Apple Eyes Intel and Samsung as Backup US Chipmakers

[MacRumors]

Apple has held "exploratory" talks with Intel and Samsung about manufacturing the main processors for its devices in the United States, reports Bloomberg ($).

Apple is said to have had early-stage talks with Intel about using its chipmaking services, while Apple executives have reportedly visited a Samsung plant under construction in Texas that will also make advanced chips.

The talks are said to be preliminary, and no orders have been made so far, according to the report's sources who asked not to be identified. Apple is also said to have concerns about using technology that is not made by its longtime chip partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), so the talks could still go nowhere.

Apple is said to be seeking potential additional suppliers beyond TSMC as a way to avoid recent shortages almost entirely driven by the current build-out of AI data centers.

Heavy demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio models - sought-after because of their suitability for running local AI models - is also said to have been another factor. On an earnings call last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that Mac mini and Mac Studio supply is constrained, and he said it may take "several months" for Apple to achieve supply-demand balance.

Neither Intel nor Samsung can reliably provide the kind of production and scale that TSMC offers, so it's not clear how much, if anything, will come out of the discussions. Apple has already worked with TSMC to help expand its plant in Phoenix, which is now producing a limited number of chips for Apple and expects to make 100 million chips for the company in 2026.

Article Link: Apple Eyes Intel and Samsung as Backup US Chipmakers

 

[Nyx1]

Stay with TSMC Apple no matter how much the cost until the bubble AI burst.

 

[Jonas Danielsson]

Oh no we don’t want to go back to intel x86 and they not even supported anymore what else should intel make a n-processor when they making theirs old junk x86 indent really get this

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Why are wafers round rather than square?

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Diversification is key, I can’t believe how fast intel turned it around, a year or two ago, it was practically going out of business:

Intel’s best day since 1987 leads the US stock market to more records

A surge for Intel following a blowout profit report led the U.S. stock market to more records, while oil prices kept yo-yoing in the wait for what’s next with the Iran war.

apnews.com

 

[Will Co]

Why are wafers round rather than square?

If memory serves, it's because they are sliced or "pared" off a cylinder of silicon substrate, the substrate itself being cylindrical because the manufacturing process is one that involves spinning. I can't remember why, but I think probably to reduce waste and improve uniformity.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Heavy demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio models - sought-after because of their suitability for running local AI models - is also said to have been another factor

I’m surprised that there is so much more demand for the Studio over the Mac Pro - even though it’s basically the same processor (M-Ultra) and enough of a disparity for Apple to warrant discontinuing it a month ago:

Mac Pro Discontinued: Reflecting on 20 Years of Apple's Desktop Tower

Apple this week announced that it has discontinued the Mac Pro, with new configurations no longer available and no further models planned. Below, we reflect on nearly two decades of the Mac Pro. 2006 to 2013 In August 2006, Apple introduced the original Mac Pro, which was an Intel-based...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Wanted797]

Oh no we don’t want to go back to intel x86 and they not even supported anymore what else should intel make a n-processor when they making theirs old junk x86 indent really get this

… this is about using their facilities to manufacture Apple chips. Not buying x86 chips.

 

[SuperSimp]

I'd love to see Intel making chips in the US again and companies like Apple support it. There are too many risks globally with the current setup (sadly).

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

AI is the biggest abomination to happen to mankind in the past 100 years 😤
It has destroyed the entire technological industry 💔 for many reasons and even YouTube is being flooded with many AI videos pretending to be real videos and lots of slop.

I don’t think there will be a Mac Mini refresh this year due to the huge shortage of chips. I think intel would be a great partner once again for the low end devices. But I do worry about it being on iPhone Pros and M series Mac Mini’s / Books
Mac Mini Neo would be fantastic for intel 👌🏻

 

[syklee26]

Can Intel make 5nm much less 2nm?

 

[Sputman99]

Looks like all that money to the White House got them knowledge about the situation in Taiwan!! I find it amazing what info money and gold can get you these days.

I would guess there’s some secret betting going on at those Apple board meetings for a Taiwan invasion. I would bet though that Apple will say NOTHING if an invasion of Taiwan happens. So much for all the rainbows and lollipops and trendy people buying the lower tariff accommodating Neo.

Anyways would be nice to give some jobs in the US - although the main population is just not suitable - so I guess they will hire a load more from abroad where the education system is better.

Edit : I will get suspended for this

 

[SuperSimp]

AI is the biggest abomination to happen to mankind in the past 100 years 😤
It has destroyed the entire technological industry 💔 for many reasons and even YouTube is being flooded with many AI videos pretending to be real videos and lots of slop.

I don’t think there will be a Mac Mini refresh this year due to the huge shortage of chips. I think intel would be a great partner once again for the low end devices. But I do worry about it being on iPhone Pros and M series Mac Mini’s / Books
Mac Mini Neo would be fantastic for intel 👌🏻

I'm not so sure. Companies are finding out the hard way the impact of laying off their actual experienced, competent staff. Turns out them assigning heavier workloads to staff who aren't qualified still leaves them liable in court for when these things have real world impacts harming people. For that reason they're back tracking now and re-hiring.

AI is only as useful as the person whose hands its within and for the right person, with experience in tech, it can still boost efficiency and accuracy.

I agree with the YouTube AI slop.. at least Google is committed to coming down heavy on this and eventually will probably fix it. There have been some laughs along the way... ever hear of 'AI Fruit Love Island' on there? ...

 

[SuperSimp]

Looks like all that money to the White House got them knowledge about the situation in Taiwan!! I find it amazing what info money and gold can get you these days.

I would guess there’s some secret betting going on at those Apple board meetings for a Taiwan invasion. I would bet though that Apple will say NOTHING if an invasion of Taiwan happens. So much for all the rainbows and lollipops and trendy people buying the lower tariff accommodating Neo.

Anyways would be nice to give some jobs in the US - although the main population is just not suitable - so I guess they will hire a load more from abroad where the education system is better.

Edit : I will get suspended for this

I hope you don't get suspended. Your points are completely valid, on topic and useful to this thread.

Apple has backed itself into a corner as have most companies dependent on CCP infected parts of the world. Taiwan is definitely a victim of that despite being an amazing part of the world with so much talent and genuinely deserved success from its ability to produce the chips it does.

Did you hear that every time Apple published a press release or did an interview talking about producing iPhones in India or elsewhere, they had major blackouts and power cuts in key assembly factories in the CCP? Every time they try to move machinery out there has been some mystery issue or blocker preventing it logistically. Apple won't come out and say it publicly but I think internally they know rightly the dirty tricks being played on them. They are smart and will work it out carefully. Whichever administration is in, should work to support Apple - if any company can figure it out, they can.

Definitely a global problem though.

I hope I don't get suspended so ... I LOVE MACRUMORS MODERATION ❤️ IT IS THE BEST. ALL HEIL.. I MEAN, HAIL !

 

[DanneP]

Oh no we don’t want to go back to intel x86 and they not even supported anymore what else should intel make a n-processor when they making theirs old junk x86 indent really get this

Of course Apple isn't going back to x86. It is obviously not what this is about.

Why are wafers round rather than square?

Because something called silicon ingots.

Can Intel make 5nm much less 2nm?

They are currently on their 18A process node and they have some new stuff for their 14A coming up in a couple of years or so, with a bit of luck Intel has made the right call and they might even get ahead of TSMC.