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TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

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Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#21

Post by sct202 »

derefr wrote: post #19
pascoej wrote: post #15

This is interesting. Right now TSMC seems to provide Taiwan with guaranteed US protection because they are so far ahead technologically. Apple, AMD, and the defense industry have little alternative if they want a cutting edge node. It's unclear how long they will maintain this dominance. Maybe the long term US-Taiwan ties of factories in the US will make this worth it strategically. I assume that all R&D will remain…

What does the defense industry need a cutting-edge node for? Better drone battery life?

It won't be as cutting edge by the time it's finished.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#22

Post by baybal2 »

lwneal wrote: post #7

How much software depends on Apple, AMD, Nvidia, or Qualcomm chips? TSMC is an indispensable part of our industry's supply chain. Most of its chips are produced in Taiwan and over 75% are sold to customers in either the USA or (mainland) China, so TSMC understandably tries to remain neutral in trade disputes between the two. Tim Culpan at Bloomberg recently predicted that this neutrality may not hold for long, and TS…

> Especially if Intel continues to decline,

About Intel... I heard multiple times, from different people that Intel's CEO is frequenting Hsinchu for some, yet unknown, business.

It's easy to guess though, there can only be one company there of interest to him.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#23

Post by AnthonyMouse »

pjc50 wrote: post #16
3fe9a03ccd14ca5 wrote: post #11

At least one component of the "America First" strategy I can fully get behind is bringing manufacturing back to the US mainline. If anything that last few months has taught us, it's that we must not lose our ability to produce quality, vital products. Semiconductors definitely falls into that category. I don't care how it's accomplished, either carrots (tax incentives) or sticks (tariffs). Do what's necessary to brin…

Taxpayer-funded state-directed economic activity?

The problem is, what do you do when the other guy is doing that? It's basically an antitrust violation with a foreign state playing the role of the trust. They can subsidize their industry to sell below cost until yours goes out of business and then have a monopoly. China has been doing this for decades.

Not responding is a competitive disadvantage, so it has to be either subsidies or tariffs and sanctions.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#24

Post by robotnikman »

rough-sea wrote: post #4

Why are fabs being built in az?

Other Fabs are already located in the area, and in general the state has been good towards businesses. Also ASU is nearby so they have a talent pool of new engineers to pull from.

Anecdote, since I've moved to AZ myself 5 years ago I've noticed massive growth in tech businesses in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. Cost of living for people here is also cheaper compared to to other cities I've lived in, and many people I've met who moved from California have told me how its cheaper here. Commuting is not too bad depending on where you live, and there are options which promote commuting or carpooling such as HOV lanes, Bike Lanes, and the light-rail system (the light rail is hit or miss depending on who you ask).

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#25

Post by wmf »

baybal2 wrote: post #22
lwneal wrote: post #7

How much software depends on Apple, AMD, Nvidia, or Qualcomm chips? TSMC is an indispensable part of our industry's supply chain. Most of its chips are produced in Taiwan and over 75% are sold to customers in either the USA or (mainland) China, so TSMC understandably tries to remain neutral in trade disputes between the two. Tim Culpan at Bloomberg recently predicted that this neutrality may not hold for long, and TS…

> Especially if Intel continues to decline, About Intel... I heard multiple times, from different people that Intel's CEO is frequenting Hsinchu for some, yet unknown, business. It's easy to guess though, there can only be one company there of interest to him.

You don't need to be so oblique. There are plenty of rumors about Xe GPUs being made by TSMC.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#26

Post by bob1029 »

lawrenceyan wrote: post #2

Some competition with Intel in their home turf I see.

This is an excellent strategy if you want to decimate the talent pool of your competitors and simultaneously ramp production without having to build local staff from zero. With some aggressive incentives, they could probably snipe a lot of talent from across town.

Worst case, they will just fly in hundreds of existing, trained employees from Taiwan until the local workforce is stabilized. This is how Samsung bootstrapped their ATX factory.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#27

Post by asdfadsfgfdda »

derefr wrote: post #19
pascoej wrote: post #15

This is interesting. Right now TSMC seems to provide Taiwan with guaranteed US protection because they are so far ahead technologically. Apple, AMD, and the defense industry have little alternative if they want a cutting edge node. It's unclear how long they will maintain this dominance. Maybe the long term US-Taiwan ties of factories in the US will make this worth it strategically. I assume that all R&D will remain…

What does the defense industry need a cutting-edge node for? Better drone battery life?

Imagine how much processing power is needed to analyze radar signals or camera images. If you can process more efficiently, your cooling system and electrical generator can be smaller, which saves mass for more fuel or more payload.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#28

Post by analognoise »

derefr wrote: post #19
pascoej wrote: post #15

This is interesting. Right now TSMC seems to provide Taiwan with guaranteed US protection because they are so far ahead technologically. Apple, AMD, and the defense industry have little alternative if they want a cutting edge node. It's unclear how long they will maintain this dominance. Maybe the long term US-Taiwan ties of factories in the US will make this worth it strategically. I assume that all R&D will remain…

What does the defense industry need a cutting-edge node for? Better drone battery life?

Our FPGAs.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#29

Post by zozbot234 »

asdfadsfgfdda wrote: post #27
derefr wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does the defense industry need a cutting-edge node for? Better drone battery life?

Imagine how much processing power is needed to analyze radar signals or camera images. If you can process more efficiently, your cooling system and electrical generator can be smaller, which saves mass for more fuel or more payload.

And they can afford to fund NRE costs that would be grossly uneconomic for most other (niche, non-mass market) applications. There aren't many industry sectors where that is the case.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#30

Post by walterbell »

pjc50 wrote: post #16
3fe9a03ccd14ca5 wrote: post #11

At least one component of the "America First" strategy I can fully get behind is bringing manufacturing back to the US mainline. If anything that last few months has taught us, it's that we must not lose our ability to produce quality, vital products. Semiconductors definitely falls into that category. I don't care how it's accomplished, either carrots (tax incentives) or sticks (tariffs). Do what's necessary to brin…

Taxpayer-funded state-directed economic activity?

Unlike bank bailouts, we'll have a semiconductor fab, supply chain and jobs to show for it. Put the reserve currency to good use while it's still a reserve currency.
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