【 以下文字转载自 NewExpress 讨论区 】
发信人: lwp (再也不跟人吵架了!!!), 信区: NewExpress
标  题: China chipmaker SMIC on track to produce sanctions-busting
发信站: 水木社区 (Wed Feb  7 22:48:51 2024), 站内

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), China's national chi
p champion, is on track to mass produce processors on its 5nm-class process
technology later this year, according to a Financial Times report that cites
two sources with knowledge of the matter. Huawei's HiSilicon chip developme
nt arm will be SMIC's alpha customer for its 5nm node and is expected to mak
e AI and smartphone processors.

SMIC has reportedly established new semiconductor production lines in Shangh
ai to mass-produce chips designed by technology giant Huawei on its 5nm fabr
ication technology. As expected, the company's 5nm-class manufacturing proce
ss will not rely on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as the company can
not get appropriate tools from ASML. Instead, SMIC will use 'stockpiled' dee
p ultraviolet (DUV) lithography tools, according to the Financial Times.

It remains to be seen what power, performance, and area advantages SMIC's 5n
m-class process technology will offer. Meanwhile, some experts believe that
this production node will enable Huawei to substantially upgrade its smartph
one performance this year.

SMIC is expected to produce at least two chips for Huawei's HiSilicon: a hig
hly integrated Kirin system-on-chips for smartphones and the rumored Ascend
920 processor for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.  

But these chips will come at a cost. Three individuals connected to Chinese
fabless chip designers reported that SMIC's pricing for its 5nm and 7nm prod
ucts is 40% to 50%  higher than what TSMC charges for similar technology nod
es. Furthermore, SMIC's 7nm yield is claimed to be less 'than one-third of T
SMC's.' This certainly raises questions about the economic viability and eff
iciency of China's advanced semiconductor production efforts.

"Could this be just a demonstration by Huawei and SMIC to show the Chinese g
overnment it can be done?" said Douglas Fuller, an expert on China's semicon
ductor industry asked rhetorically in a conversation with Financial Times. "
If money is no object, then it might happen."

Meanwhile, TSMC has to obtain an export license from the U.S. government to
serve Huawei, and in most cases, it cannot obtain one. As a result, Huawei d
oes not have a choice but to use SMIC's services.

While SMIC's 5nm chips will still be a generation behind TSMC's leading-edge
3nm process technology, they mark significant progress for China's semicond
uctor industry under the current U.S. export control regime.
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