nanometer is a marketing term now and doesn’t reflect actual sizes. Samsung were first with “3nm”.
And iPhones chose TSMC’s 3nm, because TSMC is more than just 3nm, but also at a scale and price-point that Apple desires.
America was doing “3nm” in 2018
I’m talking about industry and manufacturing. Test labs doing one or two wafers back in 2018 doesn’t matter compared to the millions-of-chips that roll off of Taiwan’s production facilities.
No one in the USA can mass produce designs like this. Korea / Samsung is 2nd best, but still is slower at mass production than Taiwan.
Which brings us right back to my point. They aren’t wizards, they are simply benefiting from the enormous government investment into the extremely expensive chip manufacturing industry.
Their manufacturing efficiency is top tier, their government built facilities are top tier. However they weren’t first, they aren’t the only ones who can produce them and now that the US is interested in chip manufacturing again the new facilities will match TSMC in a few years.
We just invited the Taiwanese to stay in Arizona. I don’t expect Taiwan to give us their latest-and-greatest technologies. But this is still good for us in the great scheme of things.
But even USA’s #1 chipmaker, Intel, has fallen behind Taiwan. USA’s 3rd party manufacturer, GlobalFoundries, is 12nm and has no plan to go further. TSMC is still the only one who can help us with the CHIPS program, albeit by building a factory in Arizona but that’s still Taiwanese controlled technology.
And iPhones chose TSMC’s 3nm, because TSMC is more than just 3nm, but also at a scale and price-point that Apple desires.
I’m talking about industry and manufacturing. Test labs doing one or two wafers back in 2018 doesn’t matter compared to the millions-of-chips that roll off of Taiwan’s production facilities.
No one in the USA can mass produce designs like this. Korea / Samsung is 2nd best, but still is slower at mass production than Taiwan.
Which brings us right back to my point. They aren’t wizards, they are simply benefiting from the enormous government investment into the extremely expensive chip manufacturing industry.
Their manufacturing efficiency is top tier, their government built facilities are top tier. However they weren’t first, they aren’t the only ones who can produce them and now that the US is interested in chip manufacturing again the new facilities will match TSMC in a few years.
Erm… You know how we’re doing that right?
https://www.trendforce.com/news/2023/12/21/news-tsmcs-arizona-plant-rumored-for-q1-2024-trial-production-securing-orders-from-three-u-s-clients/
We just invited the Taiwanese to stay in Arizona. I don’t expect Taiwan to give us their latest-and-greatest technologies. But this is still good for us in the great scheme of things.
But even USA’s #1 chipmaker, Intel, has fallen behind Taiwan. USA’s 3rd party manufacturer, GlobalFoundries, is 12nm and has no plan to go further. TSMC is still the only one who can help us with the CHIPS program, albeit by building a factory in Arizona but that’s still Taiwanese controlled technology.
What Taiwanese technology? Name some.
Intel is building fabs, TSMC is moving away from Taiwan due to the geopolitical risks.