Re:5nm vs. 3nm
by ekianjo on Tuesday June 25, 2019 @02:20AM
(#20271627)
the cost of highly specialized machinery is certainly a big driver. Plus that machinery is basically thrown away every time you go to a thinner process.
Also, figuring out how to maximize yields to an acceptable level must be a lot of experimentation.
Re:5nm vs. 3nm
by avian on Tuesday June 25, 2019 @02:54AM
(#20271738)
Definitely not thrown away. Plenty of stuff still gets made on older processes. Fabs keep old lines alive for a long time, especially since each one is such a huge investment.
Also, figuring out how to maximize yields to an acceptable level must be a lot of experimentation.