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I know this is a very imperfect question, but I’m curious from an ‘order of magnitude’ perspective, what’s the minimum amount of money involved in getting chips fabbed at TSMC these days? (Does TSMC have a hard minimum order size in terms of $$?)
i.e. Their oldest or lowest cost process*, let’s estimate a run of 10,000 chips at a ‘normal-ish’ die size (100mm2?). Let’s also assume that your chip designer(s) are free, and that you’re using industry standard tools to create cell libraries/transistor layout/etc.
Is $10M USD in the ballpark? $20M? $5M?
*Is Wikipedia correct that TSMC Fab 2 still makes 800nm transistors, on 6” / 150mm wafers?
The effective minimum order size (in terms of cost) for getting chips made at TSMC can vary widely based on several factors including the complexity of the chip design, the technology node (like 7nm, 5nm, etc.), and the volume of chips ordered. Generally, for advanced nodes like 7nm or 5nm, the cost of designing and manufacturing a batch of chips can be quite high, often in the millions of dollars range.
However, TSMC typically works with a range of customers from large corporations ordering millions of chips to smaller companies ordering smaller batches. The exact minimum order size in terms of dollars can depend on negotiations with TSMC, the specific requirements of the customer, and the capabilities of TSMC's manufacturing processes.
For startups or smaller companies, there are often ways to work with TSMC through foundry service providers or through shared-wafer programs that can reduce initial costs and lower the entry barrier. These programs allow multiple customers to share the cost of a single wafer, making it more affordable for smaller orders.
In summary, while there isn't a fixed dollar amount for the minimum order size at TSMC due to the variability in chip designs and production needs, it generally involves significant investment, particularly for advanced technology nodes. Smaller entities can often find ways to collaborate or utilize shared resources to access TSMC's manufacturing capabilities.
