United Microelectronics Corp., the world’s second largest contract maker of semiconductors, said that it would not offer 20nm planar fabrication process, but will jump directly to 16nm FinFET manufacturing technology. Skipping the node will help the company to catch up with its competitors. Although it was widely expected that UMC …
Read More »No more cats: AMD reconsiders ultra-low-power CPU roadmap
Advanced Micro Devices first revealed plans to develop special low-power/low-cost x86 micro-architectures in mid-2007 in a bid to compete for ultra-portable and inexpensive devices. The micro-architectures got their names – Bobcat, Jaguar and Puma – from cats to emphasize their agility and efficiency. Eight years later AMD abandons development of …
Read More »AMD roadmap leaks: Summit Ridge, Bristol Ridge, Basilisk and Styx
An alleged AMD insider has published what it appears to be the company’s microprocessor roadmap for 2016. If the plan is accurate and AMD manages to execute it, then next year the company will release a top-to-bottom family of central processing units based on “Zen” micro-architecture as well as one …
Read More »More AMD ‘Zen’ CPU details emerge: quad-core units, inclusive cache, high-speed interconnects
Anonymous insiders from Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday revealed more details about the company’s upcoming microprocessors based on “Zen” micro-architecture. Just as expected, the new “Zen” central processing units will be dramatically different compared to “Bulldozer” CPUs. Moreover, as it appears, AMD intends to reconsider some of the things that …
Read More »AMD to release ‘Kaveri Refresh’ chips in late May – report
Advanced Micro Devices plans to formally introduce its code-named “Godavari” (also known as “Kaveri Refresh”) accelerated processing units next month, slightly ahead of Computex Taipei trade-show. While the new chips will feature slightly improved performance compared to existing APUs from the company, they will hardly improve AMD’s competitive position on …
Read More »Diagram of AMD’s ‘Zen’ CPU core leaks: six integer pipes, two 256-bit FPUs [UPDATED]
UPDATE: The original story stated that it described an implementation of an AMD microprocessor based on “Zen” micro-architecture. In fact, the story describes one “Zen” core. Although there are a lot of rumours about AMD’s next-generation code-named “Zen” microprocessors, there are not a lot of official or even semi-official details about …
Read More »Intel to help partners launch Atom x3 ‘SoFIA’-based tablets for $79
Intel Corp. will assist its partners in releasing inexpensive tablets based on the company’s recently announced Atom x3 system-on-chips code-named “SoFIA”. The slates based on the SoC will feature different screen sizes and will address various market segments. Intel plans to offer its partners a new set of reference designs …
Read More »New unlocked AMD A10, A8 ‘Kaveri’ APUs detailed
Specifications of the upcoming accelerated processing units from Advanced Micro Devices have been published by a web-site. As expected, the new hybrid processors code-named “Kaveri” are only slightly faster that those, which have been available on the market for a long time. As it turns out, AMD is about to …
Read More »Specifications of Intel Core i5/i7 ‘Skylake-S’ desktop processors revealed
A web-site has published what it claims to be specifications of Intel Corp.’s next-generation desktop microprocessors code-named “Skylake-S”. If the information is correct, then the initial “Skylake-S” family will hardly be truly broad and will not impress with high clock-rates. The upcoming Core i5 and Core i7 “Skylake-S” product lineup …
Read More »ASML sells 15 EUV lithography scanners, possibly, to Intel
ASML Holding NV, one of the world’s leading makers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, this week said that it had signed an agreement with one of its major U.S.-based customers to deliver at least 15 ASML extreme ultraviolet (EUV) EUV lithography systems. Given the scale of the order it is highly likely …
Read More »Samsung’s own Exynos M1 CPU core already supported by software tools
It is not a secret that Samsung Electronics is developing its own 64-bit ARMv8-A-compatible general-purpose processing core. This month the full-custom core from the company gained support from developers of tools used to create software. The latest versions of GNU Binutils, a collection of binary tools, as well as GNU …
Read More »AMD could be preparing high-performance A10-7870K APU
Advanced Micro Devices may be working on a new accelerated processing unit that belongs to the current-generation of its hybrid microprocessors. The AMD A10-7870K chip has not been announced yet, but it could hit the market in the coming weeks or even days. AMD is expected to release its new …
Read More »ARM: Our cores have enough performance for notebooks
Rumours about personal computers in clamshell form-factors powered by microprocessors featuring ARM architecture have been floating around for years, but only recently select Chinese companies released notebooks with Google Chrome OS that actually use ARM-based system-on-chips. According to ARM Holdings, these systems are only the beginning. “Just recently we have …
Read More »Intel to release ‘Broadwell’ CPUs with unlocked multiplier in mid-May
Intel Corp. plans to release its long-awaited Core i5 and Core i7 “Broadwell” microprocessors with unlocked multiplier for desktops in the middle of May, according to a slide from the company’s presentation. While the chips will “officially” support overclocking, they may not necessarily get popular among enthusiasts. Intel intends to …
Read More »TSMC: We will start risk production of 7nm chips in 2017
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. remains optimistic about its abilities to make chips using thinner process technologies going forward. Last week the company said that it would start risk production of integrated circuits using its 7nm process technology in 2017. Mass production of commercial 7nm products will likely begin in 2018, …
Read More »ARM CPU roadmap revealed: Ares, Prometheus, Ananke and Mercury in development
