Tech Forum, February 5, features 32/28-, 20-, 14-, and 10-nanometer processes

Tech Forum, February 5, features 32/28-, 20-, 14-, and 10-nanometer processes
by Daniel Nenni on 01-04-2013 at 7:00 pm

The Common Platform Alliance — IBM, Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., and GLOBALFOUNDRIES — continues to redefine the landscape of the semiconductor industry with its groundbreaking collaboration. Join us at our 2013 Common Platform Technology Forumon Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at the Santa Clara Convention Center as we showcaseRead More


Happy New Year from SemiWiki!

Happy New Year from SemiWiki!
by Daniel Nenni on 01-01-2013 at 7:05 pm

It was an amazing year for SemiWiki and I would like to sincerely thank all who participated. SemiWiki traffic doubled again which is amazing in itself. SemiWiki membership more than tripled as we continue to add vertical markets (EDA, IP, Services, Foundry). More people are blogging on SemiWiki and the Forums and Wikis are coming… Read More


Intel 22nm SoC Process Exposed!

Intel 22nm SoC Process Exposed!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-27-2012 at 9:00 pm

The biggest surprise embedded in the Intel 22nm SoC disclosure is that they still do NOT use Double Patterning which is a big fat hairy deal if you are serious about the SoC foundry business. The other NOT so surprising thing I noticed in reviewing the blogosphere response is that the industry term FinFET was dominant while the Intel… Read More


A Brief History of Berkeley Design Automation

A Brief History of Berkeley Design Automation
by Daniel Nenni on 12-18-2012 at 1:00 pm

Analog, mixed-signal, RF, and custom digital circuitry implemented in GHz nanometer CMOS introduce a new class of design and verification challenges that traditional transistor‑level simulators cannot adequately address. Berkeley Design Automation, Inc., (BDA) was founded in 2003 by Amit Mehrotra and Amit Narayan,… Read More


TSMC 28nm and 20nm Update Q4 2012

TSMC 28nm and 20nm Update Q4 2012
by Daniel Nenni on 12-16-2012 at 7:00 pm

The big news in Taiwan last week was another increase in TSMC capital expenditures to $9B in 2013. That number could grow however. Last year TSMC CAPEX was set at $6B and ended up at $8.3B due to rapid 28nm capacity expansion and an accelerated 20nm program. 2013 will be all about FinFETs and manufacturing Apple SoCs so $9B may not cover… Read More


A Brief History of Synopsys

A Brief History of Synopsys
by Daniel Nenni on 12-12-2012 at 1:00 pm

One of the largest software companies in the world, Synopsys is a market and technology leader in the development and sale of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and semiconductor intellectual property (IP). Synopsys is also a strong supporter of local education through the Synopsys Outreach Foundation. Each year in multiple… Read More


HP Loses Its Autonomy!

HP Loses Its Autonomy!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-09-2012 at 9:00 pm

HP buys Autonomy for $11B then does an $8.8B writedown?!?!?! Was HP swindled by Autonomy? As a long time HP customer I’m outraged by this behavior. Not just the over priced acquisition but the behavior of HP on a whole! Even today 4 of the 6 laptops in my house are HP as are my printers. How am I supposed to buy HP products with a straight … Read More


Apple Will NOT Manufacture SoCs at Intel

Apple Will NOT Manufacture SoCs at Intel
by Daniel Nenni on 12-09-2012 at 5:00 pm

The internet is a funny place where rumors are true and truths are rumors. The latest one has Apple using Intel as a foundry. This is fuel for the rivalry between SemiWiki blogger Ed McKernan and me. Ed says Apple will use Intel, I say Apple will use TSMC, we have a very expensive dinner riding on this one.

TSMC falls on possible competitionRead More


A Brief History of the Fabless Semiconductor Ecosystem

A Brief History of the Fabless Semiconductor Ecosystem
by Daniel Nenni on 12-05-2012 at 7:00 pm

Clearly the fabless semiconductor ecosystem is driving the semiconductor industry and is responsible for both the majority of the innovation and the sharp decline in consumer electronics costs we have experienced. By definition, a fabless semiconductor company does not have to spend the time and money on manufacturing related… Read More


Tanner EDA Tops 1,200 Active Customers!

Tanner EDA Tops 1,200 Active Customers!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-22-2012 at 8:33 pm

It is always nice to see when an EDA company grows organically, versus inorganically by acquiring friends and foes. It is also nice to see when an EDA company invests in the fabless semiconductor ecosystem because, as we know, we are all in this together.

Tanner EDA celebrated its 25th anniversary this year by adding 149 new customers… Read More