20030717/tc_nm/tech_ibm_chips_dc