ARM Holdings is developing a broad family of general-purpose processing cores that will be made using 10nm and 16nm process technologies, according to a roadmap that was revealed earlier this month. Just like today, the upcoming cores from ARM will address different segments of the market. Earlier this year ARM …
Read More »AMD initiates revenue shipments of ‘Carrizo’ hybrid processors
Advanced Micro Devices initiated revenue shipments of its new “Carrizo” accelerated processing unit in the first quarter of this year. The chips have been validated by PC makers and they are on-track to introduce systems powered by the latest A-series APUs in the second quarter of 2015. “We also successfully …
Read More »AMD makes ‘significant investments’ in server CPUs
Advanced Micro Devices continues to express confidence that its next-generation high-performance general-purpose processing cores – known as “K12” and “Zen” – will be successful on the market of servers. After exiting the market of micro-servers by shutting down SeaMicro, AMD now focuses on development of high-performance microprocessors for x86 and …
Read More »AMD expects further APU, CPU declines, cuts chip orders to GF
Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday revealed that it had signed a new wafer supply agreement (WSA) with GlobalFoundries for 2015. Based on the disclosed terms of the agreement, AMD will significantly reduce purchases from GlobalFoundries, which indicates that the company projects further declines of PC-related product shipments this year. Under …
Read More »AMD to focus on high-performance server CPUs, abandons SeaMicro
Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday said that as a part of the strategy to simplify and sharpen the company’s investment focus, AMD would exist the micro-server systems business, which was formerly known as SeaMicro. The company will retain SeaMicro’s Freedom fabric and other intellectual property, but will cease to invest …
Read More »Intel: We are not discussing our 10nm schedules
Intel Corp. is confident that its 10nm manufacturing process will enable it to build central processing units cost-efficiently. However, the company does not want to reveal when exactly it plans to start making chips using its next-generation 10nm fabrication technology. In accordance with Moore’s law and Intel's tick-tock cadence, the company needs to …
Read More »Intel: 10nm and 7nm technologies have perfect economic feasibility
It is not a secret that transitions to newer chip manufacturing processes are getting more difficult from financial capital standpoint since not only research and development costs more than before, but also production equipment is getting more expensive. In a bid to keep their prices at current levels, semiconductor companies need …
Read More »Intel sees better 14nm yields, ‘Broadwell’ ramp ahead of the plan [UPDATED]
UPDATE: Adding Intel's 14nm vs 22nm cost curve comparison as well as a comment regarding current “Broadwell” costs. Intel Corp.’s 14nm manufacturing process was not a big success for the company because of initial yield issues. However, by now the majority of problems seem to be gone, at least, the …
Read More »Intel: We are excited about ‘Skylake’ processors and Windows 10
Slow demand for personal computers in the first half of the year substantially affected Intel Corp.’s business results, but the company remains moderately optimistic and believes that launches of its future microprocessors code-named “Skylake” as well as Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 10 operating system will help its PC business. Intel’s client …
Read More »TSMC: 16nm yields are approaching mature levels
Although Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has delayed mass production of chips using its 16nm fabrication processes, this did not happen only because of low yields. According to the company, 16nm yields at TSMC are approaching mature levels. This year TSMC will offer two 16nm process technologies for clients: 16nm FinFET …
Read More »Intel is quietly delaying 10nm production – report
Intel Corp. delayed mass production of 14nm chips by nearly a year because of insufficient yields. According to a media report, something similar may happen to its 10nm manufacturing technology. Intel is setting up a small pilot line for 10nm production in D1X development fab in Hillsboro, Oregon, reports SemiconductorEngineering. …
Read More »Concept of AMD APU for HPC leaks: 16 x86 cores, next-gen GPU, HBM memory
Advanced Micro Devices has been mulling accelerated processing unit for high-performance computing applications for many years, but software and hardware limitations have prevented the company from creating such chip. Recently AMD finally unveiled plans to release an APU for HPC market in 2017 and this week the first concept of …
Read More »Samsung’s own CPU core took years to develop – report
Samsung Electronics has developed and built its Exynos application processors for years, but its chips are always powered by off-the-shelf general-purpose and graphics processing cores from ARM, which limits their advantages over competing system-on-chips. Everything is going to change next year, when Samsung finally rolls-out its new SoCs featuring its …
Read More »TSMC’s 10nm goals: higher density and performance at lower power
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. this week unveiled first details about its 10nm fabrication process at the TSMC Technology Symposium in the U.S. The official goals are slightly less ambitious than those discussed last year, but the general focus of TSMC’s 10nm manufacturing technology is clear: considerable increase of transistor density compared to …
Read More »Intel and Altera acquisition talks end due to price disagreement
Negotiations between Intel Corp. and Altera have ended because the companies could not agree on price. The world’s largest maker of microprocessors did not want to pay a hefty premium for the company, which is more profitable than Intel itself. If the chipmaker really wants to get Altera, the talks will …
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