NVIDIA Volta GPU and Xavier SoC to be fabbed on TSMC 12nm process

A report by the Chinese-language Commercial Times claims TSMC received orders to make high performance computing (HPC) chips for AI applications from NVIDIA and Qualcomm. The paper received intel that NVIDIA's Volta GPU and the Xavier SoC will be made on the TSMC 12nm process:

TSMC will fabricate Nvidia's next generation Volta GPU using a 12nm process, said the paper, which added that the Volta GPU will be paired with Nvidia's Xavier supercomputer chips for self-driving car applications.

TSMC also produces the 256-core Nvidia Pascal GPU and dual-core Denver 2 CPU for Nvidia's recently released JetsonTX2 supercomputer platform, using a 16nm process, the paper indicated.

TSMC has also begun volume production of the Centriq 2400 server chips from Qualcomm, these will be made on the low-power 10nm process.

As I've written before, the TSMC 12nm process is basically the 4th generation of the company's 16nm node. The 14nm and 16nm processes we hear about these days are nothing but marketing names and TSMC's 12nm node is just a continuation of this process. The company explains its 12nm process deserves a lower numeral because it is significantly better than its 16nm nodes in terms of power efficiency and performance.