It's a matter of volume at this point. Yes, TSMC's leading edge is very important and valuable but companies can't even get enough N5 and N3 wafers.
Intel made about 1.2 - 2 million wafers in 2024. TSMC made 13 million in 2024.[0]
If US loses TSMC access today, Intel would have to build 10 fabs to replace the volume. Each fab costs about $20-30 billion and takes 3-4 years to start making wafers.
In 2023, after the Intel/Tower merger fell apart, Intel agreed to manufacture Tower Semi’s 65 nm process in Intel’s New Mexico fab. Intel is now reneging on this deal. I don’t see how any potential foundry customer would trust Intel if this is how they behave with partners.
> Philip Fields, former counterterrorism analyst: The first thing they did was they disbanded our Foreign Influence Task Force. They said that we had to pull back on investigations under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, which applies to people who might be working at the direction of a foreign government without disclosing it. People that I worked with in the counterintelligence program were very upset about a lot of the investigative tools being taken away.
Wow this is scary. Suggests a cover up of treason, frankly. Maybe Trump himself. Or his family members or close friends. I wonder if he is compromised by China or Russia, given how quickly he is dismantling America.
Respectfully, this is the FBI. They’re supposed to be the best of the best at what they do.
If they could not see this coming from 100 miles away and do SOMETHING, they are seriously incompetent and taking away their tools and funding doesn’t even matter anymore.
Silicon carbide is a key material for more efficient power electronics and going to 300 mm allows for utilizing more sophisticated fabrication equipment to drive down costs.
They have local magnet/specialized programs in CA public schools that they use to attract good students to poorly performing schools for help goose up test schools.
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