The hottest Semiconductors Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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ChinAI #251: A surprise in the data on China's chip imports

ChinAI Newsletter • 609 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Semiconductors Trade Geopolitics Cybersecurity
  1. China's chip imports dropped for the first time in consecutive years due to geopolitical factors and increased demand in emerging industries like 5G and AI.
  2. China has been focusing on localizing chip production to reduce the trade deficit, with the self-sufficiency rate increasing from 16.6% in 2020 to 23.3% in 2023.
  3. In the past ten years, China's chip industry experienced significant growth, with chip imports and exports doubling in quantity and value.

The Arm Story Part 3 : Creating A Global Standard

The Chip Letter • 3494 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Semiconductors Global Market Business strategy
  1. Arm's success was built on strategic partnerships and a unique licensing business model.
  2. The development of Thumb instruction set allowed Arm to address code size and attract key customers like Nokia and TI.
  3. Arm's growth and financial stability were further solidified by partnerships with companies like Samsung and the creation of the StrongARM line.

[GB200 NVL72] The Mainframe of Doom

Irrational Analysis • 339 implied HN points • 30 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Datacenters AI Graphics
  1. Nvidia's GB200 NVL72 poses an existential threat to competitors in the datacenter CPU market, offering a unique 2:1 ratio and improved integration perspective.
  2. The reintroduction of mainframes signifies a strategic move by Nvidia, with the new AI mainframe/appliance providing massive TCO advantages and performance gains.
  3. Jensen's benevolent trade offer complements technical excellence in the face of political challenges, aiming to secure Nvidia's position in the market and potentially disrupt the status quo.
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The Incredible Shrinking Transistor

Bits and Bytes • 41 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Innovations AI
  1. Transistors are shrinking and becoming more powerful, with a goal of reaching one trillion transistors in a small chip by 2030. This will help meet the increasing demand for computing power, especially for AI.
  2. To keep improving transistor technology, new innovations in materials and designs are needed. The challenge is to make these transistors more energy-efficient, allowing them to run on lower voltages while still performing well.
  3. Upcoming technologies like the RibbonFET and potentially stacked transistors are expected to enhance performance and efficiency. These developments aim to tackle the energy demands of modern computing and ensure we can continue to create faster, smaller devices.

Nvidia and the AI scaling wall, and what founder mode really is

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Semiconductors Computing Startups Product Development
  1. Nvidia is experiencing strong demand for its new Blackwell GPUs, which are expected to outperform previous models. Major companies are eager to integrate these powerful chips into their systems.
  2. The concept of 'founder mode' is about being deeply involved in the critical details of your business. It's not just about delegating tasks, but collaborating closely with team members to achieve great outcomes.
  3. The AI industry continues to evolve with new ways to improve model performance. Nvidia's focus on scaling in various aspects shows that innovation in AI is still very much alive.

Downside at NVIDIA (and the Nasdaq at large)

Philoinvestor • 491 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Valuation Semiconductors Artificial Intelligence
  1. NVIDIA's stock price increased significantly faster than its earnings, raising questions about its valuation.
  2. The launch of Chat GPT led to a surge in demand for GPUs and an uptick in NVIDIA's stock.
  3. Microsoft's $10 billion investment in Open AI and the AI hype train are contributing factors to the current market dynamics.

NASDAQ:ARM is Comically Undervalued

Irrational Analysis • 159 implied HN points • 23 May 24
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Market Analysis Semiconductors Technology
  1. Irrational Analysis is heavily invested in the semiconductor industry, giving insights into the comical undervaluation of NASDAQ:ARM.
  2. Nvidia's massive demand for GB200 and Grace CPUs could have significant implications for ARM (LTD)'s value and future performance.
  3. Nvidia Grace CPUs might exceed sell-side expectations, potentially propelling ARM (LTD) value beyond current projections.

