Semiconductor Manufacturing
Ongoing coverage on Semiconductor Manufacturing.
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Looks like SK hynix wants to make memory chips on US soil and it could work with Intel to do it
SK hynix is reportedly in talks with Intel to establish semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, potentially by leasing Intel's planned Ohio fab or forming a joint venture. This move could help SK hynix avoid tariffs and leverage Intel's infrastructure, with analysts highlighting the potential for collaboration with hyperscalers.
Chinese memory makers have reportedly stocked up on enough western DUV machines for the next three years of expansion
Chinese memory manufacturers CXMT and YMTC have reportedly acquired enough DUV machines from ASML to support their expansion plans for the next three years. This comes despite efforts to promote domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign technology. While China is developing its own DUV machines, purchasing from ASML allows for immediate capacity increases.
Big chipmakers are already committed to using ASML's next-generation production technology by as soon as 2028
Major chipmakers like Samsung and TSMC are committing to ASML's next-generation High NA EUV lithography technology, with volume manufacturing expected by 2028 and 2030 respectively. This advanced technology, already in limited use by Intel and SK Hynix, promises faster production, higher yields, and more efficient chipmaking, driven by the significant demand from the AI industry.
Apple M6 vs M5: How much faster is Apple's new 'everyday' Silicon?
Apple's new M6 chip, built on a 2nm process, shows respectable performance gains over the M5. However, users of the M5 are advised not to feel pressured to upgrade, suggesting the performance difference may not be substantial enough for immediate replacement.
Micron's top brass wins the memory crisis corpo double speak award: 'We do not have line of sight as to when that supply vector will intersect the demand vector'
Micron's executive vice president, Sumit Sadana, stated that the company does not have a clear timeline for when memory supply will meet demand due to the significant pressure from AI hardware requirements and the lengthy process of building new fabrication facilities. This indicates the ongoing memory crisis is likely to persist for an extended period, with predictions for its resolution ranging from late 2027 to 2030 or beyond.
SK Hynix Pours $38 Billion Into Two New DRAM and NAND Plants — But Chips Won’t Ship Until 2029
SK Hynix announced a significant investment of 54 trillion Korean won ($38.1 billion) to construct two new semiconductor fabrication plants in South Korea. One plant in Yongin will focus on HBM and DRAM, while the other in Cheongju will produce NAND storage chips. Production is not expected to begin until at least June 2029, indicating a long-term strategy to meet anticipated demand from AI data centers.
SK Hynix pledges $38 billion to build two new DRAM and NAND factories
SK Hynix announced a significant investment of $38.1 billion to construct two new memory chip facilities in South Korea. These facilities will focus on the production of DRAM and NAND flash memory.
The three biggest RAM makers have already sold all their 2027 output, report says, potentially stretching price woes into 2028
The three largest RAM manufacturers, Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, have reportedly sold their entire expected output through 2027, potentially extending current high prices for PC components like RAM, storage, and graphics cards into 2028. This situation is exacerbated by demand from the AI industry and follows previous admissions from Samsung and Valve regarding ongoing shortages and price hikes.
Samsung and SK Hynix are reportedly testing Chinese chipmaking tools
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reportedly testing chipmaking tools from Chinese company AMEC amid concerns over potential U.S. export restrictions. While no decision has been made to fully transition, the companies have been testing the tools for up to two years. These chips are crucial for smartphones, tablets, and AI technology, and potential restrictions could impact the broader tech and gaming industries.
Morning Tech Bits
The world's smallest GPU silicon, TinyGPU v2.0, has successfully passed real-world testing, rendering 3D graphics at up to 15 FPS. Samsung's latest report indicates that the ongoing RAM crisis is expected to continue.
Evening Tech Bits
Intel has reportedly made advancements in advanced packaging technology, enabling larger chip designs. Meanwhile, AMD's Helios Rack is said to be significantly more expensive than NVIDIA's Vera system.
Chinese company reportedly building its own DUV chipmaking machines, and that's a really big deal
A Chinese state-backed company is reportedly mass producing deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, a significant step towards domestic semiconductor production. These machines, still crucial for modern chip manufacturing, are expected to be delivered to companies like Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. and Hua Hong Semiconductor this year. While this development challenges ASML's dominance, the Chinese machines are said to lag in performance and reliability compared to current industry standards.
Evening Tech Bits
Apple has released security updates, bringing its software to version 26.6. Separately, reports indicate that China has begun mass production of domestically developed immersion chipmaking machines, marking a significant advancement in its semiconductor industry.
In the eleventh hour before Steam Frame's launch, its processor manufacturer just announced rising prices
Qualcomm has informed its partners that it will be increasing prices for its processing chips starting September 1st due to rising manufacturing costs. This announcement could impact the imminent launch of Valve's Steam Frame VR headset, which uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and potentially other devices like the Meta Quest 3 and Pico 4 Ultra.
Is Intel back? Company's latest earnings report remarkably different in tone to 12 months ago
Intel's latest earnings report shows a significant improvement in tone and financial results compared to the previous year. Revenue, margins, and earnings per share exceeded expectations, with the Foundry business also showing positive developments despite an operating loss. CEO Lip-Bu Tan expressed increased confidence in the company's manufacturing roadmap and execution.
TSMC admits its 'jealous' of memory chipmakers' margins, but is limiting its own price hike because its customers would not survive price increases of 'four to five times'
TSMC, a leading semiconductor foundry, plans to increase prices by 5-10% in 2027 due to rising material costs and overseas expansion projects. While acknowledging higher margins in the memory chip sector, TSMC's chairman stated that drastic price hikes would be unsustainable for their customers. This follows recent price increase announcements from AMD, Intel, and Apple.
Midday Tech Bits
TSMC has announced a significant investment of another $100 billion in Arizona to build at least four new 2nm fabrication plants. Separately, a new AMD driver has been identified as causing substantial performance degradation across major Linux distributions.
The company that makes all the West's chipmaking machines says it's selling more than it expected thanks to 'very strong momentum in both DRAM and advanced logic'
ASML, a key supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, has increased its annual guidance due to strong demand from both DRAM and advanced logic chipmakers. This surge is primarily driven by the AI boom, leading to significant investments in fab expansion and capacity increases for various chip nodes, including those for AI accelerators.
ASML semiconductor manufacturing supplier Q2 2026 earnings results beat EPS and revenue expectations
Semiconductor manufacturing supplier ASML reported its second quarter 2026 earnings, exceeding both EPS and revenue expectations. The company, which produces essential EUV lithography machines for advanced chip production, benefited from increased demand driven by the AI sector and data center spending. ASML also provided third-quarter guidance that surpassed Wall Street's projections.
DRAM demand predicted to outstrip supply by 28.7 exabytes in 2030, which is almost as much as the actual DRAM in the…
Research predicts a significant DRAM shortfall by 2030, with demand exceeding supply by 28.7 exabytes, even with increased production from Chinese manufacturers. This deficit is driven by AI demand and general market bottlenecks, potentially keeping DRAM prices inflated. Innovations in AI efficiency could offer some relief, but the overall trend points to continued supply constraints.
