AMD has reportedly signed a contract with Globalfoundries to manufacture its new graphics processing unit that will be released later this year, the GPU will be made using GF's 14nm FinFET process. Samsung isn't directly involved in the production and yet it's going to earn substantial licensing profits off of this contract considering the fact that it owns Globalfoundries' 14nm FinFET technology.
Industry sources cited in a report from Korea say that AMD's next-generation “Greenland” GPU will be manufactured at GF from the second quarter of this year, apparently it chose Globalfoundries over TSMC to ensure the safety of the 14nm FinFET process. The 14nm FinFET process generally provides 50 to 60% higher energy efficiency and up to 25% performance gains as opposed to the 28nm planar process. The deal between these two companies will prove to be beneficial for Samsung as well since it established a strategic partnership with Globalfoundries in 2014, it provided the 14nm FinFET technology to capture clients such as Qualcomm and Apple in North America. Even though Samsung won't be producing the GPU, many are still of the view that the company may help out with production at its plant in Austin, particularly if yield rates from Globalfoundries are not up to the mark.
