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Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

thelec.net

21–30 of 78 posts

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#21
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US cant block a european company from doing anything

They can, since ASML are using US technology. Especially after ASML brought out Cymer.

From what I read regarding the current block, USA couldn't force ASML under current US law, because ASML uses less than 25% US technology.

But USA didn't have to force them. ASML's EUV tech started out as a US funded venture, so I don't think they want to start a fight with USA.

And USA could obviously change its laws to block sales of technology even if less than 25% of the end product is from USA.

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#22
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

China want Taiwan with or without TSMC. If China take over Taiwan the US will probably block ASML from doing business with TSMC.

The US cant block a european company from doing anything

They can block Nordstream 2...

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#23
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

China want Taiwan with or without TSMC. If China take over Taiwan the US will probably block ASML from doing business with TSMC.

The US cant block a european company from doing anything

ASML was created with mostly US technology company investments and US patents. So yes, they can. (And did.)

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#24
post #2

Well not unexpected. What is also missing in the report is that TSMC 3nm also performs better. And that is 2023, for anyone that is wondering.

huh? Read somewhere, I think from wikipedia, that Samsung 3nm is not ready, and not expected to be ready before 2024.

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#25
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US cant block a european company from doing anything

They can, since ASML are using US technology. Especially after ASML brought out Cymer.

If I recall properly, and if I trust what I read/viewed from the internet ages ago, EUV optics is from Germany (zeiss), and the EUV light is from cymer. cymer almost lost their part because they had been unable to deliver enough EUV light power for too long (in the end, it seems they shine their massive CO2 laser on a tin droplet, 2 times instead of one and yield enough power). mask/wafer alignment equipment, dunno where they are from (nanometric piezo-electric motors, with probably laser interferometer). Then, at the time everything was run in extreme vaccum, but heard something about hydrogen gas.

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#26
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US cant block a european company from doing anything

You think ASML wants to run afoul with the US, even if they can't force ASML? The main reason ASML has EUV is because it was funded by the US government to develop it. Now the tech is mostly ASMLs own, but they still have close ties to the US. USA didn't have to force ASML to stop selling to China, they just had to ask them nicely.

The company (originally named ASM Lithography, current name ASML, which is an official name and not an abbreviation)[10] was founded in 1984 as a joint venture between the Dutch companies Advanced Semiconductor Materials International (ASMI) and Philips.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASML_Holding

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#27
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haven't people been floating the idea of Taiwan destroying TSMC's facilities in the event of an invasion?

Not sure if it's true, but I've heard that Taiwan has already rigged all of TSMCs facilities with explosives specifically to deter Chinese invasion.

I wonder if a few smoke bombs in the clean rooms would be enough?

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#29
post #3

lack of competition is depressing

There is a positive feedback loop in fab progress: the more customers you have the more yield experiments you can do, the better the yields get, the more customers you get. This explains why the number of leading edge fabs is decreasing, ending up with a monopoly:

https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/technology_node#Leading_edge_tr...

Re: Qualcomm to give all its 3nm AP foundry work to TSMC instead of Samsung

#30
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just wait for TSMC to become fully Chinese.

Is this likely to happen ?

The Chinese government wants it to happen and probably can make it happen, but it will not be easy. China would have to take the island by force and an amphibious invasion is logistically difficult and almost certain to face heavy casualties on both sides.

US and the west place a lot of strategic importance in Taiwan so they may come to the defense, but it is unlikely to be defendable for long.

We are seemingly moving towards another Cold War: China and Russia vs US and NATO.

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