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0 pointsKK7NIL1y ago0 comments

GF sold its EUV machine several years ago when it decided to stop trying to compete at the leading edge of logic processes. So, they're not comparable to what TSMC, Intel and Samsung are doing.

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JonChesterfield1y ago

They're not in a position to grind out the AI supercomputers of today's excitement. Those aren't the chips I'm worried about from a national security perspective.

It's the microcontrollers and FPGAs controlling weapons systems that really should be made within the country boundaries and that should be completely fine on GF's machinery.

KK7NILOP1y ago

Intel was never heavily involved in that, so idk why you think we'd be able to deduce that meaning from your previous comment.

Also, the military semiconductor supply chain is already protected and has serious export restrictions, you just don't hear about it often.

Don't forget that today's leading edge nodes are tomorrow's trailing edge, so you really can't escape the issue.

JonChesterfield1y ago

I suppose there are multiple reasons why saving Intel might be important. Making chips used for defence seems the most persuasive one to me.

There's been a continual drive towards better semiconductor processes. That's really important for things like GPU compute. I think we're past diminishing returns for a lot of other things. There's probably a ~14nm arm chip in the keyboard I'm typing on that's only there because it was the cheapest option. Does the ECU in a car benefit from being sub 7nm? Maybe, probably not by much.

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JonChesterfield1y ago

They're not in a position to grind out the AI supercomputers of today's excitement. Those aren't the chips I'm worried about from a national security perspective.

It's the microcontrollers and FPGAs controlling weapons systems that really should be made within the country boundaries and that should be completely fine on GF's machinery.

KK7NILOP1y ago

Intel was never heavily involved in that, so idk why you think we'd be able to deduce that meaning from your previous comment.

Also, the military semiconductor supply chain is already protected and has serious export restrictions, you just don't hear about it often.

Don't forget that today's leading edge nodes are tomorrow's trailing edge, so you really can't escape the issue.

JonChesterfield1y ago

I suppose there are multiple reasons why saving Intel might be important. Making chips used for defence seems the most persuasive one to me.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse