AMD to prioritize 20nm for console SoCs

Posted on Tuesday, November 04 2014 @ 13:45 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
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TPU heard that AMD will prioritize its custom SoC business (primarily the console GPUs) for TSMC's 20nm process. The benefit to AMD is that this will enable the company to get better margins on its console chip shipments but the downside is that the company will likely be a lot later with 20nm consumer GPUs than NVIDIA.
AMD has the unique distinction of supplying SoCs to all three leading game console vendors simultaneously - Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. The company, like NVIDIA, is looking forward with perched eyes for manufacturing partner TSMC to get its 20 nanometer silicon fabrication node running full-cylinders. Unlike NVIDIA, which may use the new process to shrink its GPUs, or launch bigger chips based on its "Maxwell" architecture, AMD will treat its console SoCs with optical-shrinks to the new nodes first, so the company could immediately eke out better margins, as console gamers upgrade to Xbox One or the PlayStation 4.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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