Although Intel Corp. does not plan to use lithography with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength with its 10nm fabrication process, it looks like other makers of semiconductors still pin hopes to take advantage of the EUV in connection with 10nm technology. ASML, one of the leading producers of semiconductor manufacturing tools, …
Read More »ARM: 20nm process tech will not be used by mainstream applications
Due to multiple reasons the majority of developers of various system-on-chip devices will skip 20nm process technology of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and will use 14nm and 16nm FinFET fabrication processors of TSMC, GlobalFoundries and Samsung Electronics. Traditionally TSMC and other foundries develop multiple different process technologies for different kinds …
Read More »AMD’s lowest-cost eight-core FX processor costs just $125/£79/€99
About a month ago Advanced Micro Devices unveiled several new FX-series eight-core microprocessors that featured either increased performance, or lower power consumption compared to previously released chips. Apparently, since then the company has also quietly rolled-out a new affordable eight-core chip that costs $125 now in the U.S. The AMD …
Read More »Samsung to produce 14nm FinFET chips for AMD, Apple, Qualcomm – report
Samsung Electronics has lost exclusive chip manufacturing contract with Apple, but a new report claims that that the company has managed to land orders from Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm. ZDNet reports that Samsung is projected to begin producing application processors (APs) for clients such as Apple, AMD and Qualcomm …
Read More »GlobalFoundries could still get IBM’s semiconductor business
Even though earlier this year it was reported that the talks between GlobalFoundries and IBM over the latter’s semiconductor business collapsed, a new media report claims that the two companies have finally come to an agreement. The Big Blue reportedly agreed to pay the contract maker of semiconductors for taking …
Read More »AMD announces three new FX microprocessors, slashes prices
Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday introduced three new AMD FX microprocessors for enthusiasts and slashed prices of existing high-end products. The move will make the FX-series chips slightly more competitive than they are today, but will hardly radically improve AMD’s positions on the market of central processing units. Three new …
Read More »IBM offered GlobalFoundries $1 billion to take its foundry business away
As reported, the deal between International Business Machines Corp. and GlobalFoundries over chip manufacturing assets of the former has failed to materialize because the latter did not want to pay enough to the former. However, according to a new report, it was IBM, who was offering money to GlobalFoundries to take …
Read More »IBM rejects GlobalFoundries’ proposal for semiconductor assets
International Business Machines Corp. and GlobalFoundries have ended negotiations regarding acquisition of IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing assets by the contract maker of chips. The two companies failed to agree on the price, according to a media report. Earlier this year it was reported that IBM wanted $2 billion for its money-losing …
Read More »TSMC to speed up development of 10nm process technology
In a bid to retain its leadership position on the market of contract semiconductor manufacturing, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is reportedly accelerating development of its 10nm FinFET process technology. At present TSMC is the leading contract maker of chips produced using 28nm process technology. It is believed that the company makes considerably …
Read More »GlobalFoundries and Samsung reportedly land orders from Apple
In a bid to better compete against Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Samsung Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries earlier this year agreed to unify one of their 14nm process technologies and offer their foundry services collaboratively. Apparently, the tactics has worked out and the two companies recently landed orders to make chips using the …
Read More »GlobalFoundries to upgrade one of its Singapore fabs to 300mm
GlobalFoundries, one of the world’s top contract makers of semiconductors, said this week it will upgrade one of its 200mm semiconductor production facilities in Singapore. The move will help the company to expand production capacities and increase output of chips made using advanced fabrication technologies. Although GlobalFoundries is one of …
Read More »IBM faces roadblocks with sale of server, semiconductor businesses
International Business Machines Corp. is expected to accomplish two important transactions this year: it is projected to complete sale of its x86 server division to Lenovo Group and it is rumoured that the company will also agree to sell its semiconductor manufacturing business to GlobalFoundries. However, the U.S. regulators may …
Read More »AMD readies new FX processor with bundled liquid-cooling
Advanced Micro Devices plans to release another FX-series desktop microprocessor that will come bundled with closed-loop liquid cooling system, the firm said this week. The company did not unveil any details about the upcoming chip, but demonstrated its packaging and said that it will be available soon. Roy Taylor, vice …
Read More »GlobalFoundries is close to acquire IBM’s foundry business
International Business Machines Corp. and GlobalFoundries are finalizing details of a deal under which the latter will get semiconductor manufacturing business of the former. The transaction is expected to bring new customers to GlobalFoundries, whereas IBM will reduce its losses going forward. IBM has been considering to sell its chip-making …
Read More »GlobalFoundries and Samsung to jointly produce 14nm FinFET chips
GlobalFoundries and Samsung Semiconductor, two leading contract makers of chips, on Thursday signed a pact under which they will be able to jointly produce chips using 14nm FinFET fabrication process. The two foundries will “synchronise” not only their general jointly-developed process technologies, but peculiarities of their manufacturing processes that are …
Read More »GlobalFoundries – lead candidate to get IBM semiconductor ops
GlobalFoundries, the world’s second largest contract maker of semiconductors, seems to be the leading candidate that can get IBM Corp.’s chip manufacturing operations, a media report claims. The deal has not been finalised yet and the talks are ongoing, but chances are rather high that Abu Dhabi-backed GlobalFoundries will get …
Read More »GlobalFoundries to make semi-custom APUs, CPUs, GPUs for AMD
Advanced Micro Devices on Wednesday announced plans to slightly boost its purchase commitment from GlobalFoundries by around $50 million this year compared to last year. As part of the agreement, the contract maker of chips will manufacture not only its traditional central processing units (CPUs) and accelerated processing units (APUs) …
Read More »Intel remains committed to 450mm wafers, but there will be a delay
Early last year Intel Corp. demonstrated the world’s first fully-patterned 450mm wafers and in mid-2013 started to construct D1X module 2 fab, which is supposed to act as a primary development facility for virtually all of Intel’s 450mm initiatives. It was expected that commercial production of chips on 450mm wafers …
Read More »IBM explores selling-off its semiconductor manufacturing unit
IBM has reportedly started to search for a buyer for its semiconductor manufacturing business. While the move itself seems like a milestone for the whole industry, the potential transaction will not have a huge impact on the market since IBM is not a leading maker of chips. Moreover, chips today …
Read More »AMD officially announces Opteron ‘Warsaw’ microprocessors
Advanced Micro Devices on Wednesday introduced two new server-class Opteron central processing units (CPUs) based on the code-named “Warsaw” design. The new chips boast slightly better power efficiency compared to predecessors, but feature similar performance and a set of technologies compared to existing code-named “Abu Dhabi” multi-core processors. Initially, there …
Read More »GlobalFoundries appoints new chief executive officer
In an unexpected move, GlobalFoundries, one of the world’s largest contract maker of semiconductors, appointed a new chief executive officer on Monday. Sanjay Jha, a well-respected technology executive who served as CEO of Motorola Mobility and in numerous leadership roles with Qualcomm, will now head GlobalFoundries. Sanjay Jha will lead …
Read More »Globalfoundries back on track with 14nm on the cards
GlobalFoundries publicly disclosed for the first time its preparations for 14nm process node technology during an interview with EE Times late last week. The world's third largest independant semiconductor foundry has already begun planning phases for 14nm, indicative that they have made quite the turn-a-round after experiencing a year that …
Read More »nVidia CEO denies Globalfoundries move – sticks with TSMC
We attended a press event for Taiwan press where nVidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang strongly denied recent rumors that nVidia may be moving its foundry orders for Tegra from TSMC to Globalfoundries. He also said that nVidia still has a very strong relationship with TSMC. Huang stated that nVidia's decreasing market …
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