Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is making waves in the tech world. According to VideoCardz, the company is getting closer to perfecting its 2nm chip process. This is a big deal – it means faster, more efficient chips for our devices. TSMC started making these chips in small batches at the end of 2024 and plans to go into full production by 2025.
The new N2 process uses special transistors called GAAFETs. These transistors help the chips use less energy and perform better. They’re also packed more tightly together, which makes them even more efficient. Compared to the old N3E process, the N2 chips are 10-15% better at performing tasks or use 30% less energy.
What’s really impressive is how many working chips TSMC can make from a single wafer. The company can make about 60% of its chips without any defects, which is way better than its competitor Samsung. For memory chips, TSMC can make up to 90% of them without any issues. This shows just how good TSMC is at making chips and why big companies like Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD want to work with them.
TSMC is also expanding its operations. The company plans to open new factories in the US, including in Arizona and Phoenix, by 2028. It’s also opening new factories in Taiwan. By 2025, TSMC will have nine new facilities, including factories and advanced packaging plants.
But TSMC isn’t the only company trying to make 2nm chips. Samsung and Intel are also working on their own versions. Samsung wants to start mass-producing its 2nm chips by 2025, but it’s having trouble getting its yield rates as high as TSMC’s. Intel, on the other hand, is working on a process called 18A, which is similar to 2nm. It’s using new transistors called RibbonFET and a technology called PowerVia, but it’s still behind TSMC in terms of scale and experience.
All of this means that TSMC is going to be a major player in the tech industry for a while. Its leadership in chipmaking is going to make it hard for other companies to compete, and that’s going to have big implications for the global supply chain. Companies that want the best chips for their devices are going to have to work with TSMC, which could give the company a lot of power.
This could also have big implications for geopolitics. Since TSMC is a Taiwanese company, its success could affect the balance of power in the region. The US and other countries may start to rely more heavily on TSMC for their chip needs, which could create tension with other countries.
In the end, TSMC’s success is a big deal for the tech industry. It means that our devices are going to get faster, more efficient, and more powerful. But it also raises important questions about the global supply chain and the balance of power in the tech world.