TSMC, Samsung and Intel are competing to introduce similar lithography innovations, trying to beat each other to time to market. In addition to the structure of transistors with a surrounding gate, they are now competing in the timing of implementing power supply to the reverse side of the chip. Intel is ready to do this within the framework of its 20A process technology, while Samsung and TSMC are focusing on their own 2nm technologies.
If the plans of Intel and TSMC in this area were no secret to anyone, then with regard to Samsung the intrigue remained, although this South Korean manufacturer dared to introduce the GAA transistor structure within the 3nm process technology, ahead of its competitors. According to Chosun Biz, Samsung expects to implement power supply on the reverse side of the semiconductor device as part of the 2nm process technology, which it will begin producing products next year.
The combination of these technologies makes it possible to reduce the die area of a processor with Arm architecture by 10 to 19%, and increase the operating frequency by a single-digit percentage. Traditionally, power traces were supplied to processor elements by forming metallized layers of the crystal in its upper part. As the number of layers increased and the distance between the elements decreased, this became increasingly difficult, so experts thought about supplying power from the reverse side of the crystal. This approach makes it possible to increase the energy efficiency of the chip and at the same time reduce the chip area.
Initially, Samsung expected to introduce this technology by 2027 simultaneously with the development of the 1.7-nm process technology, but in the face of increased activity of competitors, it may postpone the deadline to an earlier period, already within the framework of 2-nm technology. Intel is implementing power supply from the reverse side of the chip as part of the 20A technology already this year, and TSMC is going to do this in 2026 by the time it masters 2nm and thinner technological processes.
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