Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Partners with Microsoft for Xbox 360 Production

Strategic Insights -

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, one of the world's top dedicated semiconductor foundries, has signed an agreement with Microsoft for the manufacturing of CPU products using 65-nanometer (nm) Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) semiconductor technology for Microsoft's Xbox 360 game consoles. This partnership is a significant milestone for Chartered, demonstrating its ability to manufacture advanced technologies for leading-edge products. Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007, supporting the Xbox 360's growing demand and expanding market reach.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing has signed an agreement with Microsoft for the manufacturing of CPU products using 65nm SOI technology for the Xbox 360 game consoles.
  • Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007, supporting the Xbox 360's growing demand and expanding market reach.
  • Chartered has successfully manufactured 90nm SOI CPU products for the Xbox 360 console's launch through an agreement with IBM.
  • The partnership demonstrates Chartered's ability to work with industry leaders like Microsoft and IBM to enable cutting-edge technologies.
  • Chartered's 300mm manufacturing facility and its partnership with IBM will provide a unique dual-source capability for Superior redundancy and flexibility.
  • The 65nm SOI technology used in the partnership is expected to reduce capacitance and improve the performance of the switches in the Xbox 360's CPU.
  • Larry Yang, General Manager of Xbox Console Development at Microsoft, stated that Chartered's ability to demonstrate the manufacturability of IBM's advanced SOI technology was key to Microsoft's selection.
  • Kay Chai "KC" Ang, senior vice president of fab operations at Chartered, mentioned that the partnership is a recognition of Chartered's 300mm manufacturing excellence and increasing customer confidence in its ability to enable cutting-edge technologies.
  • Chartered's strategy is based on open and comprehensive design enablement solutions, manufacturing enhancement methodologies, and flexible sourcing.

Statistics:

  • 65nm: The technology node used for the manufacturing of CPU products for the Xbox 360 game consoles.
  • 90nm: The technology node used for the successful manufacturing of CPU products for the Xbox 360 console's launch through an agreement with IBM.
  • 2007: The year when production is expected to begin for the manufacturing of CPU products using 65nm SOI technology.
  • 65 nanometers (nm): The size of the Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) layer used in the manufacturing process.
  • 300mm: The size of Chartered's manufacturing facility used for the production of advanced semiconductor devices.
  • 200mm: The size of the other four manufacturing facilities operated by Chartered in Singapore.
  • 45nm: The technology node that Chartered's strategy extends to, as part of its collaborative and joint development approach.

Sources:

  • "Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Microsoft Sign Agreement for Xbox 360 Manufacturing" (no date)
  • "About Chartered" (http://www.charteredsemi.com)
  • U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (no date)