TSMC introduces N4X process for HPC

Author: EIS Release Date: Dec 30, 2021

TSMC has introduced its N4X technology  – a 5nm process for HPC chips.

 

N4X is the first of TSMC’s HPC-focused technology offerings, representing ultimate performance and maximum clock frequencies in the 5nm family.

 

“X” denotes TSMC technologies that are developed specifically for HPC products.

 

N4X features include:

 

Device design and structures optimized for high drive current and maximum frequency

Back-end metal stack optimization for high-performance designs

Super high density metal-insulator-metal capacitors for robust power delivery under extreme performance loads

N4X offers a performance boost of up to 15% over N5, or up to 4% over the faster N4P at 1.2 volt. N4X can achieve drive voltages beyond 1.2 volt and deliver additional performance.

 

Customers can also draw on the common design rules of the N5 process to accelerate the development of their N4X products. TSMC expects N4X to enter risk production by the first half of 2023.

 

“HPC is now TSMC’s fastest-growing business segment and we are proud to introduce N4X, the first in the ‘X’ lineage of our extreme performance semiconductor technologies,” says TSMC svp Dr. Kevin Zhang, “the demands of the HPC segment are unrelenting, and TSMC has not only tailored our ‘X’ semiconductor technologies to unleash ultimate performance but has also combined it with our 3DFabric advanced packaging technologies to offer the best HPC platform.”