NVIDIA Ampere GPUs to use Samsung 8nm?

Personally, I'm not really buying it but there's another rumor going around that NVIDIA is tapping Samsung for the production of its Ampere GPUs. TechPowerUp picked up news that almost the entire Ampere GPU family may be made on Samsung's 8nm process, and not on TSMC's 7nm node. The 8nm process from Samsung is an enhanced version of the South Korean giant's 10nm process.

The original source here is Twitter user kopite7kimi, who has previously leaked reliable information about NVIDIA. According to him, NVIDIA's entire high-end Ampere lineup, including the GA102, will use Samsung's 8LPP.

The 8LPP silicon fabrication node by Samsung is an extension of the company's 10LPP (10 nm) node. Both have the same fin pitch, but reductions are made in the areas of gate pitch (down by 6%) resulting in a transistor density of over 61 million/mm².

NVIDIA has a long-standing history with TSMC, who has a proven reputation of being able to deliver on its promises. Given Samsung's foundry reputation, this rumor does feel a little strange and it would mean NVIDIA is taking a big risk.

100% Samsung 8nm(develop from 10nm) https://t.co/jYqkSYfku7

— kopite7kimi (@kopite7kimi) July 2, 2020