All posts tagged: fabs

Intel Agrees to TSMC Takeover of Chip Foundries, Sources Say

Intel Agrees to TSMC Takeover of Chip Foundries, Sources Say

Intel foundry. Image: Intel Intel has tentatively agreed to let Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) take over some of its chipmaking facilities, according to The Information. TSMC will hold a 20% stake in the joint venture, contributing not cash, but value through sharing its chipmaking practices and training Intel staff, according to anonymous sources cited by the publication. Rumours of a possible takeover of Intel started swirling in February, with TSMC and Broadcom considering splitting the U.S. company’s manufacturing and design arms between them. The following month, TSMC reportedly offered a share in its proposed acquisition of the chip foundries to NVIDIA and AMD, as well as Broadcom. Both NVIDIA and Broadcom initiated manufacturing testing at Intel’s facilities at the time, sources said. However, Intel did not want to sell its chip design house separately from the foundry division, which manufactures custom chips for its customers. SEE: TSMC’s $100B Investment in US Data Centers Sets Foreign Investment Record Intel used to be a giant in the CPU industry, but the AI boom has led to …

Who is Intel’s New CEO? 5 Key Things to Know

Who is Intel’s New CEO? 5 Key Things to Know

Image: Intel Intel has named chip industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, effective March 18. The 65-year-old spent 12 years as the CEO of Cadence Design Systems, a company specializing in software and hardware solutions for chip design, during which he doubled its revenue. Tan also founded a venture capital firm that has backed numerous successful tech startups and served on the boards of major tech companies, including Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Schneider Electric. “Together, we will work hard to restore Intel’s position as a world-class products company, establish ourselves as a world-class foundry and delight our customers like never before,” Tan said in a letter to Intel employees on Wednesday. TechRepublic breaks down key details about the Malaysian-born executive as he takes charge of the U.S. tech giant. 1. Tan was on Intel’s board of directors As CEO of Cadence Design Systems, Tan oversaw the company’s supply of design solutions and IP to Intel. He also served on Intel’s board of directors from 2022 to 2024. This was a significant era …

TSMC Proposes Shared Takeover with Chip Giants

TSMC Proposes Shared Takeover with Chip Giants

Intel foundry. Image: Intel Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has offered a share in its proposed acquisition of Intel’s chip foundries to NVIDIA, Broadcom, and AMD, sources told Reuters. The Taiwanese chipmaker intends to oversee the operations of Intel’s fab division, but aims to retain less than 50% ownership and is seeking multiple partners for the deal. Intel’s reluctance and internal divisions According to the anonymous sources, Intel does not want to sell its chip design house separately from the foundry division, which manufactures custom chips for its customers. Intel executives are also divided on whether striking any deal is a good idea. Last month, it was reported that TSMC and Broadcom were considering splitting the U.S. company’s manufacturing and design arms between them. Intel’s factories already operate somewhat independently; since 2022, they have taken orders from outside customers and in-house at equal priority. More about data centers Challenges in potential TSMC-Intel partnership TSMC has its own demands when it comes to the joint venture, as it wants any potential investors to also be Intel advanced-manufacturing …

TSMC’s 0B Investment in US Data Centers Sets Foreign Investment Record

TSMC’s $100B Investment in US Data Centers Sets Foreign Investment Record

Image: Wikimedia Commons/TrickHunter Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has pledged to spend an additional $100 billion building data centres in the U.S., bringing total spend up to $160 billion. The investment will go into building three new fabrication plants in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as two packaging facilities and a research center. TSMC has dubbed it the “largest single foreign direct investment in U.S. history,” and says the build itself will create 40,000 construction jobs at the Fab 21 complex over the next four years. Once up and running, tens of thousands of new “high-paying, high-tech” jobs in chip manufacturing and research will be added while generating over $200 billion in indirect economic output nationwide. TSMC’s history in the U.S. started in 2020, when it committed $12 billion to build its first Arizona factory. It raised this figure to $40 billion in 2022 with the announcement of a second fab, and then $65 billion last April with a third. The long-term benefits may not be felt for a while, though, as the second factory’s opening date …