The Chinese processor manufacturer SMIC has been producing chips according to the canons of one of the most advanced technological processes – 7 nanometers – for a year. Regarding this, citing a report from TechInsights analysts, reported Edition of The Register.
TechInsights specialists have purchased a 2021 ASIC (mining computer – print grade) based on MinerVa processors manufactured by the Chinese company SMIC. Autopsy of the chips showed that they were made using 7 nanometer transistors. It was previously believed that China had the ability to produce processors with only 14 nanometer elements.
The analysis also revealed that the circuits used by SMIC in the manufacture of MinerVa are very similar to those of Taiwanese company TSMC. Based on this, TechInsights concluded that the Chinese are using obsolete equipment from a neighboring state.
While ASIC chips are simple analogues of full-blown computer processors, TechInsights was still impressed by SMIC’s achievements. Experts are confident that in the near future the Chinese will be able to unlock the full potential of the 7 nanometer topology.
For comparison: it is the most advanced 4nm process technology today in terms of transistor layout – it is heavily used in the manufacture of Snapdragon, Mediatek and Exynos mobile chips. At the same time, in the computer CPU market, the same Intel has not yet reached the 10 nanometer threshold.
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Source: Gazeta
