TSMC Reaffirms Foundry Focus After Report of Nvidia 3D DRAM Request
TSMC said its mission is to supply reliable technology and capacity to the global logic chip industry, without denying the 3D DRAM report.
TSMC said on November 7 that it will continue to concentrate on its core semiconductor foundry business, responding to a report that it was preparing 3D DRAM production at Nvidia's request without directly denying it, according to aitimes.com.
A TSMC spokesperson said the company's mission is to provide reliable technology and production capacity to the global logic semiconductor industry. The company did not directly answer whether it had received a request from Nvidia or whether it is reviewing a 3D DRAM development plan.
Tom's Hardware interpreted the statement as a de facto denial of plans to enter memory manufacturing.
The report, published by The Information on November 6 and citing two sources, said Nvidia had asked TSMC to produce 3D DRAM to ease a memory supply shortage and that TSMC had begun preparing related plans. The work was reported to be led by TSMC's advanced packaging vice president, who previously headed Micron's Taiwan business.
Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron are all developing 3D DRAM but have not yet commercialized it. Micron plans to develop at least four more generations of existing planar DRAM processes before moving to 3D DRAM. Even if TSMC began development now, it would be unlikely to ease the current memory shortage for at least five years.
TSMC already cooperates with SK hynix on a logic base die for next-generation HBM.
Quick answers
Did TSMC confirm it will make 3D DRAM for Nvidia?
No. TSMC did not directly answer whether it received a request from Nvidia or is reviewing a 3D DRAM plan, and said it will keep focusing on its foundry business.
Is 3D DRAM available yet?
No. Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron are developing 3D DRAM but have not yet commercialized it.