The process technology of graphics processors will overtake the process technology of CPUs next year, when TSMC starts making graphics processing units (GPUs) for Nvidia and ATI on a 40 nm process in the first half of next year, according to a piece in TG Daily.
The process technology of graphics processors will overtake the process technology of CPUs next year, when TSMC starts making graphics processing units (GPUs) for Nvidia and ATI on a 40 nm process in the first half of next year, according to a piece in TG Daily.
TSMC and Intel have been neck and neck for the last couple of nodes in bringing new process generations to market, but TSMC's practice of developing half node processes means that, at 40nm, it will take the lead over Intel in process technology until the two companies come out with volume production on 32nm, scheduled for Q409.
It's a considerable achievement for TSMC, because it has to make its processes accessible to many customers, while Intel has only itself as a customer, and because TSMC brings its processes up in different flavours, low-power, general purpose, high-speed etc, while Intel has only one flavour - high-speed.
It is also significant that graphics processors look like taking over the lead in driving logic processes. For many years CPUs from Intel and AMD have commanded the leading logic processes.
Then, the Cell from IBM/Toshiba /Sony, and now GPUs from Nvidia and ATI look as if they will overtake CPUs.
Somehow that may represent the increased importance of consumer electronics over computing.
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