Glossary
Process node
The semiconductor manufacturing generation used to fabricate a chip. Smaller nominal numbers (3nm, 2nm) generally mean better power efficiency and density — but the marketing names no longer map to physical gate length.
Process node names (TSMC N3, Samsung 3GAP, Intel 18A) once corresponded to a feature size in nanometers. Now they are marketing labels — each foundry uses its own naming logic.
Rough equivalencies (2026)
- TSMC N3 / N3E — Apple M5, Snapdragon 8 Elite, Ryzen 9000.
- TSMC N2 — Apple M6 expected, server first.
- Samsung 3GAP — Exynos, Tensor.
- Intel 18A — Panther Lake; competitive with TSMC N3.
Why it matters
A newer node lets the same chip run faster, cooler, or with more cores in the same power budget. Real-world impact: 15–25% perf/watt improvement per generation — significant for laptops and phones, modest for desktops.
The marketing names lie; transistor density figures (MTr/mm²) are the honest comparison.
Where this matters
Categories that use process node
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