The introduction of 3nm GAA technology commenced in 2022 when Samsung stated it had initiated mass production of its cutting-edge manufacturing process, and it would bring a wave of performance and efficiency advantages compared to the company’s 5nm node. Fast-forward to 2024 and almost heading into 2025, the Korean giant is said to be struggling to improve yields and is finding every possible solution to climb out of the hole that it has dug itself into. A report claims that despite a multitude of efforts, the 3nm GAA yields are three times less than the minimum limit required for mass production.
Failure to increase 3nm GAA yields will result in Samsung losing out on AI chip orders, with the likes of Qualcomm likely taking a backseat
A report from Korea Times mentions that Samsung’s 3nm GAA yields were in the single digits during the first quarter of 2024. Slowly, the company has successfully shown progress, taking that number to 20 percent. Unfortunately, while this is an improvement, Korean analysts estimate that Samsung has to take that figure to 60 percent to start mass production, as its former clients, such as Qualcomm, will start to show faith.
A low yield will not just result in expensive wafers, but it will increase the time it takes for customers to receive their due chip shipments, which would explain why TSMC is the preferred choice for many. The 2nm GAA route is not faring well either, with a separate report mentioning that Samsung was forced to withdraw personnel from its Taylor plant located in Texas due to abysmal yields that were in the 10-20 percent range.
The Korean technology behemoth is scrambling to find a solution to these continuous setbacks, as its 3nm GAA technology will prove beneficial to the likes of NVIDIA, which will leverage the manufacturing process for its AI GPUs. Sadly, it will matter little if those yields do not improve, and if this keeps up, Samsung might also be forced to launch its upcoming Galaxy S25 family exclusively with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.
News Source: Korea Times
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
