The GPU could be build using Samsung’s extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) process. Because of the 7nm architecture, the graphics card could deliver more performance for the same power consumption.
Highlights:
For its RTX cards, NVIDIA is currently using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 12nm process.
It could switch from TSMC to Samsung because Samsung is ahead in the development of 7nm processors
The new NVIDIA cards could be developed using Samsung’s extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) process
Japan’s My Navi News claims to have access to Samsung sources who says that Nvidia is reportedly counting on Samsung’s 7-nanometer (nm) transistor process to build the 2020 line of RTX desktop graphics cards. The new cards will be developed using Samsung’s extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) process. This process uses a plasma laser to drive silicon material into 7nm transistor structures.
Nvidia’s latest graphics architecture, Turing, which is used in the RTX line-up of cards launched in 2018 is built on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 12nm process. NVIDIA was also reportedly building its next gen graphics cards on TSMC’s 7nm architecture. It is possible that NVIDIA is switching from TSMC to Samsung because Samsung is further along in its 7nm EUV plans than TSMC.
With a 7nm architecture driving the next generation graphics cards, NVIDIA can produce cards which consume less power overall giving the same performance or even produce cards that can give better performance with the same level of power draw. This could also mean a more diverse line-up of cards from NVIDIA.
NVIDIA has a press conference scheduled for CES 2019. We hope to hear more announcements from the company then.