Semiconductor Manufacturing
Ongoing coverage on Semiconductor Manufacturing.
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So THIS is why component makers have started validating their products for Chinese memory
Component manufacturers like MSI and Asus are validating their products for Chinese-made DRAM, driven by a significant ramp-up in production from companies such as CXMT. This expansion, supported by state backing and faster construction times, could see Chinese memory makers quickly rivaling established players like Micron. The increased capacity is expected to meet high global demand, potentially impacting pricing and availability for PC components.
Apple (AAPL) begins testing Chinese RAM maker CXMT chips for products sold in China
Apple has begun testing DRAM chips from Chinese manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) for devices sold in China. The company is also lobbying the US government to allow broader use of CXMT products, amidst ongoing economic tensions and a global race for AI advancements. CXMT is a significant player in the DRAM market, and its expansion could impact global pricing.
Apple pledges to buy $30 billion of Broadcom's US-made chips
Apple has committed to spending $30 billion on chips manufactured by Broadcom as part of its initiative to boost US manufacturing. This significant investment highlights Apple's strategy to diversify its supply chain and support domestic production.
Analysts think SK hynix's DRAM and NAND prices will finally drop by the end of 2028, but not before a huge rise…
Analysts from Bernstein predict that SK hynix's DRAM and NAND prices will see a significant rise through 2027 before dropping in 2028. Despite the eventual decline, prices are expected to remain considerably higher than 2025 levels. SK hynix is investing heavily in increased chip output, but aims to manage production to avoid oversupply.
SK hynix to invest over $60 billion in chip plants in South Korea, but the memory crisis still seems a long way from…
SK hynix plans to invest over $65 billion in South Korea to build new chip plants, focusing on NAND flash memory and chip packaging. This significant investment comes amid a global memory crisis, with companies like Samsung and Micron also facing supply shortages. The article analyzes the long-term implications of these investments and the ongoing memory crisis, suggesting it may persist beyond 2028.
Former PlayStation boss warns Sony won't be able to replicate a key factor to the PS2's success "in the current generation" due to hardware costs
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment America president Shawn Layden believes current hardware costs and market pressures, driven by demand from AI and cryptocurrency, will prevent current-generation consoles from replicating the PlayStation 2's success through significant price drops. He highlighted that a substantial portion of the PS2's record-breaking sales came after its price was reduced to $199, a strategy he feels is no longer feasible.
Morning Tech Bits
Intel is expected to resume the supply of its 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th generation processors in mainland China. Separately, data centers are reportedly being targeted by cargo thieves, with over $1 million worth of copper stolen.
I can barely afford AMD and Nvidia's current 4 nm chips, so I'm not sure what to make of IBM's new sub-1…
IBM has announced the world's first sub-1 nanometer chip technology, featuring a revolutionary transistor architecture at the 0.7 nm node. This development promises nearly 100 billion transistors on a fingernail-sized chip, utilizing a novel 'nanostack' design. While exciting for pushing chip production forward, the high cost of current advanced chips from AMD, Nvidia, and Intel raises concerns about the affordability of IBM's new technology.
Morning Tech Bits
RAM manufacturers are facing lawsuits for alleged price and supply fixing, which has led to increased costs. Separately, IBM has announced a breakthrough in fitting nearly 100 billion transistors onto a single chip.
Memory prices are predicted to rise as much as 50% in Q3 and it only gets worse from there
Memory prices for RAM and SSDs are predicted to increase significantly in Q3 and Q4 of 2026, with further year-on-year increases expected in 2027, driven by demand from AI data centers. A recovery is not anticipated until 2028. This price surge is already impacting PC builds and is expected to lead to price hikes for devices like iPads and Macbooks.
Morning Tech Bits
AMD is reportedly in discussions with Samsung regarding the manufacturing of some of its future chips. This move is seen as a way to mitigate potential supply constraints from TSMC for cutting-edge wafers. The US has expressed concerns about China potentially accessing top-tier semiconductor technology.
The US is worried China could have a top-spec chipmaking machine despite export restrictions, but the machine maker ASML…
The US is reportedly concerned that ASML, the sole manufacturer of advanced chipmaking machines, may have supplied its top-tier EUV machines to China, despite export restrictions. ASML denies these claims, stating no EUV machines are in China, while US officials claim to have evidence to the contrary. The potential presence of such technology in China could significantly advance its chipmaking capabilities, narrowing the gap with Western companies.
Trump says Apple has agreed to build chips with Intel in the USA
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its chips in America, and that Nvidia will also build chips with Intel in the USA. While there is no official confirmation from Apple, Intel's stock price rose significantly following the announcement. The article notes that any such deal would be a major win for Intel's customer fab business.
Trump claims Apple and Intel closed deal to manufacture chips in the US
Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that Apple and Intel have finalized an agreement to manufacture chips within the United States. This potential deal signifies a move towards increased domestic production for key technology components.
The BBC quizzed chip maker TSMC on the possibility of increased prices and you're really not going to like the…
TSMC's Chief Financial Officer, Wendell Huang, indicated that the company is likely to increase prices for its semiconductor manufacturing services. While not sudden four or five-fold increases, he suggested that price adjustments reflecting the company's value, including technological leadership and manufacturing capacity, are probable due to rising costs and high demand. This news comes as PC component prices are already a concern for consumers and the industry.
Intel may be struggling to supply enough of its new chips
Intel is reportedly facing difficulties in supplying sufficient quantities of its new Series 3 chips, manufactured on its 18A process. The company's ability to meet demand from laptop manufacturers is in question.
Intel targets India for a new $3.3 billion factory that will make the base substrates for its next generation of chips
Intel plans to invest $3.3 billion in partnership with 3D Glass Solutions, Inc. to build a semiconductor substrate manufacturing facility in Odisha, India. The plant, expected to take six years to complete, will produce high-density interconnect and advanced packaging glass core substrates. This initiative is part of India's 'Make in India' program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.
Samsung workers to take home $340,000 on average thanks to union's vote to approve historic profit-share deal
Samsung semiconductor workers will receive an average of $340,000 in bonuses following a union vote to approve a historic profit-sharing deal. The agreement grants workers 10.5% of the company's operating profit, totaling an estimated $22.6 billion. The article also touches on the broader role of labor unions in the tech and gaming industries, referencing recent events at Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast.
AMD is investing $10 billion+ into Taiwan tech to 'accelerate next-gen AI infrastructure', with some fancy new…
AMD announced an investment of over $10 billion into Taiwan's semiconductor and AI ecosystem to expand strategic partnerships and scale advanced packaging facilities for AI infrastructure. The company also highlighted production milestones for its Venice Epyc CPUs on TSMC's 2nm technology and plans for its Helios rack-scale platform.
AMD announces production ramp of first 2 nm CPUs as Intel teases 10A and 7A chip roadmap
AMD has announced that its first 2 nm server CPUs, codenamed Venice, are now in production with TSMC, skipping the 3 nm node for future PC processors. Intel has also teased potential future 10 nm and 7 nm nodes, indicating continued progress in semiconductor manufacturing despite the traditional cadence of Moore's Law slowing.
