While SMIC, the largest foundry in China, does have 7nm, the vast majority of Ascend 910B and 910C are made with TSMC’s 7nm. In fact, the US Government, TechInsights, and others have acquired Ascend 910B and 910C and every single one used TSMC dies. Huawei was able to circumvent the sanctions on them against TSMC by purchasing ~$500 million of 7nm wafers through another company, Sophgo.
Goes to show that SMIC’s 7nm node is likely somewhat overhyped and may not really be fully viable commercially.
OTOH, they should be able to improve yield over time. Certainly will get free money to throw at yield improvement.
They are reporting 40% yield for 910C chip, and profitability, on feb 25. Enough to increase production capacity if national importance.
improvement from 20% yield in just 6 months.
I am sure SMIC will improve, but based on the article in your OP, 910C was fabbed (exclusively) by TSMC via some sort of scheme to work around sanctions?
wasn’t exclusive. But they got a lot of extra ones from “schemes”.
