Asian Tech Press -- Sources from the foundry provider TSMC's supply chain revealed that Intel will be the first to adopt TSMC's most advanced 3nm technology to produce graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs) ahead of Apple, Taiwan's Economic Daily News reported Tuesday.
The first batch of chips will be put into production in TSMC's Fab 18B plant in the second quarter of next year, and mass production will begin in July next year.
According to the report, the products ordered by Intel, include a GPU and three types of CPUs, all of which are the US-based tech giant's core products.
The first batch of products ordered are about 4,000 pieces, which should be the products that have recently completed the finalization of product design in TSMC's Fab 12 in the Hsinchu Science Park. TSMC has begun to transfer them to Fab 18B in Tainan Science Park to prepare for mass production.
It is reported that the four products are to be delivered in time for the output formally in May next year, and are to be mass produced in July, 2022. Follow-up orders from Intel are estimated to increase to more than 10,000 pieces, and the mass production schedule is also a year earlier than expected.
In response, TSMC said that it does not make any comments on the customer taking orders. However, when asked by shareholders how to view Intel's crossover into foundry, TSMC chairman Mark Liu stressed that Intel is TSMC's client, and he believes that Intel will also adopt TSMC's innovative technology.
Previously, news broke that Intel became TSMC's largest customer for the 3nm technology, with chip orders far exceeding those of Apple. At present, it seems that Intel is also far faster than Apple in the production of chips with the 3nm process, and is likely to have been the first customer for TSMC's most advanced technology.
TSMC has installed manufacturing equipments for 3nm process chips in its Fab 18B plant, and will go ahead with the pilot production of chips this year and mass production in the second half of next year as planned, according to a report last Monday by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).
According to TSMC's planning, Phase 5, 6, 7 and 8 facilities of Fab 18B located in Tainan Science Park are the future 3nm production base. It is worth noting that Fab 18B is next to Fab 18A where gas contamination occurred half a month ago.
It seems that TSMC has been well prepared in advance, just waiting to usher in Intel, a key customer.
The Economic Daily News reported that with Intel becoming TSMC's first customer in the world to adopt 3nm technology for chip production, it means that Intel is sure that TSMC's 3nm technology significantly outperforms Samsung's chip process technology.
