Samsung: smaller SRAM cells with EUV, better than Intel

VictordeHolland · 2018-02-16, 12:41

Samsung: smaller SRAM cells with EUV, better than Intel
(At least that is what the marketing guys from Samsung claim)

Intel's claims 0.0312-µm2 and 0.0367-µm2 (high density vs. low-voltage) for SRAM bitcells (the industry standard for comparing processing nodes) made with its 10-nm process. This is a 0.62–0.58x scaling compared to its 14-nm process.

Samsung has validated a 256-Mbit chip made with four to six layers using a 7nm process node with EUV (Extreme UltraViolet) and reports 0.026-µm2 bitcells. We can assume this is with using EUV machines from ASML.

The good news from this is that we can assume that EUV works, but without knowing anything about yields/costs this info is more to assure the investors of Samsung. SRAM cells are used in memory and cache and Samsung has a 45% market share in the memory industry.

Intel has had a lead in process technology for de last half of this decade. Intel is quite conservative in naming its processes nodes, something other manufacturers are now using as a marketing strategy (Samsung, TSMC and GloFo). For instance TSMC 16nm FINFET and Samsung/GF 14nm FF processes in between Intel's 22nm and 14nm FF compared to size. TSMC/Samsungs 10nm process is only slightly better than Intel 14nm. Also note that getting a memory chip (very regular pattern) to work is MUCH easier on a new node than a very complex chip such as the laptop/desktop/server chip Intel makes. Also the chips that Intel makes need to run at higher frequencies (3GHz+), creating additional challenges/ problems. This is by no means in defence of Intel/ Intelfan-boy-ism . I'm actually excited the other manufacturers are catching up, as this will open the way for more powerful GPUs and gives AMD a fighting chance (they are showing promise with their Zen architecture).

Source:
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332965

henryzz · 2018-02-16, 14:00

They were always going to catch up if they beat Intel to EUV. Once Intel gets EUV then they will be ahead again.

mackerel · 2018-02-16, 15:13

From an end user perspective, all I care about is low price and high speed :) If any of that happens, I'll be happy regardless who does it first.

2018-02-16, 12:41	#1
VictordeHolland "Victor de Hollander" Aug 2011 the Netherlands 3²·131 Posts	Samsung: smaller SRAM cells with EUV, better than Intel Samsung: smaller SRAM cells with EUV, better than Intel (At least that is what the marketing guys from Samsung claim) Intel's claims 0.0312-µm2 and 0.0367-µm2 (high density vs. low-voltage) for SRAM bitcells (the industry standard for comparing processing nodes) made with its 10-nm process. This is a 0.62–0.58x scaling compared to its 14-nm process. Samsung has validated a 256-Mbit chip made with four to six layers using a 7nm process node with EUV (Extreme UltraViolet) and reports 0.026-µm2 bitcells. We can assume this is with using EUV machines from ASML. The good news from this is that we can assume that EUV works, but without knowing anything about yields/costs this info is more to assure the investors of Samsung. SRAM cells are used in memory and cache and Samsung has a 45% market share in the memory industry. Intel has had a lead in process technology for de last half of this decade. Intel is quite conservative in naming its processes nodes, something other manufacturers are now using as a marketing strategy (Samsung, TSMC and GloFo). For instance TSMC 16nm FINFET and Samsung/GF 14nm FF processes in between Intel's 22nm and 14nm FF compared to size. TSMC/Samsungs 10nm process is only slightly better than Intel 14nm. Also note that getting a memory chip (very regular pattern) to work is MUCH easier on a new node than a very complex chip such as the laptop/desktop/server chip Intel makes. Also the chips that Intel makes need to run at higher frequencies (3GHz+), creating additional challenges/ problems. This is by no means in defence of Intel/ Intelfan-boy-ism . I'm actually excited the other manufacturers are catching up, as this will open the way for more powerful GPUs and gives AMD a fighting chance (they are showing promise with their Zen architecture). Source: https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332965 Attached Thumbnails

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2018-02-16, 14:00	#2
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Liverpool (GMT/BST) 37×163 Posts	They were always going to catch up if they beat Intel to EUV. Once Intel gets EUV then they will be ahead again.

2018-02-16, 15:13	#3
mackerel Feb 2016 UK 3·149 Posts	From an end user perspective, all I care about is low price and high speed :) If any of that happens, I'll be happy regardless who does it first.