Samsung this week has unveiled its latest process technologies roadmap at the company's Samsung Foundry Forum (SFF) U.S. The new plan covers the evolution of Samsung's 2nm-class production nodes through 2027, including a process technology with a backside power delivery, re-emphasizing plans to bring out a 1.4nm-class node in 2027, and the introduction of a 'high value' 4nm-class manufacturing tech.

Samsung Foundry's key announcements for today are clearly focused on the its 2nm-class process technologies, which are set to enter production in 2025 and will span to 2027, when the company's 1.4-nm class production node is set to enter the scene. Samsung is also adding (or rather, renaming) another 2nm-class node to their roadmap with SF2, which was previously disclosed by Samsung as SF3P and aimed at high-performance devices.

"We have refined and improved the SF3P, resulting in what we now refer to as SF2," a Samsung spokesperson told AnandTech. "This enhanced node incorporates various process design improvements, delivering notable power, performance, and area (PPA) benefits."

Samsung Foundry for Leading-Edge Nodes
Announced on June 12, 2024
Compiled by AnandTech
HVM Start 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2027
Process SF3E SF3 SF2
(aka SF3P)
SF2P/SF2X SF2Z SF1.4
FET GAAFET
Power Delivery Frontside Backside (BSPDN) ?
EUV 0.33 NA EUV ? ? ? ?

This is another example of a rebranding of leading-edge fabrication nodes in the recent years by a major chipmaker. Samsung Foundry is not disclosing any specific PPA improvements SF3P has over SF2, and for now is only stating in high-level terms that it will be a better-performing node than the planned SF3P.

Meanwhile, this week's announcement also includes new information on Samsung's next batch of process nodes, which are planned for 2026 and 2027. In 2026 Samsung will have SF2P, a further refinement of SF2 which incorporates 'faster' yet less dense transistors. That will be followed up in 2027 with SF2Z, which adds backside power delivery to the mix for better and higher quality power delivery. In particular, Samsung is targetting voltate drop (aka IR drop) here, which is an ongoing concern in chip design.

Finally, SF1.4, a 1.4nm-class node, is on track for 2027 as well. Interestingly, however, it looks like it does not feature a backside power delivery. Which, per current roadmaps, would have Samsung as the only foundry not using BSPDN for their first 1.4nm/14Å-class node.

"We have optimized BSPDN and incorporated it for the first time in the SF2Z node we announced today," the spokesperson told us. "We will continue to refine this technology and apply it to future nodes, but we don't have a specific timeline to share at this time."

Chip Fab Roadmaps for Leading-Edge Nodes
Data announced during conference calls, events, press briefings and press releases.
Compiled by AnandTech
HVM Start 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Intel Process Intel 3 Intel 20A Intel 18A Intel 14A Intel 10A
FET FinFET RibbonFET (GAAFET)
Power Frontside PowerVia (BSPDN)
EUV 0.33 NA EUV 0.55 NA EUV + DSA
Samsung Process SF3E SF3 SF2 SF2P/SF2X SF2Z/SF1.4
FET GAAFET
Power Frontside Backside/?
EUV 0.33 NA EUV ? ? ?
TSMC Process N3E/N3P N3S/N3X N2 A16 A14 (?)
FET FinFET GAAFET
Power Frontside Super Power Rail (BSPDN)
EUV 0.33 NA EUV ?

When compared to other contract fabs, Samsung's roadmap is now roughly in line with the rest in regards to 'nanometer' designations. Though absent further technical disclosures from Samsung, it remains unclear what the actual benefits will be for each node and how they compare to their predecessors, let alone how they'll compare to Intel Foundry and TSMC.

Source: Samsung

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  • Dante Verizon - Thursday, June 13, 2024 - link

    Where are my 3nm chips, Samsung?
  • dotjaz - Sunday, July 7, 2024 - link

    Exynos W1000 is launching imminently.
  • Jorgp2 - Thursday, June 13, 2024 - link

    Isn't Intel 3 Backside power, since it's just a modified Intel 4 process.
  • Ryan Smith - Thursday, June 13, 2024 - link

    No. Intel isn't introducing BSPDN until Intel 20A.
  • ballsystemlord - Thursday, June 13, 2024 - link

    What is DSA which is mentioned in Intel's photolithography table section next to EUV?
  • Ryan Smith - Thursday, June 13, 2024 - link

    Directed Self-Assembly

    https://www.semianalysis.com/p/intels-14a-magic-bu...
  • ballsystemlord - Friday, June 14, 2024 - link

    Thanks!
  • Anymoore - Friday, June 14, 2024 - link

    Surprised to see DSA tacked on to High-NA by Intel. Seems it means they acknowledge High-NA by itself has problems.
  • do_not_arrest - Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - link

    Get the terminology and marketing terms correct at least. Samsung calls it "MBCFET" and the topology is different than Intel's GAA implementation. Also, does anybody really believe ANY semi fab company can really come out with a new node EVERY year? Pretty easy to predict 14A moves to 2027 and 10A moves out to 28 or 29. TSMC will NOT have N2, A16, and A14 in consecutive years either. These released roadmaps are ridiculous
  • dotjaz - Sunday, July 7, 2024 - link

    SF2 and SF3P were previously both slated for 2025 which indicates Samsung wasn't confidentaboutthe OG SF2, so the "new" SF2 is probably something in-between.

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