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I don’t get it - who would use intel as a fab? How would they competitive? And trustworthy in the sense, not doing competing designs in house?

Cthulhu_ 5y ago
Well first off, Intel themselves; they sell millions of chips a year. Given the current chip crisis, after their own capacity they would sell off the rest to the highest bidder. I don't think they would be shy of customers, except for direct competitors. But keep in mind that CPUs represent only part of the semiconductor market.
dannyw 5y ago
Apple buys screens and other components from Samsung (potentially giving them an early look into the next iPhone's form factor, visual design, and specs); the supply chain is built around trust.
pwthornton 5y ago
I think that's the wrong question. Who would use Intel as a cutting edge fab? Unclear. But plenty of people would love access to a fab for their non-cutting edge needs. The risk with this is that Intel will become a fab for older, less expensive chips, while TSMC and others gobble up the top tier stuff. But the world needs more, not less, fab capacity, and there are plenty of people would gladly use Intel for their needs if the opportunity was there.
- ac29 5y ago
  Additionally, only 23% of TSMCs revenue comes from their most cutting edge 5nm process as of the most recent quarter [0]. Everything else is 7nm or larger, which Intel is capable of doing today. In the scenario where Intel remains a major node behind TSMC, there is still a lot of fab business they could pick up. [0] https://twitter.com/IanCutress/status/1481581119740989440/photo/1 https://twitter.com/IanCutress/status/1481581119740989440/ph...
intev 5y ago
Microsoft? Maybe another phone maker who can't secure manufacturing with TSMC? They will clearly be tier II for a while, but I think there's enough chip design companies out there vying for manufacturing capacity.
wbsss4412 5y ago
People who need to make chips? It’s not like there is an excess of capacity right now, and there are only a small number of players that even offer what intel has available.
UncleOxidant 5y ago
> who would use intel as a fab? We've got a very serious shortage of fab capacity right now that will probably last for at least 2 or 3 more years. The answer would be anyone who needs fab capacity of the sort Intel can provide (not likely AMD of course, though I could see Apple giving it a try).
MangoCoffee 5y ago
Apple will ditch TSMC if someone else offer better node and cheaper price. there is no loyalty. Apple will ditch you if they can get cheaper price or you are competing with them like Samsung.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
jacobr1 5y ago
Those who want to manufacture their chips locally (US or EU).

Cthulhu_ 5y ago

Well first off, Intel themselves; they sell millions of chips a year. Given the current chip crisis, after their own capacity they would sell off the rest to the highest bidder. I don't think they would be shy of customers, except for direct competitors. But keep in mind that CPUs represent only part of the semiconductor market.

dannyw 5y ago

Apple buys screens and other components from Samsung (potentially giving them an early look into the next iPhone's form factor, visual design, and specs); the supply chain is built around trust.

pwthornton 5y ago

I think that's the wrong question. Who would use Intel as a cutting edge fab? Unclear. But plenty of people would love access to a fab for their non-cutting edge needs. The risk with this is that Intel will become a fab for older, less expensive chips, while TSMC and others gobble up the top tier stuff. But the world needs more, not less, fab capacity, and there are plenty of people would gladly use Intel for their needs if the opportunity was there.

ac29 5y ago
Additionally, only 23% of TSMCs revenue comes from their most cutting edge 5nm process as of the most recent quarter [0]. Everything else is 7nm or larger, which Intel is capable of doing today. In the scenario where Intel remains a major node behind TSMC, there is still a lot of fab business they could pick up. [0] https://twitter.com/IanCutress/status/1481581119740989440/photo/1 https://twitter.com/IanCutress/status/1481581119740989440/ph...

intev 5y ago

Microsoft? Maybe another phone maker who can't secure manufacturing with TSMC? They will clearly be tier II for a while, but I think there's enough chip design companies out there vying for manufacturing capacity.

wbsss4412 5y ago

People who need to make chips? It’s not like there is an excess of capacity right now, and there are only a small number of players that even offer what intel has available.

UncleOxidant 5y ago

> who would use intel as a fab? We've got a very serious shortage of fab capacity right now that will probably last for at least 2 or 3 more years. The answer would be anyone who needs fab capacity of the sort Intel can provide (not likely AMD of course, though I could see Apple giving it a try).

MangoCoffee 5y ago

Apple will ditch TSMC if someone else offer better node and cheaper price. there is no loyalty. Apple will ditch you if they can get cheaper price or you are competing with them like Samsung.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

jacobr1 5y ago

Those who want to manufacture their chips locally (US or EU).