ASML CEO says world needs the legacy chips China is producing, Handelsblatt reports (www.reuters.com)
from schizoidman@lemmy.ml to technology@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 2024 11:56
https://lemmy.ml/post/17754668

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/17754665

#technology

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TimeSquirrel@kbin.melroy.org on 08 Jul 2024 13:38 collapse

For every bleeding edge GPU and CPU, there are thousands of simpler ICs still in use. Microcontrollers, logic gates, opamps, etc. There's no reason to produce those at the smallest feature size possible.

Buffalox@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 2024 14:01 next collapse

I agree, but why were the original product lines closed, when there is still a need for them?

demonsword@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 2024 14:20 collapse

thin profit margins

Buffalox@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 2024 14:41 collapse

So building new production facilities in another location, with all it takes including logistics, is supposed to be cheaper than continuing an existing production?
It may be so, but something is wrong with this.

demonsword@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 2024 14:47 collapse

I was only answering your question. It was shortsighted to close down those production lines. The obvious answer is to rebuild the capacity to make those chips, which will of course be expensive and may not even pay for itself.

Buffalox@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 2024 18:04 collapse

Yes, I’m not contradicting you, it’s just weird to close production lines that have orders. But maybe the more expensive fabs try to force production to newer processes, because that makes them more money?

rottingleaf@lemmy.zip on 08 Jul 2024 15:37 collapse

Also with a few commodity ICs one can make a decent hobbyist PC, sort of late 80s style, maybe even with Amiga-like co-processors for some tasks.

Haven’t done anything like that. Actually I’m terrified with Altium Designer’s workflow, not talking about less sugared things.

But the thought of having a kinda functional machine from components with much less centralized production feels good.