2 ms·

It took years for this man to get to the point where he is now, and all this with modern equipment, and widely available literature. Imagine what a monumental

It took years for this man to get to the point where he is now, and all this with modern equipment, and widely available literature. Imagine what a monumental feat it was 50 years ago. Him doing it all by himself is something quite extraordinary by itself. I can't imagine if that all can be replicated even by a mid-sized research university with decent labs (academia, and research outsource almost everything from their lab scale chip plants besides things which make their area of expertise.)

netr0ute 5y ago
> a mid-sized research university with decent labs What kind of university are you talking about? This could be anywhere from some random state school to Princeton.
- baybal2 5y ago
  A university which can afford semi equipment. Even 30 years old process tools cost eye watering sums.
  - netr0ute 5y ago
    > cost eye watering sums The good universities like Princeton/MIT/Harvard have literal billions, so semi equipment could be a drop in the bucket for them.
    - baybal2 5y ago
      Not every university is Princeton/MIT/Harvard
      - inglor_cz 5y ago
        Well, maybe they could share access with some less endowed institutions.
      - netr0ute 5y ago
        You know what they say, go big or go home
amelius 5y ago
From a theoretical perspective, the main achievement was the junction diode. Everything after that was incremental.
rasz 5y ago
Not quite 50 years, but in 1982 under the Iron Curtain two Polish students developed Intel 8080 clone as a PHD thesis. Manufactured between 1982-1993. http://retrokolekcja.pl/MCY7880.php http://retrokolekcja.pl/MCY7880.php For comparison original 8080A: http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/8080A%20struktura_d.jpg http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/8080A%20struktura_d.jpg Polish MCY7880: http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880%20struktura%20ITE.jpg http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880%20struktura%20ITE.jp... Russian KR580BM80: http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880_zsrr.jpg http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880_zsrr.jpg And the absolutely amazing gem. In 1983 legendary Polish science education TV program SONDA documented design and manufacturing of first batches in a humorous lets bake a cake fashion. Paper plotters, light pens, developing/rinsing dies by hand, electron microscope debugging, the whole nine yards! part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJGp7keIA_o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJGp7keIA_o part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHl6m93Hay0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHl6m93Hay0 part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOTwkT-PDU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOTwkT-PDU Amazing anything worked considering really Spartan conditions. Yields were low and political pressure from Moscow meant later batches were mostly KR580BM80 dies packaged in Poland.

netr0ute 5y ago

> a mid-sized research university with decent labs What kind of university are you talking about? This could be anywhere from some random state school to Princeton.

baybal2 5y ago
A university which can afford semi equipment. Even 30 years old process tools cost eye watering sums.
- netr0ute 5y ago
  > cost eye watering sums The good universities like Princeton/MIT/Harvard have literal billions, so semi equipment could be a drop in the bucket for them.
  - baybal2 5y ago
    Not every university is Princeton/MIT/Harvard
    - inglor_cz 5y ago
      Well, maybe they could share access with some less endowed institutions.
    - netr0ute 5y ago
      You know what they say, go big or go home

amelius 5y ago

From a theoretical perspective, the main achievement was the junction diode. Everything after that was incremental.

rasz 5y ago

Not quite 50 years, but in 1982 under the Iron Curtain two Polish students developed Intel 8080 clone as a PHD thesis. Manufactured between 1982-1993. http://retrokolekcja.pl/MCY7880.php http://retrokolekcja.pl/MCY7880.php For comparison original 8080A: http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/8080A%20struktura_d.jpg http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/8080A%20struktura_d.jpg Polish MCY7880: http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880%20struktura%20ITE.jpg http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880%20struktura%20ITE.jp... Russian KR580BM80: http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880_zsrr.jpg http://retrokolekcja.pl/zdjecia/MCY7880_zsrr.jpg And the absolutely amazing gem. In 1983 legendary Polish science education TV program SONDA documented design and manufacturing of first batches in a humorous lets bake a cake fashion. Paper plotters, light pens, developing/rinsing dies by hand, electron microscope debugging, the whole nine yards! part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJGp7keIA_o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJGp7keIA_o part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHl6m93Hay0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHl6m93Hay0 part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOTwkT-PDU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOTwkT-PDU Amazing anything worked considering really Spartan conditions. Yields were low and political pressure from Moscow meant later batches were mostly KR580BM80 dies packaged in Poland.