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I don't think it is. However, that brings the question of why would TSMC allocate capacity for Intel. If in the long term Intel plans on going back to using the

I don't think it is. However, that brings the question of why would TSMC allocate capacity for Intel. If in the long term Intel plans on going back to using their fabs, why offer them this short-term advantage?

hungryhobo 6y ago
because i don't think it'll hurt their bottom line? even if intel came back with their own fab, amd is not going to use intel fab, qualcomm is not gonna use intel fab. So this is just an extra source of revenue and it potentially opens the door for intel to become dependent on them.
- carlhjerpe 6y ago
  What he's likely refering to is that TSMC has huge backorders as it is, why they would allocate their resources to Intel rather than their existing partners which already fill their pipes makes little sense unless Intel commits fully to TSMC to become a partner which they can count on when expanding their production.
  - addicted 6y ago
    It’s a massive marketing and reputation coup. Besides, Intel has the kind of margins and volumes that if TSMC wanted to massively expand their production lines, Intel’s orders could underwrite it. Finally, there may be some technology transfer advantages as well.
    - carlhjerpe 6y ago
      > It’s a massive marketing and reputation coup. Expand please > Besides, Intel has the kind of margins and volumes that if TSMC wanted to massively expand their production lines, Intel’s orders could underwrite it. This is my point, imagine building all this manufacturing capacity for Intel, and then they get a breakthrough with their own manufacturing and goes "nah, we'll make these ourselves now". Since <insert nm here> manufacturing still gets old after awhile it's not like it'll be very utilized once it's "old" (I believe, taken out of thin air though, i know some big NM is still used for things like switch ASICs and such)
      - mrkstu 6y ago
        I've got to believe that TSMC has required enough booking volume to safely amortize the investment in new capacity.
        carlhjerpe 6y ago
        Probably indeed, but that's still capacity their existing partners could make good use of. Which is why I think it's a little weird. Obviously this is something that wasn't just taken out of someones arse, but it does raise questions for me.
- josalhor 6y ago
  Right, but AMD may not gain enough market share if it loses the competitive advantage that TSMC provides. This strategy may not play well for TSMC in the long term.

hungryhobo 6y ago

because i don't think it'll hurt their bottom line? even if intel came back with their own fab, amd is not going to use intel fab, qualcomm is not gonna use intel fab. So this is just an extra source of revenue and it potentially opens the door for intel to become dependent on them.

carlhjerpe 6y ago
What he's likely refering to is that TSMC has huge backorders as it is, why they would allocate their resources to Intel rather than their existing partners which already fill their pipes makes little sense unless Intel commits fully to TSMC to become a partner which they can count on when expanding their production.
- addicted 6y ago
  It’s a massive marketing and reputation coup. Besides, Intel has the kind of margins and volumes that if TSMC wanted to massively expand their production lines, Intel’s orders could underwrite it. Finally, there may be some technology transfer advantages as well.
  - carlhjerpe 6y ago
    > It’s a massive marketing and reputation coup. Expand please > Besides, Intel has the kind of margins and volumes that if TSMC wanted to massively expand their production lines, Intel’s orders could underwrite it. This is my point, imagine building all this manufacturing capacity for Intel, and then they get a breakthrough with their own manufacturing and goes "nah, we'll make these ourselves now". Since <insert nm here> manufacturing still gets old after awhile it's not like it'll be very utilized once it's "old" (I believe, taken out of thin air though, i know some big NM is still used for things like switch ASICs and such)
    - mrkstu 6y ago
      I've got to believe that TSMC has required enough booking volume to safely amortize the investment in new capacity.
      - carlhjerpe 6y ago
        Probably indeed, but that's still capacity their existing partners could make good use of. Which is why I think it's a little weird. Obviously this is something that wasn't just taken out of someones arse, but it does raise questions for me.
josalhor 6y ago
Right, but AMD may not gain enough market share if it loses the competitive advantage that TSMC provides. This strategy may not play well for TSMC in the long term.