Intel

[weijian]

hi specuvestor,

Andy Grove's parents sent him away to US, allowing him to escape the Holocaust. Isn't our DNA made up of our past experiences? I don't think we can expect many people to have such formative years. But we can't rule out the coming generation of refugees that US take in on a regular basis.

I do agree that having a previous underdog and competitor offering to take you over (whether cheap or not, is another question) is really the ultimate insult.

[specuvestor]

To be specific Intel was not paranoid enough about handheld devices and GPU that it was half hearted in Xscale (using ARM) and Atom chip, as well as moving to just good enough integrated graphics for windows

On the other hand Netflix history has been textbook paranoid.

It's ironic that Intel's Grove was the one that coined: Only the paranoid survive

Now even once underdog ARM wanted to buy a part of Intel on the cheap
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/intel-rej...42495.html

[Behappyalways]

張忠謀口中的"這傢伙" 英特爾CEO基辛格 回鍋3年 提早被退休 TVBS文茜的世界財經周報 20241208
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3jz-qSvj_z...ACAQ%3D%3D

[weijian]

Being behind by 2-3 tech nodes is a lifetime in semiconductor manufacturing. But will the widening gap between TSMC and Intel lay the seeds of Intel's revival?

After all, TSMC's most advanced mfg stays onshore in Taiwan regardless of the fabs it is setting up on US soil. It might be cheaper for the US gov to subsidize Intel to keep them on their path from survive-to-strive than compared to let's say, funding military preventive/corrective actions on the straits of Taiwan. Maybe Intel's biggest enemy is not TSMC, but the US weapons manufacturers?

Why Intel's Foundry May Be Set For A Comeback

While TSMC claims that its N2 process will outperform Intel’s 18A in some crucial areas, such as SRAM density (enabling it to store more data in a smaller physical area), Intel’s 18A’s backside power delivery gives it a competitive edge with reduced power loss and better thermal performance.

President-elect Donald Trump’s emphasis on boosting U.S. manufacturing could work in Intel’s favor, given its sizable domestic fabrication footprint. There’s a possibility that Intel could see considerable regulatory support aimed at boosting domestic chip production. For example, the new administration could look at imposing tariffs that make it more expensive for foreign fabrication companies to produce and export chips to the U.S.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspecul...-comeback/

[weijian]

In the context of Chips Act and because the demise of Intel's foundry ambitions will not be in the interests of its customers, I assume CEO Tan is just trying to lower down expectations by warning of a potential shutdown of its foundry ops.

The newest generation ASML litho system was first delivered to Intel recently and so I would assume that is more reflective of its prospects I suppose. But Intel will be the sacrificial lamb to smooth out the kinks of the High-NA EUV scanner and in no time, ASML will deliver the same tools ("refined" by Intel per say) to its rival TSMC. Scale economics are almost impossible to beat unless the incumbent scores an own goal themselves.

Intel's foundry future depends on securing a customer for next-gen chipmaking tech

Those customers for the company's so-called 14A manufacturing process are crucial to the success of the technology - so much so that if it fails to secure a big one, it could shut down its cutting-edge manufacturing business altogether, according to Intel's quarterly filing on Thursday.

In a post-earnings conference call, Tan said on Thursday that he is focused on working with customers to ensure 14A is a success and that tight collaboration with external customers is something that was absent from the company's 18A, which is set to go into high-volume production later this year.

Intel had roughly $100 billion of chipmaking equipment as of June 28. If the company halted its 14A manufacturing line, the company expects "significant material impairments" related to the company's foundry assets, the company's filing said.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business...ch-5257726