Semiconductor Manufacturing
Ongoing coverage on Semiconductor Manufacturing.
Latest coverage
Samsung is cashing in on the memory crisis, as it estimates profits of over 8 times this period last year
Samsung Electronics has released its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance, projecting consolidated sales of 133 trillion Korean won ($88.6 billion) and an operating profit of 57.2 trillion Korean won. This significant increase in profit, attributed to the ongoing memory crisis driven by AI demand, represents an over eight-fold increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. The company is also investing heavily in advanced manufacturing, including ordering EUV machines from ASML to boost production capacity for DRAM and HBM4.
Morning Tech Bits
TSMC is reportedly converting its available 4nm production capacity to 3nm lines to meet demand. Separately, a new Google-funded data center is planned to be powered by a large gas plant.
Morning Tech Bits
TSMC is reportedly fully booked with orders until 2028, with even its upcoming Arizona fabrication plant already sold out before construction. The article also briefly mentions the announcement of a Windows 11 Insider Preview Build.
The RAM crisis is Apple's best chance in decades to capture the PC market
The global RAM crisis presents Apple with a unique opportunity to significantly increase its market share in the PC sector. While competitors face rising component costs and production challenges, Apple's integrated hardware and software, along with its strong profit margins, allow it to potentially offer competitive pricing and performance with its MacBook Neo. This situation could shift the balance of power away from Windows-based manufacturers.
TSMC is reportedly sold out until 2028 and even its next-gen Arizona fab is fully booked before it has even been built
TSMC is reportedly completely booked until 2028, including capacity for its next-generation N2 node, with demand coming from major tech companies like Nvidia, Apple, AMD, Intel, Google, and Amazon. This scarcity, even for future facilities, may open opportunities for competitors like Samsung and Intel. The situation suggests that consumers should not expect cheaper PCs or GPUs in the near future due to limited cutting-edge silicon production.
From a dentist's basement to half a trillion dollars and AI: Here's how memory manufacturer Micron Technology…
Micron Technology, a major semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has a long history dating back to its founding in 1978. The company has navigated numerous challenges, including intense competition from Japanese firms, market shortages, and internal leadership changes. Micron has played a significant role in the development of DRAM and NAND flash memory, and its recent investments are bolstered by the CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to expand US-based semiconductor production.
Memory prices could leap even higher as the supply of helium, crucial to making chips, is now impacted by the conflict…
The conflict in the Middle East is impacting the global supply of helium, a critical component for semiconductor manufacturing. Major chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix are facing instability in sourcing helium, which is a byproduct of liquefied natural gas production. This disruption, particularly affecting South Korea's imports from Qatar, could lead to increased memory prices and potential production cuts for less profitable chips.
How to make your very own semiconductor-class cleanroom in a wooden shed and build your own chips, well kinda
A DIY enthusiast has constructed a Class 100 semiconductor cleanroom within a backyard wooden shed using common materials and HEPA filters to maintain positive air pressure. While this setup achieves the necessary air purity for chip manufacturing, the article highlights the prohibitive cost and complexity of acquiring the actual chip-making tools, which run into billions of dollars, making home chip fabrication impractical.
Morning Tech Bits
The conflict in Iran poses a significant risk to global chip supplies and the expansion of artificial intelligence. Nvidia now dominates the PC graphics card market, accounting for nearly all sales. The article also briefly touches on financial commentary from Jim Cramer.
Intel bigs up its latest 18A chip node as fit for external customers but probably not Nvidia, for now
Intel is marketing its new 18A chip node as suitable for external customers, not just its own products, according to CFO Dave Zinsner. While Intel and Nvidia have a product collaboration involving CPUs and GPUs, Zinsner indicated that Nvidia is not currently expected to use Intel's foundry services for manufacturing its GPUs.
