Samsung Gives Its 8nm Chips a Second Wind: More Speed, Less Power

Samsung is giving its proven 8 nm manufacturing process another chance at life. The firm is developing 8LPU+, which will be a new iteration of the old process and will help deliver improved performance without the need for costly new chip fabrication gear.

According to reports by South Korean media sources, 8LPU+ may allow for 12% higher chip performance, 15% lower power consumption and even 8% smaller chip logic area. However, the data is not confirmed, thus it is subject to change.

The original 8LPU process was first introduced by Samsung back in 2017. Meanwhile, the firm developed much more modern manufacturing processes, including the 2nm process node. Still, older manufacturing processes have their own place in the market.

Why 8LPU+ Could Matter Beyond Smartphones

Whereas the latest semiconductor fabrication technologies use the costly extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, 8LPU+ uses DUV tools. Thus, Samsung will be able to upgrade its current production capacities without having to pay for pricey EUV scanners.

The new chip manufacturing technology will be used by Samsung in applications such as automotive microcontrollers, vehicle control systems, industrial robots, and edge artificial intelligence devices. In addition, the new technique supports the embedding of magnetoresistive memory (eMRAM), which has excellent thermal stability and high reprogrammability.

Practical Progress Could Benefit Everyone

We believe that 8LPU+ is exhibiting what will be a major trend in semiconductor manufacturing in the near future. Not all the electronic gadgets need to be equipped with the tiniest transistors. Vehicles, industrial robots, and even local AI can benefit from energy savings, consistency of the manufacturing process, and constant availability of parts.

In case Samsung succeeds with its rumored goals, more sophisticated products will be available for customers without forcing everybody to invest in new technologies.

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