TSMC Resumes Majority of Apple Chip Production Following Earthquake

[MacRumors]

Apple chip supplier TSMC has reportedly resumed most of its operations after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's eastern coast on Wednesday.

TSMC told Bloomberg that more than 80% of its chip production lines are operational again as of Thursday, and it said there has been no damage to its most critical equipment. More specifically, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce said that TSMC's 3nm, 4nm, and 5nm chip factories resumed more than 90% of their operations within hours after the earthquake, suggesting that Apple chip production has not been significantly impacted.

While this update from TSMC has been widely reported, Apple chip production is obviously the least of concerns following the earthquake, which has reportedly caused at least 10 deaths and over 1,000 injuries in Taiwan.

Article Link: TSMC Resumes Majority of Apple Chip Production Following Earthquake

 

[krspkbl]

RIP to the people who sadly died and hope everyone is safe.

 

[chouseworth]

The Taiwanese, and especially TSMC, apparently did much in designing and constructing their facilities to anticipate earthquakes. A lesson for all in earhquake prone areas. Still, thoughts and prayers for all who died or were adversely affected.

 

[0339327]

OK. OK. OK.

So my post yesterday about diversification was a bit premature, but I still think Apple should spend on chip development for alternatives, even if it means investing in Intel.

 

[Tailpike1153]

Mother Nature just kicked TSMC management in the backside to get its new fab plants built and operations moving. As much as I want a lot of new Apple gear, I will wait while Taiwan recovers.

 

[PeterKeller]

They really have to diversify off a dangerous island threatened by both natural and CCP causes.

 

[cocky jeremy]

OK. OK. OK.

So my post yesterday about diversification was a bit premature, but I still think Apple should spend on chip development for alternatives, even if it means investing in Intel.

I don't think they need to diversify their suppliers. They just need to have their supplier put plants in other areas of the world to guard against a natural disaster, terrorist attack or something similar from cutting off supply.

 

[soyazul]

Excellent news!!!

 

[Tailpike1153]

OK. OK. OK.

So my post yesterday about diversification was a bit premature, but I still think Apple should spend on chip development for alternatives, even if it means investing in Intel.

Apple's R&D always feels lacking because the leaks only point to iPhones. Apple has research in several areas that may never see the light of day until it becomes necessary. In the 90s, I would've called you a liar if you told me that the Cupertino gang was working on Intel Macs. I loved my PowerMac. Intel was the evil empire. Jump ahead a few years, you couldn't prime my hands off my MacBooks. Motorola -> PowerPC -> Intel -> AXX. Apple has experience in transitioning the user base from & to different processors. With billions invested and recovered from the AXX, I would be shocked if Apple didn't have agreements with other fabs if TSMC had to wind down for some time.

 

[Born Again]

My heart goes out to those families who were impacted by the earthquake.

 

[Realityck]

TSMC told Bloomberg that more than 80% of its chip production lines are operational again as of Thursday, and it said there has been no damage to its most critical equipment. More specifically, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce said that TSMC's 3nm, 4nm, and 5nm chip factories resumed more than 90% of their operations within hours after the earthquake, suggesting that Apple chip production has not been significantly impacted.

They told various press not specifically Bloomberg. MacRumors shouldn't always quote Gurman's Bloomberg press as the best thing since butter.

Example

The Taiwan earthquake is a stark reminder of the risks to the region’s chipmaking industry | CNN Business

The world’s biggest chipmaker is working to resume operations following the massive earthquake that struck Taiwan Wednesday — a welcome sign for makers of products ranging from iPhones and computers to cars and washing machines that rely on advanced semiconductors.

www.cnn.com

As of late Wednesday, the company said that more than 70% of the tools in its fabs had been recovered within 10 hours of the earthquake, with recovery levels higher in some newer facilities. TSMC said impacted facilities were expected to resume production throughout Wednesday night.

As of Thursday, TSMC said it expected to have fully recovered operations of all of its facilities by the end of the day. However, it noted that “certain production lines in areas which experienced greater seismic impact are expected to require more time for adjustment and calibration before returning to fully automated production.”

Even an hours-long shutdown of certain chip production could take weeks to recover from.

“Some of the high-end chips need 24/7 seamless operations in vacuum state for a few weeks,” Barclays analysts said in an investor note Wednesday, adding that operation halts could mean “some high-end chips in production may be spoiled.” They noted that TSMC could see a $60 million impact to its second quarter earnings from the disruption.

 

[Tailpike1153]

My heart goes out to those families who were impacted by the earthquake.

Thank you for your kindness.

 

[lkrupp]

Apple's R&D always feels lacking because the leaks only point to iPhones. Apple has research in several areas that may never see the light of day until it becomes necessary. In the 90s, I would've called you a liar if you told me that the Cupertino gang was working on Intel Macs. I loved my PowerMac. Intel was the evil empire. Jump ahead a few years, you couldn't prime my hands off my MacBooks. Motorola -> PowerPC -> Intel -> AXX. Apple has experience in transitioning the user base from & to different processors. With billions invested and recovered from the AXX, I would be shocked if Apple didn't have agreements with other fabs if TSMC had to wind down for some time.

