TSMC's enhanced N3e process node will be in production earlier than expected as yields for this node have been strong.
, Wall Street powerhouse Morgan Stanley says that TSMC is moving the production schedule for its enhanced 3nm process node ahead by a quarter.Morgan Stanley says that the production yield for this node has been higher than expected and the foundry might freeze the design of the N3e node by the end of this month.
Moving production of the N3e mode ahead one quarter has no impact on the production of the original N3 3nm chips. TSMC is still expected to start production of N3 chips beginning in the third quarter of this year and deliver them to customers in the first quarter of 2023. Chips made using TSMC's N3 or N3e process node, or Samsung Foundry's 3GAE node are not expected to be on the market until the third or fourth quarter of 2023.
Low yields could result in a shortage of certain chips from a specific foundry. Mixed in with the current chip shortage, Samsung Foundry's low yield spells trouble for the business in what is a competitive sector of the chip industry. Qualcomm returned to TSMC to build the Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 855+ and stuck with the foundry for 2020's Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 865+.