Apple-TSMC: The Partnership That Built Modern Semiconductors

https://newsletter.semianalysis.com/p/apple-tsmc-the-partnership-that-built

by klelatti • 7 months ago

10 1 7 months ago

newsletter.semianalysis.com

roadbuster• 7 months ago

This is a well-written, well-researched piece, but some of the narratives are off the mark. For example:

Phase 1 (Courtship, 2010-2014): TSMC needed Apple for legitimacy

TSMC was already the world's largest pure-play foundry long before Apple walked through the door, controlling more than 50% of market revenue. Although vertically-integrated microprocessor businesses had better-performing processes (Intel, AMD/IBM with PD-SOI), TSMC was head of the pack in the foundry world (competitors: UMC, Chartered, SMIC, etc).

What if Apple chose Intel in 2014?

How would they have done that? Intel didn't even offer a foundry service at that time, and it would have taken years for Intel to adapt to a foundry model (one which publishes a "process design kit" for use by industry-standard EDA software to design and simulate circuits).

Apple-TSMC: The Partnership That Built Modern Semiconductors

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