In the world of microprocessors, an era of change occurs. With the development of technologies for the production of 3-nanometer chips and plans for 2-nanometer, TSMC is already preparing to create a factory for production chips with a 1-nanometer process. This will happen in the Tea Science Park in Taiwan.
In addition to TSMC, Samsung is also actively developing 3-nanometer production and planning to move to 2-nanometer processes by 2025. Intel has announced the imminent issue of 20a technology (about 20 angstrem or 2 nanometers), which is expected this year.
Over time, the Nanometer metric has lost its original meaning and has become a symbol of improvement of transistor density. According to the general director of Intel, Pat Gelsinger, this was the basis for Rebranding their own technological process to better comply with the naming agreements with TSMC and Samsung.
The sudden transformation of Intel’s 10-nm technological process into Intel 7, and its 7-nm technological process into Intel 4 and Intel 3, was a clear marketing trick designed to divert attention from the fact that Intel was lagging behind in the field of technological processes. However, it proved to be a beneficial step in the company’s development.
Ultimately, the nanometer as an indicator of technological processes is only a marketing tool for describing improvements in transistor density. Nanometers only approximately describe the relative density, so it is not entirely correct to directly compare the technological processes of one manufacturer with another.
Modern technologies such as Gate-all-ARUND transistors offer advantages such as better energy consumption, increased efficiency, and the ability to create smaller transistors. These features make them very attractive for microcircuit manufacturers who aim to increase integration and productivity while reducing energy consumption.