Apple M1 Shows Wafer Process Isn't Key in HPC

The semiconductor industry is roughly in accordance with Moore's Law, and the number of transistors that can be accommodated on an integrated circuit doubles about every 18 months. However, the recent success of Apple's M1 processor in the HPC field shows that the process is not the only factor. Apple And the industry can improve the performance of the processor in other ways, that is, the process of the wafer is not so important.

Hsiao, senior analyst at DIGITIMES Research, said: "Apple has become a leader in HPC chips through its foundry partners with the introduction of high-performance M1 series manufactured using advanced processes, but all other manufacturing areas of the semiconductor industry will also become in the HPC era. more and more important.

At Strategy Next, a recent webinar hosted by DIGITIMES Research, Hsiao said that in the HPC era, chip performance will no longer be determined solely by the wafer process, but advanced packaging, high-end IC substrates and overall system design will also play a role. Plays a vital role in increasing the computing power of chip solutions.

This is evidenced by the rapid rise of Apple's M1 chip series in the HPC market, thanks to TSMC's advanced packaging solutions and high-performance ABF substrates from Taiwan's leading IC substrate supplier, as well as foundry 5nm process technology.

Another example is Intel, which has also effectively upgraded the computing power of its HPC processors by using advanced packaging solutions developed in-house, as well as high-end ABF substrates developed in collaboration with suppliers, Hsiao continued.

Apple's M-series processors are widely believed to upend the image of the previous Arm architecture, proving that it is comparable to the x86 architecture. Both Qualcomm and MediaTek are optimistic that Apple's success has brought them unprecedented opportunities. The former is actively developing Arm-based 5G notebook processors by combining its own wireless communication technology, while the latter is also developing notebook chip solutions. 

Market watchers are highly concerned about whether Qualcomm can challenge Intel and AMD with its Arm-based notebook processors and become a new player in the field of high-end PC processors.

Currently, notebook users are more concerned about processor performance, and wireless communication capabilities are not their primary concern. But for Arm-based processors, Qualcomm's 5G notebook chip performance will play an important role in helping chipmakers enter the Windows PC market, Hsiao said.