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Intel Reports Second-Quarter 2025 Financial Results

TSMC’s Arizona fab is producing “4nm” semiconductors, part of the N5/N4 family. By most standards, this qualifies as a leading edge node. Unless we define “leading edge” strictly as the single most advanced node in the world at any given time. But that definition constantly shifts due to rapid technological progress, making such a pursuit less meaningful and harder to sustain.
Yes. But most of the comments I read has this impression that leading edge is the most advance node. In any case, I guess it's this loss of most advanced node that aroused concern of national pride.
 
Could be, Lip-Bu and Hock Tan run in the same circles. MediaTek would be interesting. The CEO is Rick Tsai who was tossed from TSMC by Morris Chang. I was actually shocked when MediaTek partnered with Intel Foundry due to the Taiwan connection but if Qualcomm is getting preference at TSMC MediaTek could certainly do a partnership deal. MediaTek's market CAP is under $80M though so they are not a whale really. Broadcom's market cap is $1T, Qualcomm is $175M, Marvell is $60B, another possibility. Apple would certainly be the best company to fund Intel and teach it how to be a leading edge foundry. Intel could also have some new technology that Apple could leverage, anything is possible here.

AMD or Nvidia is a longshot. The Taiwan connection is really strong and Intel competes with them. Exciting times in the semiconductor industry!
I'm guessing if the foundry is separated, it could much easily source orders from AMD and Nvidia as well. As of now , they would be happy to keep seeing Intel foundry keep draining resources from the it's product division.
 
Honestly, do customers truly care about having a monopoly? It sure seems like it's a good statement to put out but it don't actually translate to any action

Like most things in life , you dont care until it impact you.

How does single source supplier fit into all these companies BCP [Business Continuity Plan] , how do they pass audit?
 
Like most things in life , you dont care until it impact you.

How does single source supplier fit into all these companies BCP [Business Continuity Plan] , how do they pass audit?
Not all companies treat BCP very seriously. I guess they can always argue TSMC has many fabs outside Taiwan. Monopoly pricing or practices on the other hand is most definitely not part of BCP. In many cases , companies can accept Monopoly pricing and practices for quite a long time until it becomes truly unbearable. That's seems to be the case , at least from what I can see from the recent anti trust cases. One certainly cannot expect Intel to keep funding a second source option till then and meanwhile having no business. So history might repeat again.
In all fairness , I believe Intel foundry plays a valuable role of helping to keep TSMC price hike less drastic. Customers most likely would include intel foundry in price negotiation. This optionality is costly to Intel and they might eventually negotiate an agreement with tsmc to have guaranteed capacity and preferential pricing on next few most advanced node of TSMC and Intel give up on bleeding edge node. TSMC could then exact even more significant pricing powerThis could actually supercharged the Intel product division. After that the foundry can be separated and market valuation will aligned itself. If this hypothetical scenario eventually plays out , the difference in the combined market value of the eventual two entities and the current market value of Intel will be the estimated cost of providing such a second sourcing option. And I m guessing it will be a very large amount that perhaps the industry is free-riding on.
Lip-bu Tan is somewhat saying in plain language that the optionality is coming to an end.
 
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Yes. But most of the comments I read has this impression that leading edge is the most advance node. In any case, I guess it's this loss of most advanced node that aroused concern of national pride.
Leading edge means the most advanced node, assuming the english words are used accurately. It's a lot more than national pride in my mind, it's about national security. China appears to be much more willing to do what's necessary to achieve their objectives than the US or its allies are, whatever is necessary. IMO, the US needs to wake up and compete.
 
Leading edge means the most advanced node, assuming the english words are used accurately. It's a lot more than national pride in my mind, it's about national security. China appears to be much more willing to do what's necessary to achieve their objectives than the US or its allies are, whatever is necessary. IMO, the US needs to wake up and compete.
Not just china. Many places in Asia have incentives plan to foster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and some of them go to great lengths to do that. If I may add, investors generally have confidence that these schemes get implemented without fear of sudden change in policies. This an important reasons why manufacturing is gravitating towards Asia. Manufacturing is high capex so reliable and predictable commitment from government is critical
 
Not just china. Many places in Asia have incentives plan to foster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and some of them go to great lengths to do that. If I may add, investors generally have confidence that these schemes get implemented without fear of sudden change in policies. This an important reasons why manufacturing is gravitating towards Asia. Manufacturing is high capex so reliable and predictable commitment from government is critical
maybe if intel expanded in there instead of Europe/US it would be in a better position now, with fabs already built
 
Bravo to LBT.
Essentially, LBT is saying Intel’s cost at 14A is close to twice of TSMC’s 1.4nm —so who foots the bill?
TSMC is about 60% margain.
 
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