The meaningful and single sentence description of “node or process technology” is closely connected to performance. It really matters for consumption of power and delivering how fast it can make the process.
TSMC, belonging from Taiwan, now producing N3P node process chips, means 3nm technology based chip. While Intel’s 18A node which is 1.8nm process technology looks comparable between N3P nodes, TSMC believed.
TSMC’s 2nm technology will beat 18A node of Intel
That time we were comparing between 3nm nodes and 1.8nn nodes. Now the turn for TSMC’s N2 nodes, that bears exactly 2nm technology process while Intel 18A is comparable with previous N3P nodes. The TSMC’s N2 nodes, 2nm process technology is completely faster than the 18A (1.8nm process).
The smaller nodes basically means to deal with power efficiency, less time consuming and data transfer. When a chip will process on more small nodes, it will give more convenient performance compared to bigger nodes.
Intel is going under plan to introduce their 20A (2nn technology node) and 18A (1.8nm node) technology in the next five quarters. While the TSMC planned to start their N2 nodes (2nm technology process) in the second quarter of 2025. And its N3P nodes will be used in high volume in 2025 or early.
The smaller nodes basically consume less power, deliver better performance and take less area that enhances data transfer, that is PPA in word. The present 3nm process technology based chip by TSMC, Bionic A17 Pro has a total 19 billion transistors. While the 4nm process chip only has 16 billion transistors. In terms of PPA higher transistors (means less nanometer node) give comparatively better performance.
Upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is going to be introduced on October 24 to 26 process on TSMC’s 3nm technology.
Source: (1)