ugh dark mode
Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
201–210 of 501 posts
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#202Am I the only one who is excited about the AI bubble bursting?
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#203Hopefully this makes them think twice about I dunno, putting chips into cables.
I think you are referring to thunderbolt cables with their signal conditioning chips, and if that’s the case then I would like to say that TSMC isn’t making those chips. Afaik Intel and maybe some others make the chips that go into thunderbolt cables.
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#204Earlier quoted context omitted.
Without San Diego based Cymer they can't move forward on their latest and greatest. As far as I know they still do R&D in San Diego even after purchase.
xLight is coming up quickly... https://www.xlight.com/
"Our system produces 4X more power that enables better lithographic patterning, which is necessary to manufacture chips with smaller and more efficient feature sizes. In addition to being more powerful, our FEL system has programmable light characteristics that improve current capabilities and enable next-generation lithography (e.g., shorter wavelengths) - uniquely enabling the extension of Moore’s Law for decades. Connecting existing ASML scanners to an xLight FEL significantly improves the tool’s capabilities, delivering next-version scanner performance without the cost and complexities."
Is it supposed to work independently of other technology at some point?
Then anyways: multilateral cooperation is at the heart of scientific progress anyways. It's fitting that ASML is in a country that is culturally strongly influenced by its history of seafaring and trade. Will see how the braindrain caused by people not wanting to live their lifes in a society taht doesn't share values like these will influence that whole technological armsrace thing.
Some people in Japan are coming up with a successor to EUV as far as I remember, what was their name again?
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#205This article repeatedly cites revenue growth numbers as an indicator of Nvidia and Apple’s relative health, which is a very particular way of looking at things. By way of another one, Apple had $416Bn in revenue, which was a 6% increase from the prior year, or about $25Bn, or about all of Nvidia’s revenue in 2023. Apple’s had slow growth in the last 4 years following a big bump during the early pandemic; their 5 year…
It might matter that Nvidia sells graphics cards and Apple sells computers and computer-like devices with cases and peripherals and displays and software and services. TSMC is responsible for a much larger proportion of Nvidia's product than Apple's.
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#206Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nvidia is not a venture capital outlet. They are a self-sustaining business with several high-margin customers that will buy out their whole product line faster than any iPhone or Mac. From TSMC's perspective, Apple is the one that needs financial assistance. If they wanted the wafers more than Nvidia, they'd be paying more. But they don't.
> several high-margin customers This is the "venture capital and hype" being referred to, not Nvidia themselves.
Thanks. I didn't think my comment was super nuanced.
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#207It seems a bit odd that data center operators aren’t willing to put their money where their mouth is. Data center operators say: expand more quickly. TSMC says: we need long term demand to justify that. And all the data center guys say is: don’t worry that won’t be an issue, trust us. I would think that if they were serious they would commit to cofinancing new foundries or signing long term minimum purchasing agreeme…
If the long term demand disappears, there may not be anyone left for TSMC to collect from on those MPA. This somewhat undermines their utility as a security.
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#208Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why?
Because they are extremely loud, consume 8-10 kW, and probably cost $20K used.
The 8-10kW isn’t a big deal anymore given the prevalence of electric vehicles and charging them at home. A decade ago very few homes have this kind of hookup. Now it’s reasonably common, and if not, electricians wouldn’t bat an eye on installing it.
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple dealt exclusively with Chinese labor prices until they were directly threatened by the POTUS. You tell me.
I got a bridge to sell you if you think that Apple is going to bring any of their manufacturing to the US...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86jx18y9e2o
Apple has responded and has started moving a lot of manufacturing out of China. It just makes sense for risk management.
Re: Apple is fighting for TSMC capacity as Nvidia takes center stage
#210Apple fabs?