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December 20
- Will ASIC Replace GPU?
➀ The rise of ASICs in the capital market is challenging the dominance of GPUs in AI computing;
➁ ASICs and GPUs are both semiconductor chips used for computing, with ASICs being dedicated to specific tasks;
➂ The performance and efficiency of ASICs are highly matched to the task algorithms, making them more reliable and energy-efficient than general-purpose chips like GPUs;
➃ NVIDIA's GPUs have a strong market position due to their performance, ecosystem, and integration capabilities, but the rise of ASICs presents opportunities for diversification in AI computing.
- A Nearly 100 Billion Yuan Investment Loss: The Most Disastrous Listing of the Year
➀ Kioxia, a renowned NAND flash giant, has determined its IPO price and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on December 18th, with an IPO price of 1455 yen per share and a company valuation of 7840 billion yen.
➁ Kioxia, originally a semiconductor storage division of Toshiba, was forced to be split and sold in 2018 due to debt. The transaction sparked fierce competition, and a consortium led by Bain Capital outbid a group led by Western Digital at the last moment with a bid of 182 billion US dollars.
➂ However, it now appears that Kioxia will become one of the most painful failures in private equity in Japan. The acquisition price in 2018 was 2 trillion yen, and the valuation at the time of listing has shrunk by 61%.
December 16
- How Domestic Chip Design Startups Can Break Through
➀ Signs indicate that there are only two years left for domestic chip design startups;
➁ Industry reshuffling starts with company layoffs, which is a prelude to restructuring;
➂ After two years, the market will be clearer for chip startups, and the peak of chip entrepreneurship will end.
- China's Domestic Giant Silicon Wafer Leader's IPO Application Accepted, Seeking to Raise 4.9 Billion Yuan
➀ Xi'an Yishuiwei Materials, a leading domestic silicon wafer manufacturer, has had its IPO application accepted on the Science and Technology Innovation Board.
➁ The company is the largest 12-inch silicon wafer manufacturer in mainland China, with a global market share of about 7% in terms of production capacity and 4% in monthly shipments.
➂ Established in 2016, Xi'an Yishuiwei has become a strategic supplier to major global silicon wafer suppliers, providing silicon wafers to most of the domestic leading logic wafer fabs.
- Memory Giant Concerns: The Ominous State of the Storage Industry
➀ Micron, a major US memory company, is set to release its financial report, as concerns about oversupply in the memory market, especially traditional products, are increasing.
➁ Despite a 'profit surprise' with $7.75 billion in sales between June and August, Micron expects sales to continue growing this quarter, driven by high-value products like HBM.
➂ The semiconductor industry is facing uncertainty due to weak demand for general-purpose storage beyond AI and the aggressive expansion of production by Chinese latercomers.
- Bloomberg's Trillion Dollar Valuation to AI ASIC Core Logic: A Detailed 9000-Word Analysis!
➀ Broadcom's stock surged 24.43% on the last trading day of the US stock market, reaching a market capitalization of 1.05 trillion US dollars;
➁ Broadcom's success is attributed to its aggressive acquisition strategy and cost control under CEO Hock Tan;
➂ Broadcom's focus on AI ASIC and its potential to disrupt the GPU market through custom chips and network technologies.
- AI Chip - ASIC Moment: Who is China's Broadcom?
➀ China currently lacks a company that can fully match Broadcom in the AI chip ASIC field;
➁ Broadcom, as a global leader in semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions, has made significant achievements in AI;
➂ Baidu, Apple, and AMD have grown through self-developed technology, while Broadcom has focused on acquisition to become a tech giant.
December 15
- The Rise of Cambrian Era to the pedestal
➀ Cambrian Era's stock has surged, with its market value reaching over 240 billion yuan, and its stock price has increased by nearly 340% this year.
➁ The reason behind Cambrian Era's strong stock performance includes its inclusion in the Shanghai Stock Exchange 50 Index, which requires funds tracking the index to buy Cambrian Era's shares passively.
➂ Despite the high valuation, Cambrian Era has never made a profit in its 7-year history, raising concerns about its sustainability.
- 2nm, The Winner Has Already Been Decided?
➀ The competition in 2nm wafer fabrication has become a clear victory for TSMC, with its advanced technology and strong customer demand.
➁ TSMC has achieved significant milestones in 2nm technology, including successful trial production and high yields.
➂ Apple and AMD are expected to be among the first customers for TSMC's 2nm technology, with Apple's A20 Pro and M5 chips set to be produced on this process.
