Keysight webinar 800x100
WP_Term Object
(
    [term_id] => 158
    [name] => Foundries
    [slug] => semiconductor-manufacturers
    [term_group] => 0
    [term_taxonomy_id] => 158
    [taxonomy] => category
    [description] => 
    [parent] => 0
    [count] => 1249
    [filter] => raw
    [cat_ID] => 158
    [category_count] => 1249
    [category_description] => 
    [cat_name] => Foundries
    [category_nicename] => semiconductor-manufacturers
    [category_parent] => 0
    [is_post] => 
)

Smartphone Processor Trends and​ Process Differences down through 7nm

Smartphone Processor Trends and​ Process Differences down through 7nm
by Fred Chen on 08-30-2020 at 6:00 am

Transistor density process for Huawei and Apple

This comparison of smartphone processors from different companies and fab processes was originally going to be a post, but with the growing information content, I had to put it into an article. Here, due to information availability, Apple, Huawei, and Samsung Exynos processors will get the most coverage, but a few Qualcomm Snapdragon

Read More

Inside a Counterfeit 8086 Processor

Inside a Counterfeit 8086 Processor
by Ken Shirriff on 08-19-2020 at 2:00 pm

Fake Intel 8086 CPU

Intel introduced the 8086 processor in 1978, leading to the x86 architecture in use today. I’m currently reverse-engineering the circuitry of the 8086 so I’ve been purchasing vintage 8086 chips off eBay. One chip I received is shown below. From the outside, it looks like a typical Intel 8086.

The package of the fake
Read More

A “Super” Technology Mid-life Kicker for Intel

A “Super” Technology Mid-life Kicker for Intel
by Tom Dillinger on 08-17-2020 at 10:00 am

TigerLake WillowCove

Summary
At the recent Intel Architecture Day 2020 symposium, a number of technology enhancements to the Intel 10nm process node were introduced.  The cumulative effect of these enhancements would provide designs with a performance boost (at iso-power) approaching 20% – a significant intra-node enhancement, to be sure.  The… Read More


Intel 10nm SuperFin Technology!

Intel 10nm SuperFin Technology!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-17-2020 at 6:00 am

Refining FinFet Intel SuperFin

I made it through the Virtual Intel Architecture Day last week and much to my surprise it was very well done. Virtual events have been hit and miss but this one was definitely a hit. Great content, approachable experts, a glitch-free experience. The mainstream media has been redundantly covering it so let me add my many years of experience,… Read More


Is a US Semiconductor Manufacturing Revival on the Way?

Is a US Semiconductor Manufacturing Revival on the Way?
by Anish Tolia on 08-13-2020 at 9:00 am

Is a US Semiconductor Manufacturing Revival on the Way

Two bits of recent news has excited people in the semiconductor manufacturing space. First TSMC (bit.ly/384joVr) announced their intention to invest $12 B dollars in a Fab in Arizona. Then came the Corona-driven bipartisan proposed $23B federal government investment in semiconductor manufacturing (nyti.ms/2YZzFqnl). … Read More


Should India Invest in Semiconductor Manufacturing?

Should India Invest in Semiconductor Manufacturing?
by Terry Daly on 08-11-2020 at 6:00 am

Semiconductors Made in India

Cyber security, economic growth, government leadership and industry support must be weighed

The debate
A healthy public debate is underway as to whether India should invest in semiconductor manufacturing. PVG Menon, former chair of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, supports the objective as part of a full… Read More


Murphy’s Law vs Moore’s Law: How Intel Lost its Dominance in the Computer Industry

Murphy’s Law vs Moore’s Law: How Intel Lost its Dominance in the Computer Industry
by Michael Bruck on 08-06-2020 at 6:00 am

Intel INTC SemiWiki

Last week, Intel announced its second-quarter financial results which easily beat the analysts’ consensus expectations by a handsome margin. Yet the stock price plummeted by over 16% right after the earnings call with management. Seven analysts downgraded the stock to a sell and the common theme on all the downgrades was that… Read More


Designing AI Accelerators with Innovative FinFET and FD-SOI Solutions

Designing AI Accelerators with Innovative FinFET and FD-SOI Solutions
by Daniel Nenni on 07-29-2020 at 10:00 am

Globalfoundries AI Webinar Hiren Majmudar

I had the pleasure of spending time with Hiren Majmudar in preparation for the upcoming AI Accelerators webinar. As far as webinars go this will be one of the better ones we have done. Hiren has deep experience in both semiconductors and EDA during his lengthy career at Intel and now with a pure play foundry. He is intelligent, personable,… Read More


Thermo-compression bonding for Large Stacked HBM Die

Thermo-compression bonding for Large Stacked HBM Die
by Tom Dillinger on 07-24-2020 at 8:00 am

HMB stack

Summary

Thermo-compression bonding is used in heterogeneous 3D packaging technology – this attach method was applied to the assembly of large (12-stack and 16-stack) high bandwidth memory (HBM) die, with significant bandwidth and power improvements over traditional microbump attach.

Introduction

The rapid growth of heterogeneous… Read More


Intel 7NM Slip Causes Reassessment of Fab Model

Intel 7NM Slip Causes Reassessment of Fab Model
by Robert Maire on 07-23-2020 at 5:00 pm

Intel vs TSMC

Waving white surrender flag as TSMC dominates-
The quarter was a success but the patient is dying-
Packaging now critical as Moore progress stumbles-
Intel reported a great quarter but weak H2 guidance-
But 7NM slip and “fab lite” talk sends shockwaves-

Intel reported a great quarter beating numbers all around with… Read More