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In short: Whereas masking a wide range of topics throughout his keynote at Nvidia’s GTC, CEO Jensen Huang briefly touched on the corporate’s GPU roadmap past the upcoming Rubin structure. The Feynman technology and people who comply with will seemingly undertake semiconductor nodes that includes gate-all-around (GAA) transistors – the subsequent evolution in transistor expertise after FinFET.
Throughout a Q&A session on the GPU Know-how Convention, Huang estimated a roughly 20% efficiency uplift from transitioning to GAA structure. His feedback provide an early indication of the corporate’s expectations for future graphics chip designs.
Semiconductor producers comparable to TSMC and Intel have touted GAA transistors as a key expertise for course of nodes past 3nm. Current nodes, together with 3nm, have employed FinFET, a construction the place the transistor gate surrounds the present channel on three sides. Nevertheless, as bleeding-edge transistors shrink and grow to be extra densely packed in superior nodes, electrical leakage turns into a rising concern.
Additionally see: How CPUs are built, the design process – touches on the basics of how transistors work
GAA addresses this subject by stacking present channels vertically, rising the entire channel space whereas permitting gates to encompass the channels on all 4 sides. Though the method is costlier, it enhances each efficiency and vitality effectivity.
Intel’s upcoming 18A node will introduce GAA with Panther Lake laptop computer CPUs and Clearwater Forest server processors later this 12 months. TSMC plans to undertake GAA for its 2nm N2 course of, which is nearing production and is anticipated to debut within the iPhone 18 Professional’s A20 SoC in late 2026.
At GTC, Huang formally revealed Nvidia’s subsequent GPU technology, Vera Rubin, which will likely be constructed on TSMC’s N3 node and is anticipated to grow to be obtainable to enterprise shoppers subsequent 12 months. He additionally shared early particulars about Rubin’s successor, Feynman, which is anticipated to reach in 2028.
Though info on Feynman’s semiconductor course of is forthcoming, it is prone to make the most of a 2nm-class node, although Nvidia may additionally consider Intel’s 18A. In both case, GAA will likely be a key part. Huang remarked that whereas a 20% efficiency increase from GAA is not revolutionary, “we’ll take what we will get.”
In the meantime, backside power delivery is emerging as one other important expertise for sub-3nm nodes. TSMC is just not anticipated to implement it till the next node referred to as A16 starting 2026, whereas Intel will introduce its model with 18A later this 12 months.
Apparently, through the GTC Q&A, Huang additionally described Nvidia as an “AI infrastructure company.” Whereas Nvidia rose to prominence for its gaming GPUs, the AI increase has propelled the worth of its enterprise division into the multi-trillion-dollar range.
