TSMC is anticipating a significant increase in revenue with the move to a 2nm process node, expected to yield 60,000 wafers per month from four fabs operating at full capacity. The price per wafer is set to rise to $30,000, up from $20,000 for 3nm wafers. Demand for 2nm production is strong, particularly from AI companies, with tapeouts surpassing those of previous nodes during the initial two years.
Tapeouts mark the commencement of chip production as designers like Qualcomm, Apple, and Nvidia submit final chip designs to the foundry. TSMC's clientele, including tech giants like the aforementioned companies, is believed to be engaged in developing 2nm chips.
As the process node decreases, transistor size diminishes, leading to higher transistor counts and denser configurations. Lower process nodes result in more powerful and energy-efficient chips, with TSMC's 2nm chips boasting Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors for improved performance and energy efficiency. The transition to 1.4nm (or A14) chips is on the horizon following the 2nm milestone.
