The New Intel CEO

The New Intel CEO
by Daniel Nenni on 01-17-2019 at 7:00 am

Interestingly, in some circles I’m known as an “Intel basher” but nothing could be further from the truth. I grew up with Intel and give them full credit for bringing serious compute power to our desktops. My first Intel powered computer was an IBM XT and I have had dozens of Intel based desktops and laptops since then. As a result, I … Read More


Semiconductor Metrology Inspection Outpacing Overall Equipment Market in 2018

Semiconductor Metrology Inspection Outpacing Overall Equipment Market in 2018
by Robert Castellano on 12-31-2018 at 7:00 am

As uncertainties mount about the near-term semiconductor industry from companies in Apple’s supply chain and the significant drop in memory chip prices, the semiconductor industry has consistently grown each year since the great recession of 2009. Semiconductor revenues have consistently outpaced semiconductor equipment… Read More


Intel Discontinues the Custom Foundry Business!

Intel Discontinues the Custom Foundry Business!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-17-2018 at 7:00 am

After mentioning what I heard at IEDM 2018, that Intel was officially closing the merchant foundry business as an aside in a SemiWiki forum discussion, I got a lot of email responses so let me clarify. Honestly I did not think it was a big surprise. Intel Custom Foundry was an ill conceived idea (my opinion) from the very start and was… Read More


IEDM 2018 Trip Report!

IEDM 2018 Trip Report!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-10-2018 at 7:00 am

Hello, my name is Daniel Nenni and I am a semiconductor conference addict. I just can’t seem to get enough. The semiconductor ecosystem is very wide now and moves so quickly it is nearly impossible to keep up without constant conference attendance. As a SemiWiki contributor not only do I get free conference passes, I get access to … Read More


Improving Library Characterization with Machine Learning!

Improving Library Characterization with Machine Learning!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-04-2018 at 7:00 am

For SOC designers that are waiting for library models the saying “give me liberty or give me death” is especially apropos. Without libraries to support the timing flow, SOC design progress can grind to a halt. As is often the case, more than just a few PVT corners are needed. Years ago, corners were what the term sounded like – the 4 corners… Read More


AMAT and the Jinhua Jinx!

AMAT and the Jinhua Jinx!
by Robert Maire on 11-18-2018 at 7:00 am

Applied Materials reported a just “in line” quarter but guidance was well below street expectation. AMAT reported EPS of $0.97 and revenues of $4.01B versus street of $0.97 and $4B. Guidance missed the mark by a wide margin with revs of $3.56 to $3.86 and EPS of $0.75 to $0.83 versus already reduced street expectations… Read More


Eliminate PCB Re Spins using an Integrated Multi Dimensional Verification Platform

Eliminate PCB Re Spins using an Integrated Multi Dimensional Verification Platform
by Daniel Nenni on 11-15-2018 at 12:00 pm

The rapidly increasing complexity of today’s designs, combined with schedule pressure to deliver innovative products to market as quickly as possible, strains engineering resources to the limit, often to the point of breaking. As a result, 17% of all projects get canceled, and another 28% miss their target release date (Source:… Read More


DAC 2019 to Host the Second System Design Contest!

DAC 2019 to Host the Second System Design Contest!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-13-2018 at 7:00 am

Interested in showing off your talent in developing deep learning algorithms on embedded hardware platforms for solving real-world problems? Join the second System Design Contest (SDC) at the 56[SUP]th[/SUP] Design Automation Conference in 2019!… Read More


Intel Diversity Semiconductors

Intel Diversity Semiconductors
by Daniel Nenni on 11-12-2018 at 7:00 am

Growing up in a military family, mostly in California, I would consider my cultural diversity life experience to be more than most. I remember in the 1960s some older folks were chattering about a colored family moving into our neighborhood and they had a son my age. Imagine my excitement as a child in having a multicolored friend!… Read More


Is ARM TechCon Really Worth it?

Is ARM TechCon Really Worth it?
by Daniel Nenni on 11-05-2018 at 6:00 am

The ARM TechCon organizers are asking me what I thought of this year’s conference so here it goes. As you know I am a big fan of ARM TechCon and feel it is one of the better conferences for SoC design. This year however I noticed a big change in demographics. Maybe the location change had something to do with it but I definitely saw different… Read More