Wow, wasn’t aware this was N3B. Thought that yields for N3B were so bad that Apple needed N3E to be able to get enough chips to support a modern iPhone launch.
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TSMC Struggling to Make Enough 3-Nanometer Chips for Apple
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Wow, wasn’t aware this was N3B. Thought that yields for N3B were so bad that Apple needed N3E to be able to get enough chips to support a modern iPhone launch.
A silicon atom is only 0.19 nm wide (1.92Å) so that's the maximum they can shrink using current substrates.
You have to say Uno out loud the moment it happens or it doesn’t count and we go back to the PowerPC chips and start over again.
its not physical size - its just marketing terms. 3nm has nothing to do with the size of the actual transistor.
Thank you for this info, I hope we see big advances in this area soon, and are able to contain it before nefarious robots use it against us.
Exactly.
And that will affect all chipmakers and designers... not just Apple.
It'll be interesting to see how everyone handles these restrictions/limitations.
On one hand, a few months ago you have TSMC saying they can't find customers for N3(B), and now they'e saying that can't produce them fast enough just for Apple?
It smells like window dressing. Apple had declining mac sales in CY22Q4, and IDC is noting poor mac sales in CY23Q1... Maybe the 3nm hype is hurting CY23Q2 as well? Maybe Apple is trying to scare those numbers upward...
No matter, I'm happy to not 'need' a mac right now. Let's see what WWDC and the fall brings.
If Tim wants sales, why doesn't he just release the 15" Air?
It smells like window dressing. Apple had declining mac sales in CY22Q4, and IDC is noting poor mac sales in CY23Q1... Maybe the 3nm hype is hurting CY23Q2 as well? Maybe Apple is trying to scare those numbers upward...
No matter, I'm happy to not 'need' a mac right now. Let's see what WWDC and the fall brings.
If Tim wants sales, why doesn't he just release the 15" Air?
I believe Apple is the only company that gets hammered for delayed products that they haven't even announced.
Here's a thought - scrape together those rejected M3 chips and ship an even 'lighter' M3 - M3Lite with 4P/4E (or less!) and stick them in an updated 12" Macbook.
Don't forget this MR article...
www.macrumors.com
Apple Orders Entire Supply of TSMC's 3nm Chips for iPhone 15 Pro and M3 Macs
Apple has reportedly secured all available orders for N3, TSMC's first-generation 3-nanometer process that is likely to be used in the upcoming...
www.macrumors.com
The only phones getting the A17 are the 15Pro and 15Pro Max. Regular 15 and 15 plus are getting the A16 from the 14 Pro's...
15 / 15 Plus will use A16 anyway, just like 14 / 14 Plus used A15.
That price increase looks like it’s locked in now. Starting price at $1,199 for the 256GB iPhone 15 Pro with the 128GB capacity dropped?
Apple is expected to use N3E for A17 and M3. But given what we heard about N3B, N3E isn't likely to be a walk in the park either.
But the article notes that Apple isn't paying for wafers, they're paying for chips! Yield issues fall to TSMC.
Apple are so ahead vs competitors, that they can still stick with their A15/A16 and invest the resources in other features/sectors.
So. No M3 iMac this year then cause all of these chips are going to the pro phones, which leaves us with a super-delayed update to an M2 iMac? 🥲
Ahhh HERE WE GO WITH THE SHORTAGES AGAIN THEY STARTING THIS MESS EARLY SMH 😡😡😡
Source is DigiTimes. Where as this topic is based on EE Times article. (better news reputation).Don't forget this MR article...
Apple Orders Entire Supply of TSMC's 3nm Chips for iPhone 15 Pro and M3 Macs
Apple has reportedly secured all available orders for N3, TSMC's first-generation 3-nanometer process that is likely to be used in the upcoming...