Report suggests Nvidia could launch improved RTX 3000 GPUs produced on TSMC's 7 nm node in 2021

[Redaktion]

Is Nvidia ditching Samsung for TSMC in 2021? It looks like Nvidia is not at all pleased with the supply problems created by Samsung's 8 nm nodes with reduced yields and is at least diversifying risk with a significant order of 7 nm chips from TSMC scheduled throughout 2021.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Report-suggests-Nvidia-could-launch-improved-RTX-3000-GPUs-produced-on-TSMC-s-7-nm-node-in-2021.497489.0.html

[J Mac]

Thats not how chip manufacturing works. They can't up and move their design to another fab. They have exclusive NDA design deals that prevent companies like NVIDIA or AMD from just moving their product somewhere else. NVIDIA is contractually obligated to use Samsung for their new cards and the only way TSMC will be able to fab the new card is if NVIDIA resigned the entire architecture, which they won't.

[Tov]

Don't do that please. We don't want supply shortage for PS5 ,XBX , AMD 4xxx, 5xxx and 6xxx.

[KZBFF ELF]

Horrible yield from Samsung that's for sure... I don't care who makes it really, this kind of shortage is unacceptable.

[Spunjji]

Is it that 8nm has poor yields, or is it that Nvidia once again trying to ram through the largest possible chip on a process and is getting poor yields as a result?

It's always someone else's fault when it comes to issues with Nvidia. They chose to go with Samsung, they designed the chips, they chose to release early, they specified the capacitors for the cards... But somehow their problems are the fault of Samsung or the AIBs or scalpers, and flawless Nvidia are just victims of others' incompetence. Again. 🙄

[Ray Arhar]

Nvidia is only obligated to Samsung for whatever quantity is agreed upon in their contract. There is nothing stopping Nvidia from using TSNC 7 NM chips in an RTX 30** "Super" variant.

[PricedOut]

Completely made up. TSMC supply is going to be tight because there are so many customers. There is no problem with Samsung 8nm, as multiple reports said the supply was the same as in previous launches. Plus NVIDIA feels they got a lower price per transistor on Samsung 8nm vs AMD on TSMC 7nm, forcing AMD into thin or no margin for equivalent perf. Yes, there is a lot of engineering cost to move the process, so typically it is not worth it. NVIDIA has not done a die shrink for years and won't this time. Next gaming generation will be on a smaller process than 7nm.

[jihadjoe]

1) yes its very possible to fab the same chip on both Samsung and TSMC. Apple did just that with the A10.

2) people forget that Nvidia is a TSMC customer right now as definitely have allocation. They're using it to produce GA100s, but they could switch their allocation to GA102/GA104 after their supercomputer and HPC commitments are satisfied.

[Disadadi]

Thats not how chip manufacturing works. They can't up and move their design to another fab. They have exclusive NDA design deals that prevent companies like NVIDIA or AMD from just moving their product somewhere else. NVIDIA is contractually obligated to use Samsung for their new cards and the only way TSMC will be able to fab the new card is if NVIDIA resigned the entire architecture, which they won't.

They already use TSMC chips for GA100. They're TSMC customers with ampere chips. They don't need to make new architecture. You're as wrong as one could be.

[Pete]

Wow... Hey. The source is DigiTimes belongs to TSMC.