Intel to set up new Fabs to rival TSMC and Samsung - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2021, 10:22:16 pm
content: It looks as if Intel have decided that there is too much dependence on Asian fabs and is setting up new fabs in Arizona and Ireland to provide an alternative...Quotehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56512430

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2021, 11:30:32 pm
content: Is not it the same announcement where they said that they will outsource a bunch of stuff of TSMC for 2023 production?I'm skeptical about the new fabs. Looks like a bunch of empty words to offset the "shame" of moving to TSMC. We'll see if they will actually build anything.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2021, 04:15:00 am
content: The premium parts for both client and server lines will be produced on TSMC 7nm, crap sku's on intels own fabs. Intel is basically saying they lost the race without saying it.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2021, 06:17:56 am
content: US fab are getting out of fab business to go fabless because of higher margin in not having a fab. Now with free money from the government after their ghost stories started to sell, who is going to reject this free money? But with no serious commitment for such a high capital intensive business, the next sequel is predictable as another blame game on others.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2021, 10:27:44 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on March 24, 2021, 11:30:32 pmI don't know. New CEO, new ideas?Without getting political, maybe they have new concerns about the tensions between China and Taiwan over sovereignty.

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2021, 11:30:19 am
content: That is a good message. EU companies should follow..

author: GodIsRealUnless DefinedInt
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2021, 11:55:49 pm
content: TSMC is building a 3nm fab, the EU has lobbied them to build a 2nm fab in Europe. Meanwhile Intel hopes to have a 7nm fab built and running in 2 years from now.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2021, 01:03:57 am
content: Quote from: all_repair on March 25, 2021, 06:17:56 amBasically TSMC and Samsung drove down costs so much that killed competition.And they come back with bullshit reasons every 6 months why they have to increase price.Like a little flooding.Power went out for for 30 minutes, you have to pay extra 10% for the memory chips.Lead time 2022 already for this year.Car maker has to shut down production plant because they dont have ICs.Everyone had enough from the bullshit that they are doing. They are going to call this "supply chain diversification" and "strategic sourcing decision". It's fine. I dont mind the EU spending 145 billion on the semiconductor industry. Maybe ICs will be cheaper, and my work easier. They probably also going to hire engineers by the bucketload, gives me better opportunities on the job market or salary negotiations.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2021, 01:52:48 am
content: I am all for diversifying production. Let them build! Allocation is not an uncommon sight these days anyways, so the more the merrier.

author: mleyden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2021, 01:57:39 am
content: The Irish fab is under construction now:https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0323/1205737-intel-to-create-1-600-new-jobs-at-leixlip-campus/They are bringing their 7nm technology to their exisitng site in Leixlip just outside Dublin.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2021, 03:43:30 am
content: Awareness needed that the total price is not only on the initial building but also on the continuous subsidy in the daily operation for the foreseeable future. Senses shall prevail that can only be justified for production of selected components.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2021, 06:33:40 am
content: Good on them. I never realized how most companies don't even make their own chips and that TSMC is basically the only company around that does. I just assumed that if you are a company in which your breath and butter is a chip such as nvidia or AMD... you actually make it! I guess we live in a weird world where IP is worth more than actual ability to make something. Just come up with an idea, and contract it out and slap your name on it and sit back and let the cash roll in! Except when the chip company has production issues and now you're dead in the water since you can't make your own product.TSMC is also going to be building a new fab too. For something as complex as making chips it seems like a bad idea to only have a few actual fabs, best to build redundancy into the supply chain and have more than is needed.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2021, 01:13:13 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 26, 2021, 06:33:40 amIndeed; value can be misplaced as it has to be agreed by the economic system but, when the agreements start to falter, tangible assets such as manufacturing, silicon, intellectual capital, logistics gain proeminence. The economy based on IP alone is easily collapsed when copyright violations are abound.As Elon Musk said, an economy has to be capable to make stuff: "if you don't make stuff, there's no stuff".https://fee.org/articles/elon-musk-s-economic-truth-bomb-to-joe-rogan/I saw this first hand in my home country, where a flourishing industry in the 70s was dilapidated and nowadays is reduced to very niche markets and imports.Interesting times indeed.