VR-Zone

It was bound to happen. AMD are less than pleased with TSMC's 40nm process, and the rumour mill have since declared that it is just a matter of time before AMD moves GPU production to Globalfoundries, at least to some extent. The transition from TSMC to Globalfoundries will begin as early as 2011 and the 28nm process.

According to Dirk Meyer, CEO AMD, “The first intersection of our AMD GPUs and Globalfoundries are on the 28nm."

ATI's next refresh is Southern Islands, which will continue to be a TSMC 40nm GPU, as a transition to the next major generation, and the first major architecture since R600 - Northern Islands. NI is set to be a 28nm product. Initially a 32nm GPU set for release in late 2009, following TSMC's cancellation of 32nm it has now been pushed back to 2011, with the transitional Southern Islands covering the gap.

It is clear now that at least some Northern Islands GPUs will be built at Globalfoundries' 28nm HP Bulk process. Glofo and TSMC are both set to ramp 28nm production sometime in 2011. Till then, we are stuck with TSMC's 40nm.

Reference: Xbitlabs