AMD takes the architectures Zen and Vega to 12 nanometers in 2018

After a few years behind manufacturing technology, AMD with the architecture Zen took the step over to 14 nanometers from Globalfoundries. In addition to being the basis for their processors, the same manufacturing technology is used for the company’s graphics circuits with the Polaris and Vega architectures.

The company has previously communicated that both Zen and Vega will be reintroduced in 2018 with a refined 14-nanometer technology (14nm +) and then take the step to 7 nanometers. During the Globalfoundries Technology Conference (GTC), AMD’s chief technology officer Mark Papermaster announces that the next step is instead called 12 nanometers.

The technology is called 12LP and is a further development of 14LPP. This may mean that what was previously known as 14nm + changed its name, similar to how TSMC’s 12 nanometers are a further development from its 16-nanometer technology. According to Papermaster, the new technology offers 15 percent higher transistor density and 10 percent better performance than 16 nanometers from contract manufacturer TSMC.

While chip makers are moving to 7-nm processes, the 12-nm process is a good one that allows chip makers to get new products out without completely redesigning them from the ground up.

In an interview with Venturebeat, Globalfoundries’ chief technology officer Sanjay Jha says that 12 nanometers is a good middle ground for AMD, waiting for 7 nanometers. This is because they do not have to redesign their circuits from the ground up but can relatively easily get advantages such as better performance and energy efficiency compared to 14 nanometers.

AMD will use the 12-nanometer technology with Zen in the Ryzen processor family and the Vega graphics architecture. The technology will go into large-scale production in the first quarter of 2018 and will be followed up by product launches shortly thereafter.

Image source: Patrick Moorhead (Twitter)