Both Globalfoundries and TSMC promise that their 28nm high-performance (28HP) process technologies will be available for mass production already in late 2010. But there are chances that TSMC’s process technology will arrive somewhat later than expected, whereas Globalfoundries does not have a track record of quick and flawless ramp up of bulk fabrication processes.
As a result, according to currently available information, the GPU family called Southern Islands will be made using 40nm process technology, which is still not problem free (after the initiation of pre-production in early Q4 2008), but will at least be available in the second half of this year. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: TSMC’s 40nm is here, whereas two 28nm fabrication processes are still in the bush, it seems.
Nonetheless, AMD is obliged to acquire graphics processors from Globalfoundries; as a result, when it comes to 28nm process technology, the company will still have to divide its GPU portfolio. It will not be an easy task since Globalfoundries’ and TSMC’s 28nm bulk processes are completely different: the former uses so-called gate-last approach, whereas the latter utilizes gate-first manufacturing method. As a result, it is more than likely that starting from 28nm node there will several different companies producing ATI GPUs.