14 DAY TRIAL // Not long ago, Globalfoundries announced that, like TSMC, it was going to skip the 32nm bulk process, for business reasons. After that, TSMC stated that it was also skipping the 22nm process, in order to focus only on the 20nm technology. Globalfoundries, however, will not do so, believing that both full-node and half-node processes are necessary in moving forward and that chip makers will continue to develop technologies based on them.
Over the past years, half-node manufacturing processes (such as 55nm, a derivative of 65nm) have been taken advantage of extensively, even more so than full-node technologies, at least in some areas. Despite this fact, however, Globalfoundries predicts that the need for full-node processes will not disappear, mostly because the microprocessor market, among others, requires full-node transitions. As such, the foundry will invest in both types of processes, in order to keep the ability to address the needs of both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.
“We are investing in both the 22nm and 20nm nodes. While half-nodes are certainly becoming an increasing trend there is still high-volume segments like the microprocessor business that require full node transitions,” Jon Carvill, the director of corporate communications at Globalfoundries, said. “We don’t see that happening imminently as high volume processor designers like AMD and Intel continue to develop on both full node and half node technology.”
Globalfoundries will not transition directly from 28nm to 20nm because, even though it would make economic sense, it “essentially kills 16nm fabrication process” according to X-Bit Labs. Finally, there are also issues of yield and shrinks associated with moving to smaller processes that have to be taken into account.
“It is too early to tell on the exact performance/power efficiency benefits transition from 28nm to 22nm/20nm node will yield. As the geometries get smaller so will the levels of the shrinks. That doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be benefits as or more compelling than what we’ve seen in previous generations.”