Globalfoundries to offer 32nm GPU process node later this year

Tom Sonderman, Globalfoundries' vice president of manufacturing systems and technology, told X-bit Labs that they intend on competing for AMD's graphics business in the 32nm/28nm technology node. Already this year the new foundry will offer 32nm bulk technology suitable for graphics processors and going forward it will add 28nm as well as high-k metal gate technology. Sonderman said 32nm bulk silicon is already running in Dresden and that they'll start accepting customer designs later this year with an aggressive production ramp in 2010.

In fact, “competing” may not be exactly correct word as AMD, one of the owners of Globalfoundries, is obliged to acquire both microprocessors as well as graphics processing units from Globalfoundries. But there will be more customers – primarily from the U.S. and Europe – that require leading edge fabrication processes and currently work in the markets of graphics chips, video game consoles and other complex devices.

“Close to 70% of our addressable market is in California alone with a number of other key customers in Europe. […] PC platform technologies (CPUs, GPUs), wireless, game consoles and telecom are a few examples of markets we’re targeting,” said Mr. Sonderman.