224 Gbps PAM4 gets attention for applications such as data center, AI/ML, accelerated computing, instrumentation and test and measurement. The question is how real is it and what are the challenges that need to be overcome to implement reliable channels at that data rate? If you wonder about these kinds of topics for your next design,… Read More
Webinar: Samtec and Achronix Expand AI in the Data Center
The performance demands of data centers continue to grow, driven to large degree by the ubiquitous use of complex AI algorithms. On April 25, Embedded Computing Design held an informative webinar on this topic. Two experts looked at the problem from the standpoint of processor architecture and communication strategies, which… Read More
Oops, we did it again! Memory Companies Investment Strategy
We are in the semiconductor market phase where everybody disagrees on what is going on. The market is up; the market is down. Mobile phones are up…. oh no, now they are down. The PC market is up—oh no, we need to wait until we can get an AI PC. The inflation is high—the consumer is not buying.
For us in the industry, the 13-week financial … Read More
An Enduring Growth Challenge for Formal Verification
A high-quality verification campaign including methods able to absolutely prove the correctness of critical design behaviors as a complement to mainstream dynamic verification? At first glance this should be a no-brainer. Formal verification offers that option and formal adoption has been growing steadily, now used in around… Read More
KLAC- Past bottom of cycle- up from here- early positive signs-packaging upside
– KLA reported a good QTR but more importantly passing the bottom
– Lead times mean KLA gets orders early in up cycle-just behind ASML
– Potential upside in upcycle as packaging needs more process control
– 2024 2nd half weighted with stronger recovery likely in 2025
A solid quarter as expected with good
… Read MoreNvidia Sells while Intel Tells
AMD’s Q1-2024 financial results are out, prompting us to delve into the Data Center Processing market. This analysis, usually reserved for us Semiconductor aficionados, has taken on a new dimension. The rise of AI products, now the gold standard for semiconductor companies, has sparked a revolution in the industry, making… Read More
LRCX- Mediocre, flattish, long, U shaped bottom- No recovery in sight yet-2025?
– Lam reports another flat quarter & guide- No recovery in sight yet
– Seems like no expectation of recovery until 2025- Mixed results
– DRAM good- NAND weak- Foundry/Logic mixed-Mature weakening
– Clearly disappointing to investors & stock hoping for a chip recovery
Another Flat Quarter &
… Read MoreIntel High NA Adoption
On Friday April 12th Intel held a press briefing on their adoption of High NA EUV with Intel fellow and director of lithography Mark Phillips.
In 1976 Intel built Fab 4 in Oregon, the first Intel fab outside of California. With the introduction of 300mm Oregon became the only development site for Intel with large manufacturing, development,… Read More
Electronics Turns Positive
Unit shipments of both PCs and smartphones versus a year ago have turned positive. According to IDC, PC shipments in 1Q 2024 were up 1.5% from 1Q 2023, the first positive year-to-year change since 4Q 2021. Smartphone year-to-year growth turned positive in 4Q 2023 at 8.5%. The growth continued in 1Q 2024 at 7.8%. 4Q 2023 was the first… Read More
Real men have fabs!
“Real men have fabs” was an insult AMD founder Jerry Sanders hurled at his poor competitors who could not afford to build fabs. A few years later, AMD would be fabless, spinning off its manufacturing facilities as GlobalFoundries. This was the beginning of a transformative period for the industry.
Lisa Su could rightfully retort:
Intel’s IDM 2.0