How Japan Won the Lithography Industry

The Asianometry Newsletter • 2368 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🕹 Technology Industry Semiconductors Manufacturing Innovation Competition
  1. In the late 1980s, Japanese firms dominated the lithography market, overtaking American suppliers.
  2. The US led the early semiconductor industry, influencing chip development and government interest.
  3. Japan's VLSI project in the 1970s propelled their indigenous semiconductor industry through collaborative research and development.

Exploring the Need for More Semiconductor Technology Experiments in Space

Space Ambition • 139 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Space Tech Manufacturing Research Innovation
  1. Space has unique conditions like microgravity that can help create better semiconductor materials. This could lead to higher quality electronic devices in the future.
  2. Past experiments on the ISS focused mostly on growing crystals, but more research is needed on the complete manufacturing process for chips in space. This includes steps like slicing the crystals and fabricating circuits.
  3. Future projects aim to advance semiconductor production by using resources in space, like making solar cells from lunar materials. This could reduce costs and create a new way to manufacture technology off Earth.

Chip Letter Links No. 18: NexGen, Nvidia, Die Topology, FastGPT in Fortran and more

The Chip Letter • 2184 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Machine Learning Tech Companies
  1. Nvidia briefly joined the trillion dollar market cap club, surpassing Intel, AMD, and TSMC combined.
  2. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, gave a commencement speech while unveiling the Grace Hopper 'superchip'.
  3. Explanation on why Rosetta 2 runs so fast on Apple Silicon Macs, highlighting the engineering tradeoffs made.

Intel’s Dream Coming True

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 519 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Chips Semiconductors Innovation
  1. Intel's CEO, Pat Gelsinger, set a tough goal to create five new technology nodes in just four years, and they achieved this faster than expected.
  2. They recently announced new processors called Intel Core Ultra and Intel Xeon, with more technology options coming next year.
  3. Intel is also planning to enter the GPU market and has exciting upgrades on the horizon with their Gaudi AI accelerator, which will have improved performance features.

The 3-D Transistor Transition

The Asianometry Newsletter • 1861 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Innovation Manufacturing Future Technology
  1. The semiconductor industry shifted to producing 3-D transistors like the FinFET for better control over the channels.
  2. Classical scaling involved shrinking transistor dimensions to improve performance, power, and area gains.
  3. 3-D transistor designs like FinFETs and Gate all around are pushing semiconductor technology forward, but come with added complexity and cost.

[Q1 CY24] Micron's HBM Party

Irrational Analysis • 219 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Market Analysis Competitor Analysis
  1. HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) is a new and important type of DRAM that has gained significance in the industry for its relevance to AI.
  2. The DRAM market, volatile in nature, has seen Micron making gains in HBM and facing challenges from competitors like Samsung with poor HBM yields.
  3. Investors interested in the HBM market need to be cautious due to the market's volatility and the potential impact of competitors like Samsung on HBM gross margins.

Everything is (not) fine at Intel

Irrational Analysis • 159 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Investment Analysis Engineering
  1. The Intel event highlighted concerning trends, particularly in product competitiveness and margins, with challenges in execution and manufacturing processes.
  2. Intel's strategic shift towards insourcing and reducing external foundry partnerships suggests significant changes in their manufacturing approach.
  3. Despite efforts to improve, Intel faces a tough road ahead with the need for advanced technology developments and a challenging competitive landscape.

Top 5 US-China Tech Stories

ChinaTalk • 637 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology E-commerce EVs Semiconductors AI
  1. TikTok has defied early predictions of regulatory restrictions in the US due to vested interests and political dynamics.
  2. The splintering of cross-border VC firms like Sequoia and GGV Capital is a tangible impact of US-China relations.
  3. Chinese EVs are dominating globally, posing a challenge to traditional automakers and highlighting the US infrastructure gap.

447: Nvidia vs Hyperscalers, TSMC, Tech IPOs, SpaceX & Starlink, $5bn for Old Songs, ChatGPT vs 17 Doctors, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Liberty’s Highlights • 471 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Tech Companies AI Cloud Services Semiconductors Data Centers
  1. Having a creative outlet can shift your mindset and generate more ideas.
  2. Writing online is competitive, requires multiple skills, and is ruled by power laws.
  3. Nvidia is making strategic moves in cloud services, there is competition in AI chips, and TSMC's Arizona plant chips still need to be shipped to Taiwan.