➃ Intel and NVIDIA are also turning to TSMC for its 2nm technology, with Intel's Nova Lake desktop chips and NVIDIA's Rubin Next platform expected to be produced on TSMC's N2 process.
➄ Samsung faces challenges in 2nm technology, including yield issues and the potential loss of its own customers to TSMC.
➅ Intel's 2nm technology, known as 18A, faces delays and yield challenges, with concerns about its ability to compete with TSMC.
➆ Rapidus, a Japanese semiconductor company, is working on 2nm technology but faces significant challenges in the current market.
➇ The rise of TSMC in 2nm technology raises concerns about pricing power and the potential impact on the semiconductor industry.
- Semiconductor Industry Q3 2024 Earnings Summary: Nvidia, TSMC, Samsung, Broadcom, and More
➀ Nvidia reported a Q3 revenue of $35.062 billion, up 17% YoY and 94% QoQ, with a net profit of $19.309 billion, up 16% YoY and 109% QoQ.
➁ TSMC's Q3 revenue was NT$759.69 billion, up 39% YoY, with a net profit of NT$325.26 billion, up 54.2% YoY.
➂ Samsung Electronics posted a Q3 operating profit of 9.1834 trillion KRW, up 277.37% YoY, with sales and net profit up by 17.35% and 72.84% YoY, respectively.
December 14
- Huaiqin Technology Completes HK$2.85 Billion Acquisition of Yiluoda
➀ Huaiqin Technology has completed the acquisition of 80% shares of Yiluoda Holdings Limited for HK$2.85 billion;
➁ The acquisition aims to enhance the company's competitiveness in the smart hardware field;
➂ Yiluoda Holdings specializes in audio products and has a strong partnership with global audio brands like Apple's Beats.
- Apple's Chip Empire
➀ Apple's journey in self-developing chips, starting from the first iPhone to the A-series chips, and expanding to desktops with M1 chips in 2020.
➁ The challenges Apple faced in developing its own baseband chips, including licensing agreements with Qualcomm and the anticipated launch of its in-house developed Sinope baseband in 2024.
➂ Apple's expansion into射频前端 chips and wireless chips, aiming for end-to-end wireless solutions, and the development of a custom server chip for AI services, with the project code-named 'Baltra'.
December 13
- EUV Photolithography Gel: The Latest Development and Challenges
➀ The evolution of EUV photolithography gel from the 1970s to the present day, including various materials research.
➁ The unique aspects of EUV photolithography, such as short-wavelength manufacturing, special reflective optical systems, and special material systems.
➂ Common types of EUV photolithography gel, including chemical amplification, inorganic, non-chemical amplification, and hybrid gel.
➃ The main challenges in the development of EUV photolithography gel, such as sensitivity, resolution and LER, outgassing, and thermal stability.
- The Behind Story of ASML's Acquisition of Mapper: The Quadrilateral Struggle Between China, the US, Russia, and the Netherlands
➀ A former ASML employee with a Russian background was detained by the Dutch government for allegedly stealing chip-making manuals and other files from ASML and Mapper Lithography, sparking concerns from all sides;
➁ Mapper, a firm specializing in electron-beam lithography, was acquired by ASML in 2019, leading to a power struggle among the US, the Netherlands, China, and Russia;
➂ Mapper's technology, with high resolution and low cost, was considered a competitor to EUV lithography machines, but failed to gain widespread adoption due to its slow speed and low efficiency;
➃ Mapper received investment from RUSNANO, a Russian investment fund, which helped establish a factory in Moscow to produce necessary parts, but later faced financial difficulties and sought Chinese partners;
➄ The US Department of Defense was interested in Mapper's technology but failed to secure a deal, leading to Mapper's bankruptcy and ASML's acquisition;
➅ ASML acquired Mapper's technology and patents, but closed its electron-beam lithography product line, while Mapper's Russian factory was acquired by RUSNANO and continues to operate;
➆ Russia and China are continuing to develop their own electron-beam lithography technologies to meet their semiconductor manufacturing needs.
- Jiangsu's First Semiconductor IPO This Year Surges 568%: Two Equipment Leaders Hold Shares
➀ Pioneer Precision, a core component supplier for Jiangsu's semiconductor equipment, was successfully listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, with a surge of 534% on the first day of trading.
➁ This is the only company in Jiangsu to be listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board this year and the only company in the country to pass and be listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board in the same year since the introduction of the new 'national nine articles' in April and the 'eight articles' by the China Securities Regulatory Commission in June.
➂ Pioneer Precision has achieved localization and autonomy in a variety of key process components and has the capability to provide complete process support. It is one of the few domestic suppliers that can mass-produce and supply key components for etching equipment with 7nm and below domestic technology, directly competing with international manufacturers.
