TSMC becomes first to announce R&D for 2nm node

[HEXUS]

A 2nm production facility will be ready in Hsinchu, Taiwan, by 2024.

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[Bagpuss]

Finally, Ryzen @ 5Ghz.

[w1ntergr33n]

2nm! Amazing.

[GinoLatino]

Just WOW!

[afiretruck]

Even if it takes 5 years, that's mind-boggling!

[blokeinkent]

So where do we go after the ever decreasing node? When the day comes that big boys in the CPU market have exhausted a 0.1 or some other ridiculous nm measurement, what are the ideas floating about for consumer processors for the future? Realistically, or theoretically realistic, if such a term exists.

[DanceswithUnix]

2nm, that's 10 silicon atoms across. It amazes me we got this far tbh.

[andymetzen]

Moore's law has stopped for Intel, but not for TSMC.

[Corky34]

....what are the ideas floating about for consumer processors for the future? Realistically, or theoretically realistic, if such a term exists.

The most likely step is GAAFETs (Gate all-around) where instead of the fin sticking up in the air and being surrounded on three sides by the gate (it's actually the top and two sides but i hope you catch my drift) a bit like a doorway it would be surrounded on four sides a bit like a window, it should go without saying though that like a lot of theories it could end up in the dustbin as trying to fabricate what's essentially a tiny little wire sheathed in another wire at that sort of scale could throw up some unexpected problems.

2nm, that's 10 silicon atoms across. It amazes me we got this far tbh.

Isn't 2nm more like 400 silicon atoms? Although it's not really that small though is it? Going on the diagram isn't it 20nm, that being the gate pitch, so it's more like 4k silicon atoms, granted that still really small, but still.

EDIT: Having had a quick Google i think i maybe miles off with my recollection of how many silicon atoms are in a nanometer so maybe it's best to disregard ^^that^^.

[DanceswithUnix]

Going on the diagram isn't it 20nm, that being the gate pitch,

I think these numbers went from gate size to minimum feature size to whatever the marketing guys think sounds nice size.

But however you cut it, the things are dead tiny

[Iota]

Well it certainly beats the process my first Pentium was on (800nm)

[blokeinkent]

Well it certainly beats the process my first Pentium was on (800nm)

lol yeah and I bet it cost twice as much as well

[DanceswithUnix]

Well it certainly beats the process my first Pentium was on (800nm)

Pfft, first computer was an 8 bit Z80 at 1.77MHz, made on a 5um process.

For the youngsters, the Z80 was an enhanced rip off by Zilog of the Intel 8080, where the 8080 was a rip-off by Intel of the Datapoint 2200. The technology gets refined, but I don't think the shenanigans have changed much

[devBunny]

TSMC, which recently scalped the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and Nvidia Ampere GPU contracts from under Samsung's nose

Not to be a niggle but "scalping" is the decidedly sub-dermal removal of hair from the top of the head. Did you mean to say?...

TSMC, which recently more than shaved the moustache of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and Nvidia Ampere GPU contracts from under Samsung's nose and removed its upper lip...

If so, it's a bit gruesome, don't you think? Just sayin'. ;O)

[yeeeeman]

I am announcing R&D for 45picometers process. Eat that TSMC.

[blueball]

Well it certainly beats the process my first Pentium was on (800nm)

My first CPU was a 386SX based on 1500nm tech. Amazingly, they only stopped production in 2007!