AMD to Manufacture 'Zen' CPU with TSMC at 16nm instead of Globalfoundries

An overview of AMD's new x86 high performance processor

Allegedly AMD have decided to contract TSMC to produce it's make-or-break 'Zen' CPU on its 16nm FinFET process over fears that Globalfoundries will be unable to manufacture the Zen on the 14nm FinFET process on time and further delay it's crucial launch during 2016.

If the rumours are true then it comes as no surprise. AMD have had issues with Globalfoundries in the past, most notably in 2011 where AMD's Bulldozer based FX chips were delayed for 9 months and eventually launched in Q4 2011. At that time Globalfoundries had several challenges getting the Bulldozer manufactures in the 32nm SOI process.

AMD's new Zen is very important for the company. It will be a whole new x86 architecture built from the ground up, focusing on IPC (Instructions Per Clock), greater performance per watt, high bandwidth low-latency cache system, DDR4 support, and most notably Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) which will be similar to Intel's Hyperthreading.

If successful, AMD's Zen will finally be able to compete with Intel's high performance CPU's, something AMD was struggling with in nearly half a decade. That is why AMD can't afford anymore delays and need to ship Zen next year, even if it means contracting with TSMC using a larger 16nm manufacturing process.

Source wccftech.com