Wednesday, December 15th 2021
TSMC Wants Payment in Advance to Give Intel Access to 3 Nanometre Node
According to reports out of Taiwan, Intel's meeting with TSMC might not have ended up in favour of Intel, as TSMC has apparently asked Intel to pay up a deposit in advance to get access to its upcoming 3 nanometer node. This is unlikely to be what Intel had hoped for, but at the same time, the 3 nanometer node is likely to be popular among many of TSMC's customers, unless the cost becomes prohibitive.
Intel was apparently hoping to be able to get a dedicated production line, much in the way of what Apple has at TSMC, but it seems like this is going to cost and the question is if Intel is willing to pay or not. The reason for a dedicated production line could also come down to Intel wanting to make chips at TSMC using Intel specific tricks of the trade, that Intel doesn't want TSMC or its competitors to get too much insight into. Time will tell what will come out of this meeting between the two semiconductor giants, but it seems like Gelsinger has changed his mind about Taiwan, as he said that "Intel would continue to invest in Taiwan".
Sources:
China Times, Taipei Times
Intel was apparently hoping to be able to get a dedicated production line, much in the way of what Apple has at TSMC, but it seems like this is going to cost and the question is if Intel is willing to pay or not. The reason for a dedicated production line could also come down to Intel wanting to make chips at TSMC using Intel specific tricks of the trade, that Intel doesn't want TSMC or its competitors to get too much insight into. Time will tell what will come out of this meeting between the two semiconductor giants, but it seems like Gelsinger has changed his mind about Taiwan, as he said that "Intel would continue to invest in Taiwan".
29 Comments on TSMC Wants Payment in Advance to Give Intel Access to 3 Nanometre Node
You want millions of chips to sell as your own with a markup,. Invest then.
You want a packet of crisps to eat , invest then.
Soo so samey eh.
The investment has nothing to do with TSMC, it has to do with Intel continuing to build its business in Taiwan.
In all fairness, from what I have heard, they've cut back a bit on their FAE resources, since it's an obvious cost to Intel, but at the same time, they need to support all their customers somehow.
It was more a reference to Gelsinger's play last week where he said Taiwan was unsafe, I mean, if it's so bad, why would Intel invest more money in Taiwan?You might want to explain what crisps are, it's a very British word.
@TheLostSwede What am I missing?
Your comment doesn't make much sense, since as I said, Intel has other business interests in Taiwan outside of making chips.Not sure you're missing anything, except the fact that Apple isn't on a named node and my understanding is that they're the ones that are more or less paying for much of TSMC's node advances single-handedly. I was simply relaying what the media in Taiwan is reporting about what presumably took place in the meeting between TSMC and Intel.
By the way it is interesting to note the difference in tone between China Times' and Taipei Times' coverage, if nothing else then the "investment" part of the story.
There is definitely some political posturing going on but at least in these stories it is not from Gelsinger's part.
Deposit is a very logical request from TSMC considering the chance that Intel manages to get their production working and stops orders from TSMC.
Well better get to work on those foundry's you own ;)
That stuff weighs a ton.
why Taiwan ?
Gravitas: U.S. censors Taiwan at Summit for Democracies - YouTube
GLOBALink | President Biden reiterates U.S. abides by one-China policy: Chinese Vice FM - Xinhua (news.cn)
Easily the least tough administration on China in recent memory.
One destroyer isn't "plenty tough on China".
Or they're going to get curb stomped by AMD and Nvidia.
Anything else is off topic sabre rattling bullshit.