IBM lets Samsung make 7nm processors

IBM is partnering with Samsung to have the Korean company manufacture the processors for IBM’s Power, IBM Z, LinuxONE and hpc systems. Samsung will produce the processors on its 7nm process with euv.

The agreement is an extension of the existing collaboration between IBM and Samsung in the field of semiconductor technology. The companies, together with GlobalFoundries, among others, are part of the IBM Research Alliance and in that capacity they already produced the first 7nm test chip in 2015.

In practice, GlobalFoundries was the party that produced chips for IBM. In 2014 GlobalFoundries took over IBM’s chip division, after which that chipmaker had the exclusive right to make the processors for IBM for a long time.

However, GlobalFoundries announced in the middle of this year that it would stop developing its 3nm, 5nm and 7nm processes, after which IBM had to look for another partner. In November, the rumor appeared that IBM was going to choose TSMC, but that now appears to have become Samsung. The decision is a boost for Samsung, which is struggling to find enough customers for its foundry division. Samsung started its 7nm low power plus process in October, partly using ASML’s EUV machines.