Alexander Savenkov In recent reports, Samsung’s 3-nanometer (nm) Gate-All-Around (GAA) semiconductor was found in use, a year following its release. There was no previous record of the technology being utilized before. Techinsights discovered Samsung’s 3nm chip in Microbt’s Whatsminer M56S++, a bitcoin mining rig with a hash rate of around 230 to 254 terahash per second (TH/s).
Research Highlights Use of Samsung’s Advanced 3nm GAA Chip in Microbt’s Mining Rig
Microbt’s forthcoming mining device, the Whatsminer M56S++, allegedly incorporates Samsung’s most recent semiconductor technology. Techinsights revealed that the mining rig’s application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) was crafted using Samsung’s SF3E process. The report emphasized that despite Samsung’s 3nm GAA semiconductor process being available for about a year, this is the first time a chip using this technology has been identified in the market.
According to Techinsights researchers, commercial use of GAA technology could potentially facilitate the creation of 2nm chips and beyond. “This advancement is pivotal as it has the capacity to bolster performance, augment energy efficiency, comply with Moore’s Law, and foster advanced applications,” Techinsights explained. The report further elucidates, confirming suspicions that Samsung is indeed the semiconductor supplier for Microbt — an assertion that had been subject to conjecture for some time.
By contrast, it is believed that Microbt’s competitor, Bitmain, procures chips from the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). It’s not the first instance of state-of-the-art chip technology being uncovered in bitcoin (BTC) mining rigs. Techinsights identified the SMIC 7nm process in a Minerva bitcoin mining chip. Eric Chen, a semiconductor research analyst at Digitimes Asia, suggested that while this discovery can be categorized as commercialization, its scale could be limited.
“Earning revenues from shipments can be termed as ‘commercialization’, but ASIC is a relatively straightforward type of chip to manufacture, with regard to architecture,” Chen commented. Analyst John Wang from Digitimes stated that the yield from Samsung’s 3nm GAA process is currently low. As a result, Wang speculates that the tech behemoth is likely seeking a wider customer base to improve its methods and increase yield. Techinsights’ report ends by addressing the ambiguity concerning the use of Samsung’s 3nm chips in any other hardware devices presently on the market.
What’s your take on Samsung’s 3nm process being unearthed in Microbt’s Whatsminer M56S++? Please share your thoughts and views on this topic in the comments section below.
Table Of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Samsung’s 3nm GAA Chip
What is the significance of Samsung’s 3nm GAA chip being discovered in Microbt’s Whatsminer M56S++?
This is significant because it marks the first known application of Samsung’s 3nm GAA semiconductor technology. Despite being available for about a year, no previous usage of this advanced technology had been confirmed.
Who is the manufacturer of the Whatsminer M56S++ mining rig that is using Samsung’s 3nm chip?
The Whatsminer M56S++ mining rig is manufactured by Microbt.
What is the estimated hash rate of the Whatsminer M56S++?
The Whatsminer M56S++ is capable of producing an estimated 230 to 254 terahash per second (TH/s).
How could the commercialization of GAA technology influence future semiconductor production?
The commercialization of GAA technology could potentially facilitate the production of 2nm chips and beyond. This development is seen as crucial for enhancing performance, improving energy efficiency, and enabling advanced applications, while keeping pace with Moore’s Law.
What has been the response of industry experts to the discovery of Samsung’s 3nm GAA chip in the Whatsminer M56S++?
While experts like Eric Chen and John Wang from Digitimes acknowledge the significance of this discovery as a commercialization of Samsung’s 3nm GAA technology, they also noted that the ASIC, used in the mining rig, is a relatively simple chip to produce, and that the current yield from Samsung’s 3nm process remains low.
Who is the assumed supplier of chips for Bitmain, the rival of Microbt?
It is believed that Bitmain, a rival to Microbt, utilizes chips supplied by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
More about Samsung’s 3nm GAA Chip
- Samsung’s 3nm GAA Chip
- Microbt’s Whatsminer M56S++
- Techinsights’ Report
- Digitimes Asia
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
- Bitmain
6 comments
Yeah this is cool, but don’t forget, yield’s still low from samsungs 3nm GAA. They still got work to do. Can’t wait to see what happens though!
really didn’t expect to see 3nm technology in use so soon. Go Samsung! Keep up the good work.
Huh, interesting stuff. Wonder how this’ll affect bitcoin mining and market… could be huge!
ASIC is simple to produce, true. But the fact that Samsung’s tech is finally in use is what matters. Waiting to see more applications of 3nm tech soon.
Wow, I didn’t know Samsung’s 3nm GAA chip is now being used. This could really be a game changer!
I’m impressed! If Microbt’s rig works well with this chip, it could mean more efficient and powerful mining machines in the future.