Apple Supplier TSMC to Produce 3nm Chips at Arizona Plant

[crsh1976]

Great news if it's attached to a 17" iMac

They should remake the G4 in 3nm process and party like it's 2003 all over again.

 

[Retskrad]

Apple Silicon in 2022 has been pretty poor. I just rewatched the reveal of the M2 MacBook Air 5 months ago and the reveal of the M1 at the end of 2020. Look how exited Jony Suruji is when talking about the M1. Then you compare to his M2 presentation... he's an engineer, not a showman, and he's not great at faking it. You can tell that the M2 is not something that he and his team are proud of.

 

[satchmo]

Will have to see how expensive those chips will cost.

And if higher US labour costs affect the price of products. I suspect they will even if Tim manages to find cost savings somewhere else.

 

[RA1N1]

And if higher US labour costs affect the price of products. I suspect they will even if Tim manages to find cost savings somewhere else.

lol, no question about high labour costs, no way they'll pay them as they do in china, even if they find a way to save money in other means.

 

[ipedro]

Will have to see how expensive those chips will cost.

And if higher US labour costs affect the price of products. I suspect they will even if Tim manages to find cost savings somewhere else.

lol, no question about high labour costs, no way they'll pay them as they do in china, even if they find a way to save money in other means.

Chip manufacturing is a highly specialized job with low labour demand. Unlike device assembly where virtually anyone can be trained to sit in a line to tighten a screw and paid so little because they can be swapped out any time for another lemming, chip manufacturing is possible in the US because it's a better paid skilled role, even in China.

 

[Fender2112]

I'd prefer a 27 inch or larger iMac.

27" is what I meant. Fixed.

 

[Lcgiv]

"Second half of this year"? Odd phrasing, 2022 is almost over.

Maybe fiscal year? 😂

 

[JippaLippa]

So, we're looking at fall 2023 for the M2 Pro/Max/Ultras?
Would kinda make sense, as I see Apple updating their iMac line with an M2 and a 27" and a new design for the mac mini too.
The only thing that's not right is the macbooks...
There have been quite a few rumours detailing how apple will very soon release a refresh of the macbook pros...
This leads me to believe the M2 Pro and Max won't be 3nm

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Its about time they start bringing manufacturing back to the US.

Profile pic checks out. Lol.

 

[vegetassj4]

“Speaking to reporters on Monday in Taipei, Morris Chang said the 3-nanometre plant would be located at the same Arizona site as the 5-nanometre plant.”

But will they work in US devices? They are only compatible with nanometers

 

[Mr. Dee]

So what does this ultimately mean for when products like the Mac will move to 3 NM? Because from the sound of it, the M2 Pro, Max, Ultra might actually either still be 5 or 4 NM until 3 NM is available, which might not be until 2025.

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

“Speaking to reporters on Monday in Taipei, Morris Chang said the 3-nanometre plant would be located at the same Arizona site as the 5-nanometre plant.”

But will they work in US devices? They are only compatible with nanometers

It's actually based on a 0.0000000098425 foot blueprint they just convert it to nanometers for the marketing materials.

 

[The Cappy]

Now it’s time to migrate those core technologies away from tension areas. Main plant in Taiwan next.
Maybe, just maybe don’t yet pick arizona again? Otherwise it completely defeats the purpose.

Picking Arizona defeats what purpose?

 

[Chazak]

Excellent news and counter to those that were downplaying the new facility claiming it would be outdated before it ever made its first chip.

 

[ddtmm]

I think it's great that they're finally manufacturing in the US but not sure why they would have picked Arizona, being in a desert and all. Semiconductor manufacturing is very water intensive. Here's some light reading.

Water shortages loom over future semiconductor fabs in Arizona

Water and semiconductor shortages come to a head in Arizona.

www.theverge.com

 

[Shirasaki]

Picking Arizona defeats what purpose?

Picking Arizona essentially transfer a vulnerable target into an equally vulnerable but slightly better protected place. A couple ICBM can make short work of those plants if all of them are in arizona. At least put them in different states.

 

[JM]

This is excellent.

I heard they were in talks with Frito-Lay to help with production of chips. But Apple wasn’t happy with the amount of air used in their packaging.

That was best comment I’ve read in a while.

Dad joke puns for the win 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[Heelpir8]

FYI, this does nothing if China gains full control over Taiwan.

Why? Because without Taiwan's expertise, this plant won't be able to operate for long.

I'd hope the US has a plan to evacuate TSMC's expertise to the states if Chinese control of Taiwan is imminent.

 

[anthogag]

Good news.

 

[freedomlinux]

Picking Arizona essentially transfer a vulnerable target into an equally vulnerable but slightly better protected place. A couple ICBM can make short work of those plants if all of them are in arizona. At least put them in different states.

If we are considering a situation where Arizona experiences "a couple ICBM", I think there will be bigger priorities than 3nm chip production.

 

[sam_dean]

3nm chips for

- iPhone
- iPad
- Macs
- Watch
- TV

~1/3rd better power consumption

 

[cgsnipinva]

When China invades Taiwan, we have to be prepared for Taiwan to move to the U.S. Not saying that is good or bad, but the only remaining good chip manufacturing engineers are in Taiwan and China.

Umm there are a lot of outstanding Chip engineers in the US and Europe as well. That might be a generalization.

 

[cgsnipinva]

FYI, this does nothing if China gains full control over Taiwan.

Why? Because without Taiwan's expertise, this plant won't be able to operate for long.

Ummm they have two plants in the US now - to say we don't have the expertise is nonsense.

 

[cgsnipinva]

Will have to see how expensive those chips will cost.

Chips are mostly manufactured in an automated process - Intel makes chips in the US, So does Micron and TSMC - they seem to be doing alright. There is a large Micron factory here in Virginia.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is excellent.

I heard they were in talks with Frito-Lay to help with production of chips. But Apple wasn’t happy with the amount of air used in their packaging.

I agree! this is excellent news. Let's apply for a job at TSMC. I heard Arizona is a good place to live in. Especially good for retirement.