TSMC Unveils Details of 5nm CMOS Production Technology Platform Featuring EUV and High Mobility Channel FinFETs at IEDM2019

TSMC Unveils Details of 5nm CMOS Production Technology Platform Featuring EUV and High Mobility Channel FinFETs at IEDM2019
by Don Draper on 02-05-2020 at 10:00 am

Diagram of BEOL metallization comparing EUV vs. immersion photolithography

Back in April, 2019, TSMC announced that they were introducing their 5 nm technology in risk production and now at IEDM 2019 they brought forth a detailed description of the process which has passed 1000 hour HTOL and will be in high volume production in 1H 2020.  This 5nm technology is a full node scaling from 7nm using smart scaling… Read More


Logic and Memory Make for a Recovery

Logic and Memory Make for a Recovery
by Robert Maire on 02-03-2020 at 6:00 am

Lam Research 2020
  • LAM- “Logic And Memory” make for a recovery-NAND (Samsung) & Logic (TSMC) + China
  • Great Q4 Results & Q1 guide as memory restarts
  • Logic strength continues-China is crucial to growth
  • 2019 better than expected- 2020 WFE up about 5-8%

Lam reports nice finish to 2019 and start of 2020
The company reported revenues… Read More


The Tech Week that was January 20-24 2020

The Tech Week that was January 20-24 2020
by Mark Dyson on 01-28-2020 at 6:00 am

Semiconductor Weekly Summary 2

Happy Chinese New Year.  Let’s hope the Year of the Rat brings a recovery for the semiconductor industry.  The initial signs are all good with many positive indications in the news this week, but let’s hope the Wuhan coronavirus doesn’t derail the recovery by becoming a global emergency.  To all those based in China stay safe … Read More


TSMC Q4 2019 “2020 Bellwether” Conference Call Summary

TSMC Q4 2019 “2020 Bellwether” Conference Call Summary
by Daniel Nenni on 01-20-2020 at 6:00 am

TSMC Manufacturing Excellence

After returning from a week in Southern China I found the TSMC Q4 2019 conference call even more interesting. In China they are preparing for the New Year’s Celebration so everything is very festive but what struck me hardest was the massive investment in infrastructure and security. Semiconductors are of course a big part… Read More


The Tech Week that was January 13-17 2020

The Tech Week that was January 13-17 2020
by Mark Dyson on 01-19-2020 at 10:00 am

Semiconductor Weekly Summary 1

In a week where the “phase 1” trade deal between US and China was finally signed, here is all the key news from the semiconductor and technology sector around the world.

After 2 years of an ever increasing trade war, the US and China have signed the so called Phase 1 deal aimed at reducing trade frictions.

Just as important as what is … Read More


Samsung spend is up but can it offest TSMC slowing?

Samsung spend is up but can it offest TSMC slowing?
by Robert Maire on 01-17-2020 at 6:00 am

TSMC Wafer

Samsung is warming up and spending again
Samsung gave its preliminary report for Q4 and it was well better than prior muted expectations. It doesn’t take long for Samsung’s business units to respond to business trends in either direction and we have already heard of increased spending plans on the part of Samsung.… Read More


The Tech Week that was January 6-10 2020

The Tech Week that was January 6-10 2020
by Mark Dyson on 01-13-2020 at 6:00 am

Semiconductor Weekly Summary

Happy New Year to everyone.. lets hope 2020 is a great year.. The indicators are all pointing in the right direction but it will not take much to derail it if external factors change. Here is my weekly summary of all the important news from the semiconductor industry around the world.

2020 is starting very differently from 2019 with… Read More


Semiconductor Review 2019 into 2020!

Semiconductor Review 2019 into 2020!
by Daniel Nenni on 01-03-2020 at 6:00 am

CES 2020

Semiconductors continue to surge and lead technology sectors all over the world. TSMC has always been my economic bellwether and 2019 was another great year as the TSM share price almost doubled. But it looks like the best is yet to come with TSMC significantly increasing CAPEX to cover 7nm and 5nm demand.

TSMC CEO C.C. Wei increased… Read More


ANSYS, TSMC Document Thermal Reliability Guidelines

ANSYS, TSMC Document Thermal Reliability Guidelines
by Bernard Murphy on 01-01-2020 at 6:00 am

Automotive Reliability Guide min

Advanced IC technologies, 5nm and 7nm FinFET design and stacked packaging, are enabling massive levels of integration of super-fast circuits. These in turn enable much of the exciting new technology we hear so much about: mobile gaming and ultra-high definition mobile video through enhanced mobile broadband in 5G, which requires… Read More


TSMC, Huawei, the US Government, and China

TSMC, Huawei, the US Government, and China
by Daniel Nenni on 12-30-2019 at 6:00 am

Morris Chang TSMC

The media is trying to disparage the semiconductor industry again. It’s hard to not take this type of desperate journalism personal. Semiconductor people are the smartest and hardest working people in the world and we deserve better, absolutely.

TSMC founder sees trade dispute as ‘reality show with no script’Read More