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Compounded by the availability of the technology. Few leading node machines = machine manufacturer/fab can charge high margins Multiple trailing node machines
by ethbr1 2y ago
Compounded by the availability of the technology.
Few leading node machines = machine manufacturer/fab can charge high margins
Multiple trailing node machines/suppliers = machine manufacturers/fabs begin to compete on price, driving down margins
- alephnerd 2y ago^^^ this. A good example of this principle is the diffusion of analog chip and memory chip fabrication in the 1990s to early 2010s (US/TW/JP/SK in 1980s-90s to MY/SG/PH in the 90s to CN in the 2000s). The ongoing diffusion of specialized DUVL processes like 20nm, 28nm, and 40nm is another great example (US in the 2000s to TW/SK in the 2010s to CN in the late 2010s/early 2020s). Nowadays companies like PSMC are selling the entire end-to-end Fab IP for 28nm/40nm processes to companies in JP, IN, ID, US, etc, further diffusing the know how.