Re:Intel and the $1.5trn chip industry meltdown
by steve_taylor on Tuesday October 18, 2022 @08:53PM
(#33256082)
That’s quite the gamble. If a competitor develops a 5nm capability, Taiwan and TSMC are both screwed. The fact that only TSMC in Taiwan has this capability makes Taiwan a jucier target for the CCP. All this talk of reunification may be little more than a power grab. Control the best semiconductors, control the world.
Re:Intel and the $1.5trn chip industry meltdown
by porknubbins on Tuesday October 18, 2022 @09:33PM
(#33256333)
What is TSMC/Taiwan’s unique capability? Aren’t ASML in Europe the ones making cutting edge EUV machines that drive process shrinks? I genuinely don’t know but I assume TSMC is mostly just good at scaling the production up economically.
Re:Intel and the $1.5trn chip industry meltdown
by daemoens on Tuesday October 18, 2022 @10:42PM
(#33256877)
Doing it economically is still incredibly challenging, and there's a reason why they're so far ahead of everybody else.
TSMC is one of the key players in the 21st century. As we've seen with the supply chain issues from covid and the Ukrainian conflict, high quality semiconductors are a vital resource for modern nations' security and economies.
TSMC is the only entity that can make the highest quality chips (3nm being not actually 3nm, but just called that way for marketing purposes). If Taiwan looses that unique ability, they then loose much of the backing of NATO-aligned nations.
Taiwan bet the whole nation on TSMC, and it's paid off thus far. They're not likely to let go the trump cards they hold.
More on the issues with Taiwan and China here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6sCsOdqXQw