TSMC Expected to Tape Out Apple A7 Processor This Month

TSMC is expected to tape out Apple's A7 processor on a 20nm process this month and move the chip into risk production by May/June, reports DigiTimes. The site says Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will be ready for commercial shipments in the first quarter of 2014.

TSMC is expanding production facilities at 14-fab at the Tainan Science Park with a total investment at the park of NT$500 billion (US$16.87 billion), said the sources, adding that TSMC will utilize 14-fab to manufacture the A7 chips for Apple. Meanwhile, TSMC has set a capex budget of US$9 billion for 2013, up from US$8.3 billion spent in the previous year. About 90% out of the capex for 2013 will be used to ramp up TSMC's 28nm capacity.

Apple has been rumored to looking for alternative manufacturers for its mobile chips to reduce reliance on Samsung. Both TSMC and Intel are considered possibilities.


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