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A single 3nm fab is ~$20B. In the last decade TSMCs investments in Taiwan capacity (5nm-28nm) exceed $100B. All the other fabs and infrastructure many $100Bs. N
by kurthr 3y ago
A single 3nm fab is ~$20B. In the last decade TSMCs investments in Taiwan capacity (5nm-28nm) exceed $100B. All the other fabs and infrastructure many $100Bs. Not including contractors or support personnel TSMC employs ~50k in Taiwan. It would be an enormous undertaking.
- toss1 3y agoIs it not possible to move existing equipment? Seems starting with moving the most modern lines out of harms way, and building all new lines not on Taiwan, they would soon reach a state where what is left behind is multiple generations old, so worth far less Certainly a good idea even if moving nothing, to also build nothing new within China's reach.
- Rapzid 3y agoIsn't that how a fab gets built? Equipment is moved to the site and assembled? Seems it would be more expensive due to needing to disassemble plus you'd be offline a fab.
- toss1 3y agoYes, of course moving would be an extra expense and involve downtime. This would be weighed against the risk of losing it all due to CCP invading, either through destruction or just being seized. [Total Equip Loss Cost] * [Probability of Loss] vs [Additional Cost of Moving] + [Additional Cost of Downtime]