Yeah, many of us had bought fully into the PowerPC propaganda about CISC vs RISC and that processor speed had little to with performance. I even had a liquid-cooled PowerMac G5 that eventually leaked and bricked the power supply. Apple did fix it even out of warranty though. Then Jobs comes on stage with Intel’s CEO to announce the PowerPC was being thrown in the bin.

 

[0339327]

Apple's R&D always feels lacking because the leaks only point to iPhones. Apple has research in several areas that may never see the light of day until it becomes necessary. In the 90s, I would've called you a liar if you told me that the Cupertino gang was working on Intel Macs. I loved my PowerMac. Intel was the evil empire. Jump ahead a few years, you couldn't prime my hands off my MacBooks. Motorola -> PowerPC -> Intel -> AXX. Apple has experience in transitioning the user base from & to different processors. With billions invested and recovered from the AXX, I would be shocked if Apple didn't have agreements with other fabs if TSMC had to wind down for some time.

I think Apple and Intel would do great together. Not for the Intel architecture but for their manufacturing prowess. If Apple invested in an Intel facility…

 

[Realityck]

I think Apple and Intel would do great together. Not for the Intel architecture but for their manufacturing prowess. If Apple invested in an Intel facility…

Intel is already working on being that kind of competitor, just they aren't quite there yet.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/intel-ceo-confirms-arrow-lake-will-feature-tsmc-3nm-gpu-tiles

 

[zoomp]

You do realize that TSMC also produces intel high end chips, right?

It was an oddball see all this capitalists putting every egg in the same basket. Greedy profit mongers. It is funny how it is backfiring on them now.

 

[dguisinger]

You do realize that TSMC also produces intel high end chips, right?

It was an oddball see all this capitalists putting every egg in the same basket. Greedy profit mongers. It is funny how it is backfiring on them now.

I mean... they make almost everyone's chips. So... also true? But in Intel's case, but I don't get the greedy profit mongers. People go to TSMC because they are the best, and they pay for it. Intel goes to TSMC because for the better part of a decade, Intel has been completely inept...

Its great that they had minimal damage. I'm not sure what it means for the supply chain. They didn't say anything about wafers that were undergoing steps like lithography at the time of the earthquake. I can only assume they all need to be thrown out as the scale of any shaking would be way outside manufacturing tolerances that are a few atoms wide... My understanding is it takes weeks for a wafer to go from raw to finished product, it could set them back a few weeks on production. But maybe one of my assumptions (or all) are wrong

 

[vegetassj4]

The Taiwanese, and especially TSMC, apparently did much in designing and constructing their facilities to anticipate earthquakes. A lesson for all in earhquake prone areas. Still, thoughts and prayers for all who died or were adversely affected.

That reminds me of the design of Taipei 101 skyscraper. Good engineering and awesome aesthetics as well.

Taipei 101 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Taiwan's tallest skyscraper uses a massive pendulum to protect itself from earthquakes

The Taipei 101 building uses an enormous tuned mass damper, or a 660-ton pendulum, to protect itself from earthquakes including the 7.4 one on Wednesday.

www.usatoday.com

 

[falkon-engine]

RIP to the victims, may the good lord bring solace to their families during this difficult time.

 

[MayaUser]

OK. OK. OK.

So my post yesterday about diversification was a bit premature, but I still think Apple should spend on chip development for alternatives, even if it means investing in Intel.

Intel? Again trying to think like yesterday..apple better investing in tsmc to build in mexico new facility with the help of Mexican governments. At least you acknowledge a mistake , that takes guts
Clear Apple knows far better what they need..and know how to run a business

 

[apparatchik]

I don't think they need to diversify their suppliers. They just need to have their supplier put plants in other areas of the world to guard against a natural disaster, terrorist attack or something similar from cutting off supply.

Actually, Apple diversifies its suppliers quite a bit, sometimes sourcing say, display panels, from up to four different suppliers for a single product.

But this is not always feasible, for example in terms of 5G modems (Qualcomm's virtual monopoly) or in the case of cutting edge silicon manufacturing (TSMC).

 

[itti]

Thank you, TSMC!

 

[Jetson]

That reminds me of the design of Taipei 101 skyscraper. Good engineering and awesome aesthetics as well.

Taipei 101 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Taiwan's tallest skyscraper uses a massive pendulum to protect itself from earthquakes

The Taipei 101 building uses an enormous tuned mass damper, or a 660-ton pendulum, to protect itself from earthquakes including the 7.4 one on Wednesday.

www.usatoday.com

View attachment 2365556

This is just amazing! I never heard of such a thing, 660 tons hoisted way up onto the 87th and 88th floors.

 

[NT1440]

This is just amazing! I never heard of such a thing, 660 tons hoisted way up onto the 87th and 88th floors.

This is quite common in skyscrapers all over the world, and for good reason.

 

[Jetson]

This is quite common in skyscrapers all over the world, and for good reason.

It just goes to show that I'm not an architect 🙂

Taipei 101 damper sways dramatically during 6.8 earthquake