Thread

Fujitsu launches made-in-Japan next-generation CPU FUJITSU-MONAKA

633 points · 254 comments · my123

Youden · 1789653000 · focus · HN ↗
Where are the CPUs fabbed? They make a big deal about "sovereign" but is the CPU actually made in Japan, or do they rely on TSMC?
Also odd how big an emphasis they put on AI inference when they don't build the GPU?
1. Max-q · 1789653139 · focus · HN ↗
  The article says that it’s manufactured in Japan.
  1. ranger_danger · 1789653424 · focus · HN ↗
    where exactly does it say that? I don't consider "designed and developed in Japan" to be the same as manufactured there
    bradyd · 1789653546 · focus · HN ↗
    At the very top of the article: "Achieving world-class AI inference performance through Japan-developed 2nm 3D-stacked CPU and server integrated, developed, and manufactured in Japan"
    [deleted] · 1789653783 · focus · HN ↗
    [deleted]
    sgerenser · 1789653822 · focus · HN ↗
    "Japan-developed CPU..." plus the server itself (parts, power supplies, case, etc.) integrated, developed and manufactured in Japan. It sounds like they're weasel-wording it a bit, but I don't think the CPU itself is manufactured in Japan, only "developed."
    tecleandor · 1789654227 · focus · HN ↗
    Yep. I'd say the CPU is manufactured outside, and the rest of the server in Japan.
    tremon · 1789654361 · focus · HN ↗
    Combining info from <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49740907">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49740907 and <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49740901">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49740901, it seems that they're relying on TSMC for the first batch and are planning to move production to JASM once that's ready?
    [deleted] · 1789653844 · focus · HN ↗
    [deleted]
    hobofan · 1789654334 · focus · HN ↗
    Pretty sure it's worded in a way that it applies only to the server, so it should be read as two distinct things:
    - Japan-developed 2nm 3D-stacked CPU
    - server integrated, developed, and manufactured in Japan
    dopa42365 · 1789656925 · focus · HN ↗
    Ever seen the phrase "diffused in Taiwan, assembled in Malaysia"?
2. nicce · 1789653469 · focus · HN ↗
  > put on AI inference when they don't build the GPU?
  GPU in AI world is essentially a set of specific matrix calculations that this CPU supports on hardware-level. Thought memory speed seems low.
3. DashAnimal · 1789653749 · focus · HN ↗
  According to a Feb press release, they're fabbed by TSMC:
  > For FUJITSU-MONAKA, the 2nm semiconductors will tape out next year. Due to this, Rapidus would be unable to meet the deadline, so TSMC is handling the manufacturing.
  Source: <a href="https://global.fujitsu/en-global/pr/news/2026/02/12-01?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">https://global.fujitsu/en-global/pr/news/2026/02/12-01?utm_s...
  According to Rapidus webpage, they are explicitly starting mass production of their 2nm in 2027.
  Source: <a href="https://www.rapidus.inc/en/iim/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.rapidus.inc/en/iim/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. adrian_b · 1789663829 · focus · HN ↗
  Their CPUs are faster at inference than many GPUs. These are server CPUs with 144 cores and wide memory interface.
  Fujitsu has added some ISA extensions for AI inference to the standard Arm ISA, e.g. instructions for inference with FP8.
  Even their previous CPU generation was for some time the champion in energy efficiency, with better performance per watt than the NVIDIA GPUs, until a newer generation of NVIDIA GPUs has leapfrogged them.
  There are good chances that this new Fujitsu CPU might be again for some time the CPU with the best energy efficiency, but it remains to be seen how it compares with the recent GPUs.
5. tonyhart7 · 1789673767 · focus · HN ↗
  Yeah but TSMC have fab on japan soil
  so its as sovereign as you can get
  1. LtdJorge · 1789688247 · focus · HN ↗
    Not for 2nm

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.