Import AI 335: Synth data is a bad AI drug; Facebook changes the internet with LLaMa release; and Chinese researchers use AI to figure out chip design

Import AI • 459 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Social media Semiconductors AI Ethics
  1. Synthetic data during AI training can be harmful if not used in moderation, as shown by researchers from Rice University and Stanford University
  2. Chinese researchers have successfully used AI to design semiconductors based only on input and output data, demonstrating the potential for economic and national security implications
  3. Facebook has released Llama 2, a powerful language model with freely available weights, potentially changing the landscape of AI deployment on the internet

Japan's Semiconductor Red Carpet

Interconnected • 447 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Manufacturing Government support Global expansion Workforce
  1. Japan's semiconductor industry is making a strong effort to attract TSMC and boost chip manufacturing through government support and strategic investments.
  2. Kumamoto in Japan is proving to be a successful hub for TSMC with speedy construction, substantial government subsidies, and efforts to welcome and retain Taiwanese employees.
  3. Soft touches like cultural support, language programs, and local community integration are enhancing the success of TSMC's venture in Kumamoto, highlighting the importance of human factors in high-tech industries.

Why HBM is the Hottest Thing in Memory

Mule’s Musings • 411 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Memory Industry Analysis Investing
  1. Investing in semiconductors involves identifying secular trends and market dislocations for potential opportunities.
  2. HBM technology is driving a significant change in the memory industry, with SK Hynix being highlighted as a key player to watch for.
  3. Suppliers in the memory market are strategically shifting focus and investments towards HBM, anticipating a boost in market demand and profitability in the coming years.

Ampere Computing is probably dead.

Irrational Analysis • 79 implied HN points • 20 May 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Tech startups Competition Market Analysis
  1. Ampere Computing is likely facing challenges as most of their customers have transitioned to other solutions.
  2. Despite unique product advantages, Ampere Computing is struggling as customers are moving to alternatives in the market.
  3. Lack of transparency on technical details raises doubts about Ampere Computing's innovation and competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.

Broadcom 2024 AI Infrastructure Day

Irrational Analysis • 99 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Networking AI Tech Stocks
  1. Broadcom is heavily invested in the semiconductor industry, focusing on AI infrastructure, disclosing that opinions expressed are personal, based on public info and not financial advice.
  2. The market is transitioning to Network Interface Cards (NIC) being tiny computers with CPUs, logic, and accelerators, a shift away from Broadcom's current direction.
  3. Broadcom presents debates on Ethernet vs. Infiniband, criticizes Infiniband, and shares potentially misleading information, contributing to confusion in the market.

The Astera Labs Extinction Event

Irrational Analysis • 99 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Connectivity Networking Hardware Software
  1. Astera Labs focuses on making "extender" chips called retimers, which enable design flexibility and cost savings by allowing the use of cheaper PCB materials.
  2. Understanding technical terms like SerDes, PCB stackup, signal integrity, loss, reflections, CTLE, DFE, jitter, adaptation, and CDR bandwidth is crucial in the semiconductor industry.
  3. Broadcom's recent product announcements have positioned them as a strong competitor to Astera Labs, showcasing superior power efficiency, compatibility, reach, and overall competitive advantages.

A Guide on Semiconductor Development

Irrational Analysis • 239 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Design Verification Manufacturing Packaging
  1. Semiconductor development involves a complex process that can take 2-4 years to create a leading-edge chip, starting from digital design to post-silicon validation.
  2. Timing closure is a crucial step in the design process, ensuring that the delays of various circuit elements are aligned with reference clocks to optimize chip performance.
  3. Pre-silicon verification is essential before tape-out to catch physical design flaws that might impact the functionality and performance of the chip.

