IBM pushes the boundaries and unveils the world’s first 2nm computer chip
Moore's Law is still grinding out gains, but they're getting harder and more expensive to realise.
Key takeaways
- Compared to today’s 7nm chips, the new IBM technology features dramatically more transistors, thanks to the more compact design.
- For comparison, TSMC’s most advanced chips, built using its 5nm process, feature about 173 million transistors per square millimeter (MTr/mm2), while Samsung’s 5nm chips feature about 127 MTr/mm2.
- TSMC and Samsung, as mentioned before, produce 5nm chips right now.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) 'IBM pushes the boundaries and unveils the world’s first 2nm computer chip', 311 Institute, 15 May. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/ibm-pushes-the-boundaries-and-unveils-the-worlds-first-2nm-computer-chip/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
A year or so after Chinese researchers unveiled the world's first 3nm computer chip, and four years after IBM unveiled their 5nm chip design, IBM has now revealed what it says are the world’s first 2nm process chips, giving a brief preview of the technology that might eventually power the smartphones, laptops, and gadgets of the future. And, as this technology emerges from the lab, even smaller transistors, just 1nm, 0.5nm, and even 0nm in size, as well as liquid transistors, are being prototyped as researchers try to keep Moore’s Law alive.
The big jump here is in transistor count. Compared to today’s 7nm chips, the new IBM technology features dramatically more transistors, thanks to the more compact design. That means chips built using that process can potentially offer big gains in performance and battery life: IBM says its 2nm chips are “projected to achieve 45 percent higher performance, or 75 percent lower energy use, than today’s most advanced 7 nm node chips.”
The new 2nm wafer
According to AnandTech, IBM’s new 2nm chip features about 333 million transistors per square millimeter (MTr/mm2). For comparison, TSMC’s most advanced chips, built using its 5nm process, feature about 173 million transistors per square millimeter (MTr/mm2), while Samsung’s 5nm chips feature about 127 MTr/mm2.
While that all sounds great, it’s important to remember that IBM’s 2nm chip is largely just a proof of concept and that processors build on the 2nm node are still likely years away.
TSMC and Samsung, as mentioned before, produce 5nm chips right now. Intel is still struggling to get its 7nm node out the door. And even TSMC doesn’t expect to get to 2nm for some time: it’s currently planning to start early production of its 4nm chip process by the end of the year, with mass production in 2022, per AnandTech. Its 3nm node isn’t expected until the second half of 2022, with 2nm chips still in relatively early development. And all of that assumes that semiconductor companies don’t run into delays — just ask Intel, which has seen any number of manufacturing hiccups over the past decade or so.
Still, it’s a tantalising glimpse at the future of semiconductor technology, and even though it may take some time to achieve on a mass-production scale, IBM’s announcement shows that there’s still plenty to be excited about when it comes to new chips.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Moore's Law is still grinding out gains, but they're getting harder and more expensive to realise.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on computing and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- IBM has now revealed newsroom.ibm.com
- According to AnandTech anandtech.com
- struggling to get its 7nm node tomshardware.com
- Tsmc update 2nm in development 3nm 4nm on track for 2022 anandtech.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 May 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). IBM pushes the boundaries and unveils the world’s first 2nm computer chip. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/ibm-pushes-the-boundaries-and-unveils-the-worlds-first-2nm-computer-chip/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.