December 12
- 安徽首富曹仁贤投资院士加持的半导体公司阿基米德
➀ Anhui's richest man, Cao Renxian, recently invested in Akiydemi Semiconductor, a power semiconductor chip company in Hefei, supported by two academicians.
➁ Akiydemi has received strong support from Hefei and completed a 300 million yuan angel round in 2021.
➂ SunPower, a leading solar inverter company, has invested in Akiydemi, with SunPower's affiliated investment fund, Renfa Investment, becoming the third largest shareholder.
- MediaTek Joins Apple's Supply Chain for the First Time, Replacing Intel in Smartwatch Chips!
➀ Apple plans to add satellite communication and blood pressure monitoring to its smartwatches by 2025, targeting specific consumer upgrades.
➁ Apple will replace Intel with MediaTek as the supplier of modulator chips for some smartwatch models, recognizing MediaTek's technical strength in modulator technology.
➂ This marks MediaTek's first entry into Apple's main hardware product supply chain and is of significant importance.
- China's Export Control of Strategic Resource Antimony Leads to Price Surge
➀ China has announced export control measures on dual-use items to the US military and for military use;
➁ The price of antimony, a rare metal, has surged 2-fold within a year due to China's export restrictions;
➂ Antimony, known as 'the industrial elixir', is widely used in industries and the military, particularly as a flame retardant and in photovoltaic glass production;
➃ Antimony is also used in military applications such as ammunition and infrared missiles.
- NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel Team Up to Invest in an AI Chip Unicorn
➀ NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel have jointly invested in Ayar Labs, a startup that specializes in optical I/O solutions for large-scale AI workloads.
➁ Ayar Labs has raised $155 million in funding from investors including NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and GlobalFoundries, valuing the company at over $1 billion.
➂ The company's optical I/O technology aims to redefine AI infrastructure by overcoming the bottlenecks of traditional copper interconnects.
December 11
- Europe's Three Major Chip Giants Plan to Produce Chips in China!
➀ European chip giants Infineon, STMicroelectronics, and NXP have recently expressed the importance of the Chinese market and plan to produce chips in China to better serve Chinese customers;
➁ Infineon is localizing the production of some products in China to meet the needs of Chinese customers and address their concerns about supply security;
➂ NXP aims to establish a Chinese chip supply chain for its customers and has established a business relationship with SMIC and is exploring partnerships with TSMC Nanjing and Hua Hong Semiconductor;
➃ STMicroelectronics has announced a partnership with Hua Hong Hongli to produce 40nm MCUs in China by the end of 2025, meeting market demand and optimizing the supply chain;
➄ STMicroelectronics has been increasing its cooperation with Chinese companies, establishing a joint wafer manufacturing plant in Chongqing for 8-inch silicon carbide chips and setting up a packaging and testing factory in Shenzhen;
➅ China is the world's largest automotive market and the demand for automotive chips is leading globally, accounting for 23.56% of the global automotive chip market in 2023.
- Wei Shaojun Criticizes China's Chip Design Industry for 'Involution' Phenomenon in ICCAD Speech
➀ Wei Shaojun pointed out the problems in China's chip design industry, such as the lack of growth in the top ten design companies, the decline in contribution to the industry's progress, and the market still being at the middle and low end of the value chain.
➁ He criticized the phenomenon of 'involution' in the industry, including irrational competition and excessive talent acquisition costs.
➂ He proposed suggestions for the sustainable development of the industry, such as improving product competitiveness, establishing a complete set of processes and methods for design methodology, and developing independent product technology systems.
- Has Malaysia's 'Semiconductor Era' Finally Arrived?
➀ Malaysia has historically been involved in the semiconductor industry, focusing on backend tasks such as chip assembly, packaging, and testing;
➁ The country is seeking to become a global center for integrated circuit design and manufacturing, with a government plan to invest $107 billion in the semiconductor industry;
➂ Major companies like Intel and Infineon have invested in Malaysia, and Chinese chip companies are considering setting up operations there.
December 10
- The Real Cost of Car Chip Replacement: Where Does the Price Go?
➀ Last month, Xpeng Motors crowdfunded a chip replacement for their P7 model, reaching the crowdfunding target in three days. Owners spent 4,999 yuan to upgrade from the Qualcomm 820A to the latest 8295.
➁ The cost of replacing a car's chip is high due to the need to replace the entire 'domain controller' and significant software development costs.
➂ The rapid development of software in the automotive industry is outpacing the chip performance, leading to frequent updates and the need for more powerful chips.
