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0 pointsjustinclift2y ago0 comments

Bear in mind that this could be a "thin edge of the wedge" situation. Where they get this "older" node stuff up and running, and if it turns out to be going well then they can think about newer process/node sizes.

It's not a dumb approach.

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nordsieck2y ago

> Bear in mind that this could be a "thin edge of the wedge" situation. Where they get this "older" node stuff up and running, and if it turns out to be going well then they can think about newer process/node sizes.

I think that would be more credible if Global Foundries didn't already have "Fab 1" up and running that has a mature 22nm process.

justincliftOP2y ago

But Global Foundries doesn't have the ability to do newer/smaller node sizes, so they can't "level up" at a future time. That is, unless Global Foundries makes some massive investments. Which they've not demonstrated any willingness to do, nor competence at doing.

This deal with TSMC at least seems like it provides a way forward with people that know how to execute. One that the Global Foundries option can't credibly provide.

crote2y ago

Nothing is stopping GloFo from licensing 7nm and beyond from Samsung, like they did for 14nm. Except indeed those massive investments.

But TSMC isn't willing to make those investments in Europe either. It's their goose that lays golden eggs, and keeping it all in Taiwan makes a lot more sense from a geopolitical perspective. The only reason they are now building this fab in Germany is because it is ancient technology to them and they are basically getting a free fab out of it.

crote2y ago

The problem with that is that this is essentially just a TSMC fab. If they wanted to, they could have easily used a newer node. And there isn't even significant technology transfer involved with TSMC having a 70% stake and there already being fabs with this level of tech in Europe at GlobalFoundries and others.

There is pretty much no way forward for this. You'd have a point if a European company managed to sign a technology transfer for last year's node, but that's simply not what is happening here.

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nordsieck2y ago

I think that would be more credible if Global Foundries didn't already have "Fab 1" up and running that has a mature 22nm process.

justincliftOP2y ago

This deal with TSMC at least seems like it provides a way forward with people that know how to execute. One that the Global Foundries option can't credibly provide.

crote2y ago

Nothing is stopping GloFo from licensing 7nm and beyond from Samsung, like they did for 14nm. Except indeed those massive investments.

crote2y ago

There is pretty much no way forward for this. You'd have a point if a European company managed to sign a technology transfer for last year's node, but that's simply not what is happening here.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse