The semiconductor market dropped 0.8 percent in 2Q 2022 versus 1Q 2022, according to WSTS. The 2Q 2022 decline followed a 0.5% quarter-to-quarter decline in 1Q 2022. The 2Q 2022 revenues of the top 15 semiconductor suppliers match the overall market results, with a 1% decline from 1Q 2022. The results by company were mixed. Memory… Read More
Does SMIC have 7nm and if so, what does it mean
Recently TechInsights analyzed a Bitcoin Miner chip fabbed at SMIC and declared SMIC has a 7nm process. There has been some debate as to whether the SMIC process is really 7nm and what it means if it is 7nm. I wanted to discuss the case for and against the process being 7nm, and what I think it means.
First off, I want to say I am not going … Read More
Samtec is Fueling the AI Revolution
It’s all around us. The pervasive use of AI is changing our world. From planetary analysis of weather patterns to monitoring your vital statistics to assess health, it seems as though smart everything is everywhere. Much has been written about the profound impact AI is having on our lives and society. Everyone seems to agree that… Read More
The Semiconductor Cycle Snowballs Down the Food Chain – Gravitational Cognizance
-Where are we in the chip cycle? Why is it different this time?
-No one rings a bell to indicate the top or bottom of a cycle
-Could the lack of self-awareness lead to a worse downturn?
-Who will weather the cycle better & come out on top
Gravitational Cognizance
“A cartoon character will not fall until they realize they should
… Read More
Automotive Semiconductor Shortage Over?
Several signs point to an easing of the shortages of semiconductors for automotive applications. However, the production of light vehicles will likely remain below full potential through at least 2023. LMC Automotive’s July forecast of light vehicle production called for 81.7 million units in 2022, up 2% from 2021. LMC’s January… Read More
CEO Interview: Jay Dawani of Lemurian Labs
Jay Dawani is the co-founder & CEO at Lemurian Labs, a startup developing a novel processor to enable autonomous robots to fully leverage the capabilities of modern day AI within their current energy, space, and latency constraints.
Prior to founding Lemurian, Jay had founded two other companies in the AI space. He is also … Read More
SoC Verification Flow and Methodologies
We need more and more complex chips and SoCs for all new applications that use the latest technologies like AI. For example, Apple’s 5nm SoC A14 features 6-core CPU, 4 core-GPU and 16-core neural engine capable of 11 trillion operations per second, which incorporates 11.8 billion transistors, and AWS 7nm 64-bit Graviton2 custom… Read More
KLAC same triple threat headwinds Supply, Economy & China
-KLA sings same cautionary song as LRCX (with Intel Chorus)
-Sees similar softening of WFE & second half
-Same Government “notice” on China/14NM – Same supply ills
-We remain concerned about share loss in patterning
Deja Vue, all over again- Great QTR & Guide amid caution & softening
KLAC reported… Read More
The Semiconductor Market Downturn Has Started
What we alone said would surely happen, but what was widely denied by the industry, was confirmed with June’s WSTS Blue Book report. Right on cue with our December 2021 forecast, the current semiconductor Super Cycle is finally drawing to a close and the 17th market downturn has now well and truly started.
The Macro Evidence
At the… Read More
LRCX – Great QTR and guide but gathering China storm
-Lam reports record QTR and great guide amid growing anxiety
-Weakness has not yet trickled down to Lam’s order book
-Company contacted by US government on new China restrictions
-Combination of supply issues/China/economy cut WFE view
Numbers are great
Lam reported revenues of $4.64B and EPS of $8.83 which represented… Read More


Musk’s Orbital Compute Vision: TERAFAB and the End of the Terrestrial Data Center