NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:NETL), a leader in the design and development
of knowledge-based processors and high-speed integrated circuits, and Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TWSE:2330) (NYSE:TSM) (TSMC) today
announced their collaboration on the industry-leading 40nm-G semiconductor process
technology for NetLogic Microsystems' next-generation advanced knowledge-based
processors and 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet physical layer (PHY) solutions. NetLogic
Microsystems is one of first companies to tape-out and sample multiple silicon
products in TSMC's advanced 40nm technology node.
NetLogic Microsystems is currently sampling its NLP2040 and NLP3040 PHY devices,
the industry's first single-die quad-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
PHY devices, both of which are manufactured in the advanced 40nm process to
deliver the highest performance and lowest power consumption for next-generation
switches, routers and blade servers addressing the data center, enterprise networking,
storage and service provider markets. In addition, NetLogic Microsystems is
sampling the leading-edge NLP10000, the industry's first 100 Gigabit Ethernet
PHY solution, which is also manufactured in the advanced 40nm process and offers
customers unprecedented scalability for data-center, metro and long haul applications
that require a 10X increase in performance while maximizing energy efficiency.
NetLogic Microsystems will also be taping out its next-generation knowledge-based
processor, the NL11000 device, in TSMC's 40nm process. The NL11000 knowledge-based
processor will offer significantly higher performance, lower power and cost
advantages as a result of the close collaboration with TSMC. NetLogic Microsystems
has developed a suite of custom circuits optimized around TSMC's 40nm
node, including high-speed serial interface technology, analog and clocking
circuitry, core processing elements and other standard cells, as well as refining
the design and tape-out flow for this node.
This collaboration extends upon the long-standing relationship between TSMC
and NetLogic Microsystems on the use of advanced cost-effective half-node technologies,
including 55nm, 80nm and 110nm. The companies expect to broaden the relationship
to include the high-performance Multi-Core, Multi-Threaded Processor product
line from RMI Corporation, with which NetLogic Microsystems has entered into
a definitive agreement to merge. RMI recently announced the industry's
most advanced multi-core, multi-threaded processor, the XLP™ processor,
which is also being designed on TSMC's 40nm-G technology, providing synergies
between the NetLogic Microsystems and RMI in custom IP and cell development
on this node, as well as verification and tape-out cross-experience. RMI's
use of the TSMC 40nm node will provide them with significant power, performance
and cost advantages over competitive designs which use the 65nm node. The merger
with RMI is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2009.
The worldwide growth in broadband services and rich media content has resulted
in significant bandwidth demands on carrier optical transport networks (OTN),
as well as access aggregation networks for PON, DSL, cable, 3G/4G mobile wireless
and WiMAX. In addition, major data center network managers are moving to increase
network throughputs to 40/100GE in order to support the exponential demand for
video, peer-to-peer and virtualization services. The 40nm process node helps
NetLogic Microsystems further enhance its technology leadership, and provide
its customers the ability to drive enhanced value and increased functionality
at every performance level. Compared with 65nm technology, 40nm technology offers
50% smaller die size, 30% lower power and 30% higher performance.
"We are pleased to continue our close collaboration with TSMC on its
most advanced process nodes," said Ron Jankov, president and CEO at NetLogic
Microsystems. "The long-standing relationship with TSMC as our reliable
foundry partner and the migration of our products to the latest 40nm-G process
technology demonstrate our continued commitment to developing and delivering
best-in-class products to our customers worldwide."
"We are delighted to once again be working with NetLogic Microsystems
as one of the lead customers for our advanced 40nm technology node," said
Rick Cassidy, president of TSMC North America. "This is a significant
achievement for NetLogic Microsystems to so quickly migrate their highly complex,
high logic density and very high performance products to our 40nm-G process.
The performance, cost and power benefits of our advanced 40nm technology will
provide significant benefits to the innovative technologies in NetLogic Microsystems'
industry-leading knowledge-based processors, 10/40/100G PHY solutions and RMI's
advanced multi-core, multi-threaded processors, enabling Tier One OEMs to develop
next-generation systems that power tomorrow's Internet networks."
NetLogic Microsystems is now sampling its NL11000 product in 40nm and has starting
shipments of its quad-port 10GE PHY and 100 GE PHY in 40nm. For pricing or delivery
details, please contact sales@netlogicmicro.com.