TSMC to build Tera's MTA microprocessors

Seattle, 21 October 98 Tera Computer Company has chosen Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to build its Multithreaded Architecture (MTA) microprocessors to be used in future MTA systems. Tera plans to phase in CMOS technology over the next couple of years. Its initial CMOS microprocessor will replace all 24 gallium arsenide ASICs in the current MTA processor implementation.

Tera plans to phase in CMOS technology over the next few years. In Tera's current design 128 hardware threads are planned. With CMOS technology Tera hopes to quickly and easily move up the production curve.

Key to Tera's choice of TSMC as its foundry is TSMC's ability to deliver the 3.61 square centimeters die on a 0.25 micron process critical to CMOS technology TSMC offers IC fabrication processes, including the manufacture of CMOS logic, mixed-mode, volatile and non-volatile memory and BiCMOS chips.

Currently, TSMC operates two six-inch and three eight-inch wafer fabrication plants in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. In mid-1998, TSMC announced that production wafers were being delivered from its first U.S foundry, WaferTech, a joint venture with Altera, Analog Devices and Integrated Silicon Solution. The company has broken ground for fabrication plants 6 and 7.

Sandra Wermer