TSMC receives a productivity boost with Nvidia’s cuLitho tech
TSMC is now using Nvidia’s Computational Lithography platform to accelerate manufacturing
TSMC is moving production to Nvidia’s Computational Lithography (cuLitho )platform to accelerate its production efforts. Previously, computational lithography calculations were completed on CPUs, requiring a tremendous amount of CPU time and large data centers to complete these tasks. Thanks to Nvidia’s cuLitho tech, these tasks can be accelerated through GPU compute. In fact, Nvidia claims that 350 of their Nvidia H100 Tensor Core GPU-based systems can replace over 40,000 CPU systems.
Computational lithography is required to create the photomasks that help turn processor designs into usable silicon. With Nvidia’s technology, TSMC aims to accelerate photomask development and lower its production costs. This should make bringing new silicon products to market both faster and cheaper. Additionally, this change will allow TSMC to complete their computational tasks in less time and with smaller data centers. Furthermore, it will lower TSMC’s power costs tremendously.
Overall, this move is a huge win for Nvidia and TSMC. TSMC benefits from faster workflows and reduced costs, while Nvidia benefits from faster product development times and gains TSMC as a customer. As Nvidia releases faster products, we can also expect TSMC to invest in more Nvidia hardware to further accelerate their workflows.
(Image from Nvidia)
Nvidia is also developing new generative AI features to enhance its cuLitho platform. These changes aim to accelerate chip development further and lower power costs. Nvidia claims that its generative AI workflow can deliver an additional 2x speed boost over cuLitho’s existing benefits.
Nvidia hopes to use the cuLitho technology to create its future high-end products and bring them to market faster. TSMC and Synopsys have already adopted cuLitho, and it may only be a matter of time before others follow suit. Photomask creation is now a GPU-accelerated process, not a CPU-bound task.
You can join the discussion on Nvidia’s cuLitho technology entering production at TSMC on the OC3D Forums.