QuantumSi - Routes Forward

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Electronics Chemistry Data processing
  1. QuantumSi has recently laid off employees as they restructure due to poor sales. This is tough for those affected, and it's hoped they find new jobs soon.
  2. To reach billions of reads, QuantumSi is exploring chip reuse but it's tricky since they might need to clean the chip quickly and keep it working well after many uses.
  3. They are also looking at using multiple imaging regions to help with throughput instead of reusing chips, which could be a more practical solution for their counting goals.

Taiwan vs. US Chip Subsidies: Bolstering the Sacred Mountain

ChinaTalk • 192 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Incentives Manufacturing
  1. Taiwan allows companies to choose which technologies to invest in, unlike the US and South Korea which target specific areas to strengthen the supply chain.
  2. Taiwanese lawmakers grant significant discretion to government ministries in managing subsidies, in contrast to the US and EU where subsidies are tightly regulated.
  3. Taiwan's central government manages and funds the most significant incentive programs for the semiconductor industry, a strategy that reflects a commitment to enhancing existing strengths.

TSMC OIP Forum: Fabs, N3/N2+BSPN

More Than Moore • 303 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Manufacturing Innovation Research Events
  1. TSMC is a leading foundry with a focus on developing cutting-edge technologies and hosting events to showcase their advancements and collaborations.
  2. TSMC's current focus is on production, including expanding fab capabilities and advancing in process nodes like N3 and N2 with improved performance and power efficiency.
  3. In addition to process nodes, TSMC is also working on advancements in memory technology like HBM3 and HBM4, as well as expanding analog design tools and focusing on 3D integration for complex chip packaging.

Marvell Industry Analyst Day

Mule’s Musings • 256 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
💼 Business Technology Finance AI Semiconductors Networking
  1. Marvell's Industry Analyst Day focused on AI and highlighted strong revenue growth expectations for the company related to AI technologies.
  2. Marvell expects significant revenue from AI in 2024, with over two billion dollars projected, driven by AI demand and server attach rates.
  3. Marvell's strategy involves leveraging networking, custom silicon, and pluggable transceivers to position themselves as a key player in the AI semiconductor market.

5 Reasons For Altman's Bold $7 Trillion Bet

The Algorithmic Bridge • 201 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Semiconductors Innovation Fusion Datacenters
  1. Altman is seeking an unprecedented $7 trillion to invest in AI infrastructure, which includes developing GPUs, energy supply improvement, and expanding data center capacity.
  2. The $7 trillion investment is meant to propel technological advancements to a level comparable to the impact of the Industrial Revolution, focusing on long-term projects over decades rather than immediate outcomes.
  3. Despite the astronomical sum, the $7 trillion investment may not seem as excessive considering the potential growth of the global economy and the transformative nature of the projects Altman aims to support.

Intel Demonstrates High-Speed 3nm Silicon

More Than Moore • 186 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Engineering
  1. Intel showcased high-speed 3nm silicon technology at ISSCC 2024, revealing their advancements in SERDES connectivity.
  2. SERDES links, like PCIe, have evolved over the years and can now achieve faster transfer rates through encoding advancements like PAM-4 and PAM-6.
  3. Presenting impressive silicon like the Bixby Creek chip demonstrates Intel's commitment to developing power-efficient high-speed connections and prepares IP blocks for customer use in new process nodes.

Space Advantages for Electronics Production: Microgravity & Extreme Temperatures & Vacuum

Space Ambition • 179 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Space Tech Electronics Manufacturing Semiconductors AI
  1. Space offers unique conditions like microgravity and extreme temperatures that can help create better electronic materials. This can lead to higher purity materials and improved processes that are hard to achieve on Earth.
  2. The cost of launching materials into space has decreased significantly, making space manufacturing more accessible. New startups are emerging to support in-space production, which enhances the potential for innovations in microelectronics.
  3. To truly benefit from manufacturing in space, the economics need to prove that it's cheaper than Earth-based production. First, companies will focus on small-scale projects that can show clear advantages before scaling up.