Warning Signs for Semiconductors!

Warning Signs for Semiconductors!
by Daniel Nenni on 06-13-2010 at 9:39 pm

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently testified before Congress that the U.S. economy is recovering, and he predicts the nation will not experience a double-dip recession, or as I predicted a big “V” then a small “v” in my blog: China Semiconductor Bubble.

Bill Jewel from Semiconductor Intelligence agrees with Bernanke:… Read More


Synopsys Acquires Virage Logic!

Synopsys Acquires Virage Logic!
by Daniel Nenni on 06-10-2010 at 6:16 pm

Overshadowing the acquisition of Denali by Cadence, Synopsys, the #2 semiconductor IP provider acquires Virage Logic, the #3 IP provider. Virage brings the #1 embedded SRAM, #1 BIST, #1 Logic Libraries, #1 DDR, #1 NVM, the ARC CPU cores and audio/video interface technology, and all the AMS IP from the NXP acquisition.

Under theRead More


Semiconductor Capacity Shortages 2010

Semiconductor Capacity Shortages 2010
by Daniel Nenni on 05-31-2010 at 7:25 pm

In a previous blog, Black Friday and the Predicted Semiconductor Shortages, I reported that total semiconductor manufacturing capacity is shrinking as older fabs close and new ones ramp up even slower than expected, resulting in a record reduction of total wafer capacity and silicon allocation starting in 2010. DRAM shortages… Read More


TSMC Earthquake Damage Redo

TSMC Earthquake Damage Redo
by Daniel Nenni on 04-14-2010 at 10:54 pm

As you may know I enjoy poking fun at the current state of semiconductor design and manufacture media; sloppy reporting, editors with little or no actual semiconductor experience taking corporate marketing spins on news/events and passing it along as fact.

Last week it was the EETimes parroting the Samsung foundry business pressRead More


TSMC 2011 Forecast and 28nm Update!

TSMC 2011 Forecast and 28nm Update!
by Daniel Nenni on 03-31-2010 at 10:05 pm

My visit to Taiwan last week was very encouraging. No earthquake, no typhoon, and both TSMC and UMC again posted record financial results, giving a peek into what 2011 has in store for us semiconductor professionals around the world.

A transcript from the TSMC earnings call can be foundhere, the UMC transcript is here. The TSMC transcript… Read More


Semiconductor Wafer Allocation and Design Migration

Semiconductor Wafer Allocation and Design Migration
by Daniel Nenni on 08-12-2009 at 8:00 pm

In the name of blogging and increased transparency lets talk about wafer allocation, because it’s coming, believe it. There is already a significant delta between wafer demand and manufacture due to record low inventory levels and the exploding semiconductor demand in China. Both TSMC and UMC posted good July sales numbers: … Read More


EDA is DEAD

EDA is DEAD
by Daniel Nenni on 05-23-2009 at 12:12 am

Years ago I bought my ancestral home, the house where my beloved grandparents lived, the place in which I grew up. It was more an emotional investment than a financial one, much more. After completely renovating it with my keyboard hardened hands, reliving much of my childhood, I joined the ranks of the slum lords and rented the house… Read More