TSMC Reportedly extends 7nm production leads times amid strong demand
TSMC Reportedly extends 7nm production leads times amid strong demand
TSMC’s 7nm process node is seeing strong demand from multiple markets, from AMD’s use of the technology in their latest CPU and graphics hardware to the technology’s use in mobile phone SOCs from multiple manufacturers. This string demand has reportedly forced TSMC to increase their 7nm lead times from two months to nearly six months, at least according to Digitimes.
While a 7nm capacity expansion is planned for Q2 2020, TSMC’s 7nm manufacturing may not be enough to meet customer demand in the short term. Demand for leading-edge process nodes is expected to increase as more devices start to utilise 5G networking.
TSMC’s altered lead times will increase the time it takes for orders to turn into shipping silicon, which means that TSMC’s existing customers shouldn’t be heavily impacted. Clients such as AMD will already have orders in place for new 7nm products, limiting the short term impact of TSMC’s manufacturing schedule. Beyond that, AMD’s next-generation Zen 3 products aim to utilise a 7nm node, moving AMD away from TSMC’s standard 7nm process.
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