4 ms·
> A lot of the lead is process Given that this TSMC 7nm->5nm process improvement has lead to the smallest gen-on-gen performance improvement for Apple's iPhone
by DCKing 6y ago
> A lot of the lead is process
Given that this TSMC 7nm->5nm process improvement has lead to the smallest gen-on-gen performance improvement for Apple's iPhone chips - the performance gains from the A13 to the A14 are the smallest in years - I really don't buy that at face value. Surely a better process helps a substantial percentage, but I think a 7nm M1 chip would have impressed in most of the same ways.
- whynotminot 6y agoSometimes it's not about top level performance increase, but also efficiency increase. This is especially true when moving to a new node. The 5nm chips do better per watt, which is part of the wow factor of the M1. It performs at a high level and delivers industry leading battery life.
- MangoCoffee 6y agoTSMC is a very conservative company. they will not throw money into a new node without its customers backing consider the amount of cash needs for each new gen (node). TSMC's 5nm must be good enough for Apple to back it.
- whynotminot 6y agoI think you're right, but also a little bit backward on things. TSMC is conservative, but, with the continued guaranteed high-dollar buys from Apple, they have tremendous freedom to invest in R&D in an almost fearless way that any company would envy. This is also why people trying to give all credit to TSMC for the performance of A-series chips are also selling Apple short on that side of the ball there too. TSMC would not be in the position they are right now without Apple's partnership powering their capital investments. So in short, Apple's backing isn't proof that TSMC 5nm is good, it's actually a large part of why TSMC 5nm is good, and even exists in the first place.