Intel CEO to Visit Taiwan, Home of Biggest Chipmaking Rival 2021

1. If Pat’s Taiwan/TSMC upcoming visit has been planned for a while in advance, then Pat’s recent talking against TSMC is a strange preparation style. It’s like someone claimed to be Pat Galsinger who tried hard to sabotage the real Pat Galsinger’s Taiwan trip.

2. If this trip is organized only recently, then probably someone inside of Intel (including Pat) recognized there are some signs of serious relationship problems between Intel and TSMC that Pat has to make a trip to tackle it.

I thought TSMC had a queue for most process lines, especially their newest nodes, and that the newer node customer agreements and advanced payments were executed before/during foundry planning/construction, thereby determining those advanced customers place in such queue?

Surely Intel knows this, so why wasn’t the Intel agreement made long ago?
I thought TSMC had a queue for most process lines, especially their newest nodes, and that the newer node customer agreements and advanced payments were executed before/during foundry planning/construction, thereby determining those advanced customers place in such queue?

Surely Intel knows this, so why wasn’t the Intel agreement made long ago?
We’ve been speculating here that Intel had made a fairly large prepayment to secure 3nm. Maybe they want more?

We’ve been speculating here that Intel had made a fairly large prepayment to secure 3nm. Maybe they want more?

Like any relationship, there are important things can’t be spelled out or predicted completely in the contract. Intel needs to gain TSMC’s trust and collaboration for many existing and new projects in the coming years.

Other than the IP infringement lawsuits between Apple and Samsung, I don’t recall AMD, Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Mediatek, or Broadcom ever accuse their foundry partners for something publicly.

Pat Gelsinger’s approach in building relationship with foundries is probably a unique one in the industry. Read More