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
SEMICON West 2022 and the Imec Roadmap
SEMICON West 2022 was held from July 12th to 14th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
On Monday the 11th before the show, Imec held a technology forum at the Marriott Marquee right around the corner from the Moscone center. In recent years the Imec forums have shifted away from the process technology I cover to more of a system and… Read More
NoC-Based SoC Design. A Sondrel Perspective
Why are NoCs important in modern SoCs and what are best design practices for using NoC? As always, a great place to start is the perspective of an SoC design organization which depends on pumping out high performance designs. Sondrel is a turnkey ASIC service provider, covering the spectrum from system design to silicon supply. … Read More
Chiplets at the Design Automation Conference with OpenFive
SemiWiki has been tracking the popularity of chiplets for two years now so it was not surprising to see that they played a key role at DAC. The other trend we foresaw was that the ASIC companies would be early chiplet adopters and that has proven true. One of the more vocal proponents of chiplets at DAC#59 was OpenFive, a 17+ year spec-to-silicon… Read More
Intel & Chips Act Passage Juxtaposition
-Need more/less spend & more/fewer chips
-The irony of chips act passage & Intel stumble on same day
-Due to excess supply of chips, Intel cuts spending
-Due to shortage of chips, the government increases spending
-How did this happen on the same day? Cosmic Coincidence?
Timing is everything
The irony of intel cutting spending… Read More
Podcast EP96: The History, Reach and Impact of Accellera with Lynn Garibaldi
Dan is joined by Lynn Garibaldi, Executive Director, Accellera Systems Initiative. Lynn is the recipient of the Accellera 2022 Leadership Award. Dan and Lynn explore the history of Accellera, its beginnings and growth to a multi-standard organization and the impact of DVCon events around the world.
The views, thoughts, and … Read More
Electronics is Slowing
Key semiconductor market drivers PCs and smartphones are both showing declines in shipments in the first half of 2022. According to IDC, PC shipments in 2Q 2022 were down 15% from a year earlier. 2Q 2022 PC shipments of 71.3 million units were at the lowest level in almost three years since 70.9 million units were shipped in 3Q 2019.… Read More


Consolidation and Competition: Who is Winning the $4.5 Billion Interface IP Race?