DigiTimes评述：三星据报将以台积电3nm生产英伟达NVHBM基底芯片，引发对三星代工与设计自主权的担忧

Samsung Electronics is reportedly turning to TSMC's 3nm process to produce base dies for Nvidia's custom high-bandwidth memory (NVHBM), abandoning its long-standing turnkey integration model to win a place in Nvidia's supply chain. The move could meet customer requirements, but it is raising concerns in South Korea over Samsung Foundry's competitiveness, HBM design control, and the long-term benefits of internal collaboration.

Concern one: Samsung's turnkey advantage faces pressure
According to industry sources cited by South Korean media outlets inews24 and Insight Korea , Nvidia has asked Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology to use TSMC's 3nm process for base-die production for NVHBM, ensuring design consistency and product stability.
SK Hynix already works with TSMC to produce base dies, while Micron Technology plans to introduce a similar partnership in next-generation products. Samsung, by contrast, still maintains its in-house turnkey strategy for standard HBM products, with the base dies for its recently launched HBM4 and HBM4E products produced using its own foundry processes.
For Samsung, providing memory design, manufacturing, foundry, and packaging services under one roof is a key advantage that differentiates it from competitors. However, if custom HBM products use TSMC's process, Samsung will be unable to fully leverage that integrated advantage for those products.
Concern two: Advanced-process setbacks test Samsung Foundry
Experts said the decision to outsource production is linked to factors including process compatibility and the status of Samsung's internal advanced-process development.
Because SK Hynix uses TSMC's 3nm process to produce HBM base dies, Nvidia may also want Samsung's HBM to use the same process. Samsung's 3-nanometer process previously encountered difficulties in improving initial yields. If Samsung instead used its 4-nanometer, 2-nanometer, or another process, the design would differ, potentially making it more difficult to address performance gaps or product problems.
From Nvidia's perspective, requiring Samsung to use TSMC's 3nm process could be the best way to ensure design consistency and stability. The requirement also highlights the need for Samsung Foundry to further prove its competitiveness.
Concern three: Customer-led design could erode Samsung's autonomy
Another issue is how far customers' process requirements could expand.
As the memory industry shifts from standardized mass production toward co-design with customers, memory companies face challenges beyond manufacturing technology. Next-generation HBM must not only adapt its functions to customer requirements; its production process could also come under customer control.
Memory companies still hold most design authority today. Over the long term, however, if customers design most of the functions in the base die themselves, memory companies could gradually focus on producing the upper-layer core die. That means Samsung could continue winning HBM orders while facing a gradual loss of design autonomy.
Industry observers therefore believe the respective design responsibilities of customer-owned intellectual property (IP) and memory companies must be clearly defined.
Concern four: Internal integration could lose its edge
For Samsung's memory business, choosing an external process could be a pragmatic decision to secure supply and meet customer requirements. From the perspective of Samsung's overall operations, however, if a large share of base-die orders goes to TSMC, Samsung Foundry could lose valuable business opportunities.
Experts therefore believe Samsung must strengthen the competitiveness of its own advanced processes and secure more HBM base-die orders. Doing so would help narrow the gap with TSMC and restore the internal synergies between Samsung's memory and foundry businesses.
Overall, Samsung's decision to involve TSMC in HBM manufacturing reflects a shift in competition across the AI semiconductor market. The key challenge will be meeting Nvidia's requirements while preserving design autonomy and strengthening Samsung Foundry's competitiveness.