➀ Q1 global fabless semiconductor revenue rose 6% quarter-over-quarter to $77.4 billion, driven by strong market demand;

➁ NVIDIA led with $42.3 billion (up 12% QoQ), followed by Qualcomm ($9.47 billion, down 6%) and Broadcom ($8.2 billion, up 2%);

➂ AMD, MediaTek, and others like Marvell and Realtek rounded out the top ten, reflecting varied performance across the semiconductor sector.

➀ Broadcom unveiled its Tomahawk 6 series switches at Computex 2025, featuring 102.4T bandwidth and 64-port 1.6TbE configurations.

➁ Delta and Wistron/Wiwynn showcased prototype switches, with Delta's 3U design focusing on airflow cooling and Wistron/Wiwynn's 4U model emphasizing enhanced thermal management.

➂ Limited photography was permitted due to embargo constraints, but more Tomahawk 6-based hardware is expected to emerge following the official announcement.

➀ Broadcom launched the Tomahawk 6 series switch ASICs, supporting 102.4Tbps bandwidth and up to 64 ports of 1.6TbE, marking the transition to terabit Ethernet;

➁ The chips enable both scale-up configurations (e.g., connecting HBM4 memory across 512 XPUs) and scale-out architectures for AI clusters, reducing network tiers and latency;

➂ Features like Global Load Balancing 2.0, Cognitive Routing, and enhanced telemetry optimize data flow and cost efficiency, positioning Broadcom as a key player amid competition with NVIDIA in AI infrastructure.

➀ Broadcom's Tomahawk 6 switch series delivers 102.4 Tbps switching capacity, doubling current Ethernet switch bandwidth, targeting AI networks with 100G/200G SerDes and co-packaged optics (CPO);

➁ It supports AI cluster interconnects for over one million XPUs, featuring Cognitive Routing 2.0 for dynamic load balancing and adaptive flow control tailored for AI workloads like mixture-of-expert models;

➂ Compliant with Ultra Ethernet Consortium standards, the switch enables scalable, low-latency networks for AI training/inference and integrates with open ecosystems like OCP's SUE Framework for flexible cluster configurations.

① Apple and Broadcom are collaborating on the "Baltra" data center processor, expected to launch by 2027, featuring proprietary AI accelerators and HBM memory for Apple Intelligence services.

② The processor may scale up to 8x the CPU/GPU cores of the M3 Ultra, though AI workloads typically require specialized tensor units, suggesting a hybrid CPU-NPU design.

③ Apple’s roadmap includes M5 updates for 2025 iPads/MacBooks, M6 (Komodo), M7 (Borneo), and a high-end Sotra chip, alongside custom processors for wearables like AR glasses.

➀ NXP CEO Kurt Sievers will resign on October 28, succeeded by current President Rafael Sotomayor, who has 20 years of experience at NXP and previously held executive roles at Broadcom, Intel, and Motorola;

➁ Sievers, CEO since 2020, led strategic initiatives in automotive and IoT, including the acquisition of Marvell’s Wi-Fi business in 2019;

➂ NXP reported a 9% Q1 revenue decline to $2.84 billion, citing market uncertainty and tariff challenges while maintaining "cautious optimism."

➀ This article lists the top ten semiconductor companies in 2024, based on data from Gartner.

➁ The top five companies are Nvidia, Samsung, Intel, Hynix, and Qualcomm.

➂ The full list includes other notable companies such as Broadcom, Micron, AMD, and MediaTek.

➀ Broadcom has introduced two new 200G/lane DSP PHY designs, Sian3 and Sian2M, to address the growing demand for AI and machine learning cluster connectivity.

➁ Sian3, built on 3nm technology, offers the lowest power consumption for SMF-based 800G and 1.6T modules, improving on its predecessor by reducing power usage by over 20%.

➂ Sian2M is optimized for short-reach MMF links in AI clusters, featuring an integrated VCSEL driver and leveraging Broadcom's 200G VCSEL technology for enhanced performance and efficiency.

➀ TSMC and Intel are reportedly still working on a potential joint venture to run Intel's manufacturing capacity;

➁ The joint venture would involve leading American fabless chip designers such as AMD, Broadcom, Nvidia, and Qualcomm;

➂ The initiative is in response to a request from President Trump's administration to strengthen Intel and ensure continued American control.

➀ TSMC is in talks with Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom, Qualcomm, and AMD about a joint venture to acquire Intel Foundry;

➁ TSMC plans to take a stake of no more than 50% in Intel Foundry to maintain US ownership, as required by the White House;

➂ The deal requires approval from the White House.

➀ Broadcom and TSMC are considering a deal with Intel to split the company, with Broadcom interested in Intel's chip design business and TSMC focusing on Intel's factories.

➁ Broadcom has been closely monitoring Intel's chip design and marketing business and has held informal discussions with advisors, but this could only happen if a partner is found for Intel's manufacturing business.

➂ The potential transactions, which were unimaginable before Intel's recent troubles, could result in the disintegration of Intel.

➀ OpenAI plans to tape-out its first chip on TSMC's 3nm process later this year;

➁ The chip is designed for both training and inference and is being developed by an in-house team;

➂ The objective is to reduce dependency on Nvidia's processors, which are expensive and in high demand.

➀ Broadcom has developed a device that encrypts data as it moves between servers and storage, responding to government requirements for post-quantum cryptographic encryption algorithms and zero trust architecture.

➁ The Emulex Secure Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA) offers several advantages over application-based encryption, including preserving storage array services, enabling real-time ransomware detection, and having no encryption performance penalty.

➂ The device supports various security standards and is available in different port configurations. It can run on existing Fibre Channel infrastructure and provides simple session-based key management.

➀ Samsung and SK Hynix are competing to supply HBM4 to Broadcom, a rising competitor against NVIDIA.

➁ SK Hynix has received a request from Broadcom for a large supply of custom HBM4.

➂ Samsung is also in discussions with Broadcom about supplying HBM4.

➀ Broadcom, with decades of experience in communication chips, is making a significant shift towards AI, with AI-related revenue accounting for 41% of its semiconductor business.

➁ Broadcom focuses on customized AI accelerators (XPUs) and related network connection technologies, avoiding direct competition with NVIDIA in the general AI acceleration chip market.

➂ Broadcom's XPU platform covers a full range of solutions from AI design process, AI IP, to SoC packaging, enabling rapid response to customer needs.

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.

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.