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Sony signals foundry move for 45nm Cell production |
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Feb 13, 2007 at 01:46 PM |
 It would seem that Sony Corp. is sounding out the switch to fabricating Cell microprocessors at foundries, starting with the 45nm migration. The switch is rumoured to come into effect in late 2008 or in 2009, according to a Reuters story citing Sony Executive Deputy President, Yutaka Nakagawa.
Sony already uses IBM as a foundry for the Cell chip used in the PS3 game console as well as its own 300mm fabs. However, the story echoes the rationale cited by Texas Instruments, when it decided to exit advanced production and switch to a fabless model for leading-edge chip production.
Nakagawa was reported as saying that foundries now have the capability to fabricate advanced microprocessors, potentially enabling Sony to cut future R&D spending on semiconductors as well as capital spending in an effort to improve gross margins.
The challenge for Sony is that the Cell chip is SOI-based, currently with only two foundries - IBM and Chartered Semiconductor - able to offer this surface. However, TSMC, in particular, has spent time evaluating fabrication issues using SOI, though it has no current customers using SOI wafers in production.
Though Sony has not made any concrete decision to stop internal production of the Cell chip after the 65nm ramp, currently underway, the news has a sense of ‘fait accompli' about it!
The Reuters story can be viewed here:
Reuters - Sony to slash chip spending
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