According to TomsHardware , amid speculation that Intel might partner with TSMC to operate its manufacturing plants, four former Intel executives have spoken out against it. They say that this not only poses economic risks but also raises many technical issues that could undermine America's technological autonomy.
Intel’s US factories, which include facilities in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and a new one under construction in Ohio, are worth about $108 billion. These facilities are designed to run Intel’s own semiconductor manufacturing processes, which are significantly different from TSMC’s technology. If TSMC takes over, switching the production lines would be challenging due to the incompatibility between the two systems.
EUV lithography system, one of the major technical challenges if Intel is taken over by TSMC
Four former Intel executives, David B. Yoffie, Reed Hundt, Charlene Barshefsky, and James Plummer, wrote in Fortune magazine criticizing the idea of TSMC taking control of Intel’s manufacturing division. They noted that Intel has its own manufacturing processes, including Intel 14nm, 10SF/10ESF, Intel 4 and Intel 3, and the upcoming 18A technology. These technologies are optimized for specific product lines and cannot be easily replaced by TSMC’s technology. If such a change were to occur, adjusting equipment and manufacturing processes could take years and cost billions of dollars.
In addition, TSMC primarily manufactures chips using a foundry model for a variety of customers, while Intel has long operated a closed design and manufacturing model. If TSMC takes control of Intel’s foundry, American companies like Apple, AMD, and Nvidia could be disadvantaged by being dependent on a single manufacturer. This weakens market competition and reduces their flexibility in choosing advanced chip manufacturing partners.
TSMC uses FinFET and moves to GAAFET, while Intel adopts RibbonFET, making it difficult if Intel Foundry has to integrate TSMC's technology
Another major challenge is the difference in manufacturing equipment. While both Intel and TSMC use ASML’s EUV lithography machines, each company has its own optimization process. Intel’s equipment is customized for its technology, which differs significantly from TSMC’s configuration. Switching a manufacturing line to accommodate TSMC’s process is not only complicated, but could also cause significant disruption to chip production.
Even if TSMC takes over, some of Intel’s older production lines, such as Intel 14nm or 10SF/10ESF, will still be difficult to utilize. These technologies are mainly for Intel’s internal needs, and switching to a foundry model may not bring significant economic benefits. Without new customers, TSMC may have to close some production lines, resulting in billions of dollars in wasted capital.
The debate over the future of Intel Foundry is far from over. While the U.S. government has yet to make a formal decision, the opposition from former Intel executives suggests that any change in control of the company’s manufacturing operations will require careful technical and strategic consideration to protect the autonomy of the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuu-lanh-dao-intel-chi-trich-ke-hoach-hop-tac-voi-tsmc-185250301225818175.htm
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