The 2nm process is seen as a key technological breakthrough in the next generation of semiconductor processes, with the advantage of bringing higher performance and lower power consumption to chips.
According to **, Samsung has drawn up plans to start production of 2nm process technology in South Korea next year. In addition, the company plans to invest 500 trillion won in South Korea by 2047 to build a super-large-scale semiconductor production base focused on the manufacturing of 2nm process technology. Samsung Electronics said in its recent fourth-quarter 2023 results announcement that its wafer foundry division has received an order for a 2nm AI accelerator.
According to Samsung's previously released technology roadmap, its 2nm-class SF2 process is expected to be available in 2025. Compared to Samsung's second-generation 3nm process, 3gap, the process delivers 25% higher power efficiency at the same frequency and complexity, 12% higher performance at the same power and complexity, and 5% area reduction at the same performance and complexity.
TSMC, Samsung's main competitor, revealed the initial details of the 2nm chip at last year's symposium and is actively working to advance the 2nm process node. It is reported that its first machine is expected to be put into use in April this year. According to **Chain**, Apple will be the first customer to adopt TSMC's 2nm process, and is currently working closely with TSMC to jointly develop and implement 2nm chip technology. This technology is expected to surpass existing 3nm chips in terms of transistor density, performance, and efficiency.
TSMC's 2nm chip plans to use the N2 platform, introducing a GAAFET (full gate field-effect transistor) nanosheet transistor architecture and back-powered technology, which can achieve faster speeds with smaller transistor size and lower operating voltage. It is reported that the 2nm process technology developed by TSMC can achieve a rate increase of 10% to 15% compared with the 3nm process while maintaining the same power consumption; At the same rate, power consumption can be reduced by 25 to 30 percent.
Source: Pexels
Editor's comment: Nowadays, the global semiconductor industry is in an era of fierce competition, and the current technology research and development of leading process foundries such as TSMC, Samsung, and Intel continue to make breakthroughs, and 2nm-level process technology has gradually become the focus of the highly competitive semiconductor foundry market, compared with 5nm used in today's mobile phones.