So "fab" is short for microchip factory? TIL
The "fab" in "semiconductor fab" is short for "fabrication plant".
TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
451–460 of 526 posts
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#452Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even if they did, it wouldn't change much. 1. Nobody would launch nukes domestically, so moot point. 2. Using nukes internationally would be a faux-pas beyond fixing. Every modern, nuclear-equipped nation understands this. 3. The United States doesn't need nuclear weaponry to dispel invaders, or even to retaliate against foreign attacks. Their nuclear weapons exist to deter other nuclear superpowers from using their…
Absolutely agreed. The US military is so well funded and capable that they could finish the job without needed to resort to nukes.
Not sure if you’re being sarcastic or serious.
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#453Earlier quoted context omitted.
The technology is roughly 10 years behind, but in the scenario that the replacement capability becomes important is something like Trump fumbles the great power competition and US and China have a nice nuclear moment. And frankly making do with Haswell era CPUs is lamentable but as far as nuclear exchanges go not that bad.
Older generation fabs are critical. They power most of the machines around us, and often pump out low priced but capable chips. I certainly am not contesting that. I responded to someone who seems to believe this is the great AI equalizer. This fab has no relevance to AI. And FWIW, Europe already has a number of much more advanced fabs! Intel is currently upgrading Ireland to "Intel 4" spec (which in TSMC land would…
Lets just say semiconductor manufacturing is the best example of regional competencies and global trade.
Globalization has failed on many fronts and resulted in race to the bottom outcomes, but here it works well due to specialization.
Having understood that, one can also see a core TSMC strength is that Taiwanese workers are disciplined and work long hours for moderate pay, a culture that European and American labor will never accept. So all these new factories in US/EU should be treated as high cost alternatives, justifiable only for non cost-sensitive customers like defence/aerospace/high end cars.
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#454Are these 2000 jobs really high-tech?
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#455As I predicted, public money of the European Chips Act will flow to the big guys: https://pr.tsmc.com/english/news/3049 "with the final investment decision pending confirmation of the level of public funding for this project. The project is planned under the framework of the European Chips Act."
The small players have no clue how to get even a little bit of this.
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#456Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ah the good old whataboutism. Here's some counter-whataboutism: what about the Korean and Vietnam wars (the Soviet Union even sent their own pilots with the jets), and countless other smaller conflicts in Africa? The Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc were pumping weapons into those conflicts or have been invading themselves to support "their side". Same with Russia in Syria btw. At least the free west is upfront and…
The main reason that propaganda and dehumanization are such a typical part of war, is that it helps prevent people from considering the weight of their own actions, let alone the perspective of the enemy. What I described is not a whataboutism, it's a hypothetical illustrating exactly what's happening today, except flipping the roles of the participants. Yet of course it feels alien enough that you instinctively want…
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Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#457Earlier quoted context omitted.
> the leadership was mocking China's capability to build their own domenstic supply chain Well, ASML is primarily and rightly very concerned that once "China" has their machines they'll attempt to reverse engineer them, ignore any western patents and IP and try to build 'Chinese chip machines'. It's happened to many industries, from Lego to fashion to hi tech. Hell, apparently there's even Chinese Knock-off Movies. S…
ASML's EUV machines cannot be reverse engineered. There's over a 100K parts, several of them from exclusive suppliers. You'd have to recreate several industries from scratch or somehow bribe all suppliers. You will absolutely fail to recreate the parts at all but even then if you hypothetically would, you can't put the machine together as if it's just a few bolts. It requires a team in the know months to do it, but y…
All what you said may be true, but ASML would still be foolish to trust and export to China, given that the latter is hell bent on copying and reverse engg its products, even if unsuccessfully for now.
Dont assist even your incompetent adversary. Competition 101.
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#458Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's game theory no? Having this beefy reliance on a small island that gives china the middle finger -OR- derisk the reliance on taiwan
I don't think it's that simple, because the effort necessary to employ the different choices are very different. Stopping cargo going out of Taiwan is rather cheap. Unguided rockets and aircraft from your homeland can do a lot. And then they just have to defend near their home land while waiting for their opponent to run out of resources. At the same time, as we can see here, it takes 4 years to go from acre to funct…
Yes but both sides can play the game of blocking cargo. Malacca strait comes to mind.
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#459As I predicted, public money of the European Chips Act will flow to the big guys: https://pr.tsmc.com/english/news/3049 "with the final investment decision pending confirmation of the level of public funding for this project. The project is planned under the framework of the European Chips Act."
The small players have no clue how to get even a little bit of this.
What would you consider to be small players when it comes to chip production? I mean, the factories cost billions. So where would small companies play a role except as contractor, supplier, etc. for the big ones?
Re: TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, NXP to jointly build semiconductor fab in Europe
#460Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is the most CCP comment I’ve read in years. Okay, Xi
This is a logical assessment of the situation, it doesn't matter you don't like it.
It would only be logical if Chinese intent also matched its capabilities, which remains to be seen.
Anyone can talk a big game.