4 ms·
I think my big question is: when? The article notes that the X4 cores are going to use TSMC's N3E process. It looks like N3E is going to follow TSMC's N3 proces
by mdasen 3y ago
I think my big question is: when? The article notes that the X4 cores are going to use TSMC's N3E process. It looks like N3E is going to follow TSMC's N3 process a year later. The rumors have been that Apple is having trouble getting enough N3 capacity out of TSMC. Despite N3E being scheduled after N3, it's possible that it isn't just a linear thing and there's a certain amount of independence in the development. However, it seems like TSMC might not be ready for the X4 cores for a while.
- wmf 3y agoI would expect SoCs using these cores to be announced at the end of this year and ship early next year.
- pclmulqdq 3y agoThat would mean manufacturing no later than end of year this year and prototyping runs coming soon, which seems aggressive.
- my123 3y agoIt's what is done every single year. By the time this announcement happened, the chips already came back from the fab since a bit.
- mdasen 3y agoI think in a normal year, wmf might be right. However, I'm inclined to agree with you that it seems aggressive. TSMC's roadmap had N3E landing a year after N3. If the rumors of supply struggles with N3 for this fall are right, it would seem like N3E might be a stretch for Fall 2024. Maybe rumors of TSMC's N3 troubles have been exaggerated. Still, it seems unlikely that Spring 2024 will see X4 cores. It seems like there's a decent likelihood that Qualcomm will push back their Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 by 6 months to get the X4 cores (or create a Gen 3 with smaller enhancements). If TSMC's N3 is ready for Fall 2023 and N3E is a year behind that, we aren't going to see X4 cores until Fall 2024. It sounds like ARM is targeting a TSMC process that's farther out than normal - or at least seems farther out based on the information TSMC has given to the public.
- jjtheblunt 3y agoWhat rumors?
- pclmulqdq 3y agoI have heard that N3 is taking much longer to do volume ramp than normal, so Apple basically owns all N3 capacity right now.
- metadat 3y agoi.e. Big headline 14 days ago: Apple to occupy 90% of TSMC 3nm capacity in 2023 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35947339 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35947339 (219 comments)
- ksec 3y ago1. Dont believe any Rumours about TSMC or its capacity allocation. If Apple Rumours are 95% BS, TSMC is even worst at infinitely close to 100%. 2. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so expect the usual 2024 flagship phones, early 2024 Smartphone release.
- cubefox 3y agoApple has bought most of the early N3 capacity. Perhaps Qualcomm will switch to Samsung Semiconductor again, as they have done when Apple bought most of TSMC's 5nm capacity for the M1 (Snapdragon 888, 8 Gen 1).