- China Electronics Corporation Takes Control of Huada Jiutian
➀ China Electronics Corporation (China Electronics) will become the actual controller of Huada Jiutian after acquiring a controlling stake.
➁ Huada Jiutian, a leading domestic EDA company, is set to be integrated into China Electronics' consolidated financial statements.
➂ China Electronics plans to support Huada Jiutian's development by leveraging its resources and industry connections.
- AI Era: How to Achieve Domestic Replacement of High-End MLCCs?
➀ The demand for MLCCs is growing due to the development of new technologies and the electronic product market.
➁ Domestic MLCC companies like Weiyong Technology are facing the challenge of providing high-quality MLCC products for the changing electronic terminal products driven by AI technology.
➂ MLCCs in AI servers face challenges in performance, product form, and need for high-performance and advanced manufacturing processes.
➃ The domestic MLCC market has a huge space for replacement due to the low self-sufficiency rate and the dominance of Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese companies in the high-end market.
➄ Weiyong Technology focuses on high-end applications, expands production, and deepens research and development to achieve breakthroughs in the high-end MLCC market.
➅ Weiyong Technology has achieved significant progress in the production and R&D of high-end MLCCs, aiming to become a global leader in the MLCC industry.
- NVIDIA Faced with Antitrust Investigation in China! A 10,000-Word Ultra-Core Long Article!
➀ NVIDIA is being investigated for antitrust practices in China.
➁ The investigation is related to NVIDIA's acquisition of Mellanox and its sales practices in China.
➂ The article discusses the impact of NVIDIA's technologies on the AI industry and its competition with Intel and AMD.
➃ The article also explores the broader context of chiplet technology and the competition between different interconnect standards.
- Google's Most Powerful Quantum Chip Unveiled! Solves 30-Year Major Challenge, Faster Than the Fastest Supercomputer, Musk Amazes
➀ Google's latest quantum chip, Willow, achieves remarkable performance in benchmark tests, completing a standard calculation in less than 5 minutes;
➁ The chip solves a 30-year-old quantum error correction challenge by reducing errors exponentially with more qubits;
➂ Willow's breakthrough indicates that quantum computers could achieve scientific discoveries even the most powerful supercomputers cannot by the end of the 21st century;
➃ Quantum computing is crucial for tasks like discovering new drugs, designing efficient batteries for electric vehicles, and accelerating nuclear fusion.
December 9
- An In-Depth Understanding of the Role of PDK
➀ PDK (Process Design Kit) serves as a bridge between chip design and manufacturing, with the following important roles:
➁ In terms of design, it provides design rules and supports the design process.
➂ In terms of manufacturing, it conveys process information and ensures process compatibility.
- Native Millimeter Wave New Product Launched: Zhenghe Weixin Releases New Generation 4uA 24G Millimeter Wave Sensing SoC Chip
➀ The performance of millimeter wave radar, including detection accuracy, reliability, and anti-interference capability, has significantly improved with technological advancements, making its application in smart homes more widespread.
➁ The global millimeter wave radar market is expanding continuously, with a market size expected to exceed 50 billion yuan by 2024, and the Chinese market has already exceeded 10 billion yuan, with further expansion expected.
➂ Zhuhai Zhenghe Weixin Technology Co., Ltd. (ZHWX) has announced the launch of its new ultra-low-power 24G millimeter wave sensing SoC chip RS2111, marking a major breakthrough in the field of millimeter wave sensing.
➃ The RS2111 chip achieves an astonishing 4uA ultra-low-power consumption, breaking the technical challenge of being comparable in power consumption to PIR sensors while maintaining excellent millimeter wave sensing performance.
➄ The MRS26x series sensors, based on the RS2111 chip, are the smallest in their class (8x12mm²) and are suitable for installation in various small electronic devices.
➅ The sensors can detect human movement, micro-motion, and presence within a range of 8 meters and have built-in low-power anti-interference algorithms to adapt to complex indoor and outdoor environments.
➆ The sensors are easy to use with zero coding and can be quickly developed for different product needs.
- In-Depth Analysis: The Key Points of Biden's Final Chip Sanctions Plan
➀ The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed new restrictions on equipment, software, and HBM, listing 140 Chinese semiconductor companies on the 'Entity List'.
➁ The sanctions are a culmination of previous measures, with the U.S. Commerce Secretary describing it as 'comprehensive and innovative'.
➂ The details of the sanctions include restrictions on the transfer of key equipment, chips, or technology outside of the U.S., Japan, and Europe, and the inclusion of semiconductor-related software and 'software keys' in the restrictions.