When Samsung introduced earlier this yr that it had began quantity manufacturing of chips utilizing its 3GAE (3nm-class, gate-all-around early) course of know-how, it by no means revealed what sort of parts it made on its modern node. Because it seems, Samsung makes use of 3GAE to fab an application-specific built-in circuit (ASIC) for cryptocurrency mining.
Samsung 3GAE fabrication know-how is the trade’s first course of that depends on gate-all-around (GAA) transistors which Samsung calls MBCFETs (multi-bridge channel field-effect transistors). GAA transistor structure reduces leakage present because the gate is now surrounded by the channel throughout all 4 sides; it additionally allows alteration of transistor efficiency and energy consumption by adjusting the channel’s thickness of the channel(s). GAAFETs are notably useful for high-performance and cellular functions, which is why firms like Intel and TSMC are working onerous to make use of them in 2024 – 2025.
Nevertheless it appears like the primary business chip to make use of GAAFETs is a cryptocurrency mining ASIC, based on TrendForce. The corporate will produce cellular system-on-chips utilizing the 3GAE fabrication course of solely subsequent yr, analysts from TrendForce consider.
Cryptocurrency mining chips are good automobiles to pipe clear a brand new manufacturing know-how as they’re comparatively easy, small, and comprise quite a few comparable items and buildings that can be utilized for redundancy to attain acceptable yields. Against this, cellular SoCs combine a great deal of utterly completely different elements that use completely different transistor buildings, making it inconceivable to construct redundant items. That mentioned, it’s logical for Samsung to make use of crypto-mining ASICs to be taught extra concerning the efficiency, energy, and defect density of its 3GAE node. Subsequently, SMIC additionally used a MinerVa mining ASIC to check its 7nm-class node.
Whereas Samsung is often formally forward of TSMC and Intel with all-new nodes, in lots of instances, comparable chips made at TSMC can run sooner and attain increased yields. Maybe, the corporate units too aggressive targets that can not be achieved concurrently. Nonetheless, it appears like Samsung’s 3GAE is sweet sufficient to fabricate cryptocurrency mining ASICs with cellular SoCs generally coming later.
When precisely is maybe a extra necessary query, as Samsung often introduces its all-new SoCs for its flagship smartphones early within the yr. Utilizing its 3GAE node to make a complicated SoC can be useful for its smartphones, although it appears like 3GAE might not be prepared to satisfy Samsung’s schedule for its next-generation Galaxy S handset.
