Semiconductors
Ongoing coverage on Semiconductors.
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US lawsuit accuses Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron of worsening the RAM crisis by fixing memory prices and supply
Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are facing a US class-action lawsuit accusing them of fixing RAM prices and supply, thereby worsening the global memory crisis. The lawsuit alleges the companies colluded to shift production from consumer RAM to High Bandwidth Memory for AI data centers, reducing overall supply and driving up prices since 2022. Micron has stated they disagree with the allegations and will defend themselves.
Morning Tech Bits
Apple has announced significant price increases across its product lines, with some items seeing premiums of up to $1,300. Separately, IBM claims to have developed the world's first sub-nanometer chip, while ASUS is releasing beta BIOS updates.
Micron (MU) Q3 FY26 earnings results beat EPS and revenue expectations
Micron reported its Q3 FY26 earnings, exceeding analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings-per-share. The company's strong performance is attributed to high demand for its memory and storage components, driven by AI development and the gaming industry. Micron's stock saw an increase in after-hours trading following the announcement.
AMD is said to be holding talks with Samsung about making some of its future chips to offset TSMC's constrained…
AMD is reportedly in discussions with Samsung to manufacture some of its future chips, potentially starting in 2028. This move is reportedly driven by capacity constraints at TSMC, AMD's primary chip manufacturer. The talks could involve various chip types, including future CPUs and APUs, with Samsung's process nodes being considered as an alternative to TSMC's.
Morning Tech Bits
Chinese memory brands are shifting away from Samsung and Micron, opting for domestic silicon from CXMT and YMTC. Companies like Corsair, HP, and Dell are already integrating these China-produced DDR5 chips into their products.
Evening Tech Bits
This article briefly touches on several tech industry news items. SpaceX reportedly raised $10 billion more than expected in its IPO. Intel's Serpent Lake SoCs with NVIDIA RTX GPU tiles are rumored for Q1 2028, and users are reportedly unhappy with AMD's memory practices.
Elon Musk speaks to ASML CEO and employees ahead of SpaceX IPO
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, recently praised ASML, a key supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, calling it "arguably the greatest company in Europe." This comes as SpaceX prepares for a record-setting $80 billion IPO and seeks to secure more chips for its operations. Musk's comments were made privately at ASML's annual technology conference.
Google reportedly orders at least three million chips from Intel to arrive in 2028, as TSMC struggles to keep up with…
Google has reportedly ordered at least three million Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) from Intel, with deliveries expected in 2028. This move comes as semiconductor leader TSMC struggles to meet demand due to the AI boom. Intel is also reportedly being tested by Nvidia for its next GPU architecture, potentially strengthening Intel's position in the gaming market.
Engadget Podcast: What does NVIDIA's RTX Spark mean for PCs?
The Engadget Podcast discusses NVIDIA's new RTX Spark chip and its potential impact on the future of Windows PCs. The segment explores how this new hardware could reshape the PC landscape.
TikTok creator ByteDance to start making its own processors
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, plans to manufacture its own central processing units (CPUs). This initiative aims to bolster the company's artificial intelligence capabilities.
ByteDance has had enough of waiting months for processors, so it's going to make them itself
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly developing its own CPUs to support its artificial intelligence infrastructure and reduce reliance on external chip manufacturers like Intel and AMD. The company is exploring both Arm and RISC-V architectures for its custom silicon. This move follows similar initiatives by other major tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the company plans to invest around $150,000,000,000 in Taiwan each year, describing the…
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced plans to invest approximately $150 billion annually in Taiwan, calling the country the 'epicentre of the AI revolution.' The company also intends to build a new headquarters in Taiwan, a project estimated to cost $5 trillion and create 4,000 jobs. These investments follow AMD's similar commitment to invest at least $10 billion in Taiwan for AI infrastructure.
SK Hynix hits $1 trillion valuation
Chipmaker SK Hynix has surpassed a $1 trillion valuation, joining an elite group of companies reaching this financial milestone. The surge in valuation highlights the growing importance and market value of semiconductor manufacturers.
Micron (MU) stock tops $1 trillion market capitalization
Micron Technology has surpassed a $1 trillion market capitalization, driven by a surge in demand for its chips and memory components fueled by the artificial intelligence boom. This milestone highlights the company's significant role in the current technological landscape.
Huawei claims it will make cutting-edge semiconductors by 2031
Huawei announced its intention to produce cutting-edge semiconductors by 2031, stating that its next-generation chips will be both feasible and affordable. This move signals a significant ambition in advanced chip manufacturing.
The US government is pumping $2,000,000,000 in CHIPS and Science Act money into quantum computing firms
The US Department of Commerce is allocating over $2 billion through the CHIPS and Science Act to nine quantum computing companies, including significant investments in IBM and GlobalFoundries. This initiative aims to bolster the nation's leadership in quantum technology and semiconductor manufacturing, with companies like D-Wave and Rigetti Computing also receiving substantial funding.
Samsung has swerved a planned South Korean factory strike with a last-minute deal, so the memory machine rumbles on
Samsung Electronics has reached a last-minute agreement with its labor union, averting a planned 18-day strike. The union had previously demanded 15% of annual operating profits for employee bonuses and the removal of a salary cap on performance pay. The details of the new proposal are yet to be revealed, but the union has agreed to suspend the strike pending an internal vote.
Evening Tech Bits
Nvidia exceeded its first-quarter financial estimates and provided a positive sales outlook driven by strong demand for its chips. Separately, AMD's Ryzen AI Max 400 'Gorgon Halo' processor was highlighted for its substantial unified memory capacity.
Former Samsung boss predicts the memory crisis could be over in the second half of next year thanks to a…
A former Samsung Electronics executive predicts the global memory chip crisis could end in the latter half of 2027 or early 2028 due to a significant increase in manufacturing capacity in China. This surge in supply, potentially driven by a slowdown in AI industry investment, could lead to a substantial drop in memory prices, shifting the market from a shortage to a potential glut.
The US has approved the sale of Nvidia H200 chips to 10 Chinese firms, but sources say they're still waiting for…
The US has approved the sale of Nvidia's H200 AI GPUs to 10 Chinese firms, continuing a discussion from March regarding import approvals. This decision aims to balance US interests in the AI race with potential revenue gains for Nvidia, while China seeks to reduce reliance on foreign AI goods. The approval comes amidst ongoing trade relations discussions between the US and China.
