TSMC Arizona Fab Cost Revisited

TSMC Arizona Fab Cost Revisited
by Scotten Jones on 10-13-2021 at 8:00 am

TSMC North America Fabs

Back in May of 2020 I published some comparisons of the cost to run a TSMC fab in Arizona versus their fabs in Taiwan. I found the fab operating cost based on the country-to-country difference to only be 3.4% higher in the US and then I found an additional 3.8% because of the smaller fab scale. Since that time, I have continued to encounter… Read More


The Semiconductor Shortage False Narrative!

The Semiconductor Shortage False Narrative!
by Daniel Nenni on 10-01-2021 at 6:00 am

Port of Oakland

The semiconductor shortage has really caught the world’s attention. Friends and family who don’t really know what a semiconductor is now ask me to explain it. This is great news for the semiconductor industry for different reasons which I will discuss here. We can also discuss the downside risks.

First, let’s look at a bit of semiconductor… Read More


Podcast EP38: Semianalysis on Intel GF TSMC and the Foundry Business

Podcast EP38: Semianalysis on Intel GF TSMC and the Foundry Business
by Daniel Nenni on 09-17-2021 at 10:00 am

Dan is joined by Dylan Patel of Semianalysis.com covering Intel, GF, TSMC, the semiconductor shortage and more. This is a candid discussion between analysts on current semiconductor events.

https://semianalysis.com/

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in these podcasts belong solely to the speaker, and not to the… Read More


ASML is the key to Intel’s Resurrection Just like ASML helped TSMC beat Intel

ASML is the key to Intel’s Resurrection Just like ASML helped TSMC beat Intel
by Robert Maire on 09-09-2021 at 6:00 am

TSMC INTEL ASML Hurricane 1

-Intel’s access to high-NA EUV tools may be their elixir of life
-TSMC’s EUV adoption helped it vault faltering Intel & Samsung
-Maybe ASML should invest in Intel like Intel invested in ASML
-Shoe is on the other foot- But cooperation helps chip industry

Intel is dependent upon ASML for its entire future
If Intel… Read More


TSMC Wafer Wars! Intel versus Apple!

TSMC Wafer Wars! Intel versus Apple!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-18-2021 at 10:00 am

Intel TSMC SemiWiki

The big fake news last week came from a report out of China stating that TSMC won a big Intel order for 3nm wafers. We have been talking about this for some time on SemiWiki so this is nothing new. Unfortunately, the article mentioned wafer and delivery date estimates that are unconfirmed and from what I know, completely out of line. … Read More


Highlights of the “Intel Accelerated” Roadmap Presentation

Highlights of the “Intel Accelerated” Roadmap Presentation
by Tom Dillinger on 07-30-2021 at 6:00 am

ribbon FETs

Introduction

Intel recently provided a detailed silicon process and advanced packaging technology roadmap presentation, entitled “Intel Accelerated”.  The roadmap timeline extended out to 2024, with discussions of Intel client, data center, and GPU product releases, and especially, the underlying technologies to be … Read More


Intel Accelerated

Intel Accelerated
by Scotten Jones on 07-27-2021 at 6:00 am

Intel Process Name Decoder

Intel presented yesterday on their plans for process technology and packaging over the next several years. This was the most detailed roadmap Intel has ever laid out. In this write up I will analyze Intel’s process announcement and how they match up with their competitors.

10nm Super Fin (SF)

10nm is now in volume production in three… Read More


GloFo inside Intel? Foundry Foothold and Fixerupper- Good Synergies

GloFo inside Intel? Foundry Foothold and Fixerupper- Good Synergies
by Robert Maire on 07-18-2021 at 6:00 am

Intel GlobalFoundries Acquisition

Intel reportedly talking to Abu Dhabi to buy GloFo for $30B
Would jumpstart Intel Foundry but require investment & repair
Avoids IPO risk – Allows Abu Dhabi escape- NY benefits
Doesn’t impact near term shortage or market share

Reported by WSJ- Intel in talks to buy GloFo
The Wall Street Journal reported that Intel… Read More


Resist Development for High-NA EUV

Resist Development for High-NA EUV
by Tom Dillinger on 07-01-2021 at 10:00 am

EUV scaling

The successful transition to a new fabrication process from development to high volume manufacturing requires a collective, collaborative effort among process engineers, equipment manufacturers, and especially, chemical suppliers.  Of particular importance is the chemistry of the photoresist materials and their interaction… Read More


Ten Lessons Learned from Andy Grove

Ten Lessons Learned from Andy Grove
by Betsy Corcoran on 06-20-2021 at 6:00 am

Andy Grove SemiWiki

I met Andy Grove on a sunny day in New York City in 1987. He was dashing to press interviews for his just-off-the-presses management book, “One on One with Andy Grove.” I was a freshly badged member of the press working for IEEE Spectrum, a year or so out of college, still toting my college backpack. Little did I know that that would be Read More