By: Somata (a.delete.delete@this.protonmail.com), July 21, 2022 1:52 pm
Room: Moderated Discussions
https://www.techinsights.com/blog/disruptive-technology-7nm-smic-minerva-bitcoin-miner
Despite the embargo for the export of EUV lithography machines from ASML to chinese semiconductor fabs, SMIC seems to have fabricated 7nm chips using DUV machines. For reference, the TSMC N7 (Apple A12 and Qualcomm 855, perhaps AMD Zen 2) and N7P (Apple A13 and perhaps AMD Zen 3), and Intel 7 (aka 10nm SuperFin, EUV supposedly will be introduced in Intel 4) are also DUV only processes. SMIC has been aggressively hiring from TSMC, most notably SMIC CEO Liang Mengsong (Former senior director of R&D at TSMC, Samsung LSI Technical director).
It is unclear if SMIC can pursue further node shrinks without access to EUV machines. In addition, future restrictions on DUV lithography machines may yet happen as the US lobbies ASML.
Despite the embargo for the export of EUV lithography machines from ASML to chinese semiconductor fabs, SMIC seems to have fabricated 7nm chips using DUV machines. For reference, the TSMC N7 (Apple A12 and Qualcomm 855, perhaps AMD Zen 2) and N7P (Apple A13 and perhaps AMD Zen 3), and Intel 7 (aka 10nm SuperFin, EUV supposedly will be introduced in Intel 4) are also DUV only processes. SMIC has been aggressively hiring from TSMC, most notably SMIC CEO Liang Mengsong (Former senior director of R&D at TSMC, Samsung LSI Technical director).
It is unclear if SMIC can pursue further node shrinks without access to EUV machines. In addition, future restrictions on DUV lithography machines may yet happen as the US lobbies ASML.
