The Future of Chip and Substrate Fabrication: Glass Substrates on the Horizon

Chip and substrate fabrication may not always be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, but the potential for significant performance and efficiency improvements makes it a topic worth exploring. Recent reports suggest that AMD is considering the introduction of glass substrates between 2025 and 2026, signaling a potential shift in the industry.

Using glass substrates for chiplet-to-chiplet and chip-to-motherboard communication offers a range of advantages. Compared to traditional organic substrates, glass substrates provide a flatter surface, increased durability, and easier integration of interconnects. This could result in more chiplets in a smaller footprint, higher interconnect density, faster IO, higher power efficiency, and larger packaging options.

While AMD is in the process of evaluating glass substrate samples from various semiconductor substrate companies, mass production is still on the horizon. Samsung and Intel are also gearing up for glass substrate production by 2026, suggesting a potential industry-wide shift towards this advanced technology. If AMD plans to introduce glass substrate chips by 2025 or 2026, collaboration with manufacturers like Samsung could be key.

It is unlikely that glass substrates will immediately feature in consumer-grade gaming CPUs or regular desktop chips. The benefits of glass substrates are more pronounced in complex, multi-chip packages, making them ideal for applications in AI and HPC data centers. AMD’s EPYC lineup, with its interconnected chiplets, presents a suitable platform for integrating glass substrate technology in the future.

As the industry explores the potential of glass substrates, the timeline for their widespread adoption remains uncertain. While AMD’s next generation of EPYC processors is expected to continue using organic substrates, the introduction of glass substrates could revolutionize the field of chip and substrate fabrication. Stay informed about the latest developments in semiconductor technology, as innovation continues to drive progress in the industry.