Samsung foundry turning to RISC-V core chips

Samsung Electronics’ foundry division appears to be preparing to produce RISC-V-based core chips in a joint effort with SemiFive, marking the first time for the department to apply a non-ARM core IP to its procedures.

On Oct. 11, SemiFive head Cho Myung-hyun said that the firm is developing chip designing solution based on Samsung’s 14nm LPP technology-based design solutions.

SemiFive is the Korea-based affiliate of US-based semiconductor startup SiFive.

This means Samsung’s foundry division would become capable of manufacturing RISC-V core chips.
In order for foundries to create a specific core product, they need the IP for that specific procedure. Until now, Samsung had only possessed the IP to the ARM core. With the RISC-V technology, the firm is likely to supply to more fabless clients.

Taiwan’s TSMC – the largest chip foundry maker in the world – has already applied the RISC-V core to its production procedures.

More global investors and chip makers are paying attention to RISC-V core chips. Reflecting the changing perspective, SiFive attained 150 billion won worth of investment from companies such as Samsung, Intel and Qualcomm. There are currently more than 100 chip projects based on the RISC-V core, while another 250 or so of firms and organizations have become a part of its eco-system.

The Elec is South Korea’s No.1 tech news platform.