2012-12-21-71

[Rumour] AMD to use both Globalfoundries and TSMC for 28nm GPUs

Earlier this year, AMD CEO Dirk Meyer stated that the "first intersection" of 28nm ATI GPUs will be manufactured on Globalfoundries' 28nm process. Rumours have continued ever since about the possibility of moving completely to GloFo or dividing between TSMC and GloFo. Fudzilla now reports that AMD GPG is now working on two 28nm chips - one for TSMC, one for GloFo.

However, the nature of these two chips are not explained. It could be possible that AMD is planning the flagship at the more stable process (presumably TSMC), and derivatives at the upcoming process (presumably GloFo). AMD has tried a somewhat similar approach before, with the HD 4770, which featured a different, and as it proved to be, risky, process to rest of the HD 4000 series. The HD 4770 experiment provided vital intel for the success of the HD 5000 series on the same troubled 40nm process. There's no doubt that AMD has Globalfoundries in mind for the long-term future, but perhaps they do not want to risk an entire generation with a company which has never manufactured a high performance GPU before.

While recent rumours suggest AMD 28nm GPUs can be ready as early as H1 2011, Fudzilla stands by the original timeline of late 2011. Before then, TSMC's storied 40nm Bulk process is set to see more action - in the form of Nvidia's Geforce 400 series, AMD's Southern Islands and AMD's first Fusion APU - Ontario.

Reference: Fudzilla