Foreign media: The United States is "digging its own grave" by helping Intel "occupy" the lithography machine !
In the era of silicon-based chips, we have become extremely dependent on photolithography machines. However, this core equipment can only be manufactured by Dutch 's ASML. Major chip manufacturers are racking their brains to please it, but how advanced is it? EUV lithography machines can only be supplied to TSMC and Samsung .
In the process of developing the chip industry, the United States actually made the same mistake as the United States. It over-developed the chip R&D and design links and neglected the development of manufacturing processes to a certain extent, thinking that taking advantage of the industrial chain would Able to control the global semiconductor industry chain.
But this "naive" idea was also shattered in the process of restricting Huawei . So far, the United States has not been able to achieve the manufacturing of 7nm chips. It is highly dependent on TSMC, which also makes it feel a certain crisis.
then took advantage of its remaining advantage and began to "turn the world upside down" in the international market. However, after a series of operations, not only did it fail to achieve the goal it wanted, but it also gradually weakened its absolute advantage.
At present, the only "chess piece" left in the United States is ASML. After the manufacturing factory and R&D center were moved to the United States, the headquarters in the Netherlands was tantamount to being "empty", and ASML also lost its right to operate independently. The export of each lithography machine requires authorization.
helps Intel dominate lithography machines
Although many chip manufacturers are currently developing technologies that can get rid of EUV lithography machines, and corresponding technologies have been born, they will definitely not be commercially available in the short term. Therefore, the status of ASML It is unshakable.
Because it uses the core technology of Hanmei, every move of ASML is subject to the control of Laomei, especially for the Chinese market. However, it does not want to give up the huge market of China and keeps making some small moves, but it has no effect. to achieve the desired effect.
According to the Watson Agreement, ASML is not allowed to export the most advanced lithography machines to the Chinese market. However, if the current EUV lithography machines are no longer the most advanced equipment, it means there is an opportunity to achieve free shipments.
This is why ASML is obsessed with developing a new generation of High NA lithography machine. The corresponding parameters have been released. This lithography machine is expected to be delivered in 2024 and can support the production of up to 2nm chips.
But its selling price has been determined to be 400 million US dollars, which is four times higher than the old equipment. Even TSMC and Samsung are a bit difficult to buy, let alone those smaller chip manufacturers. Is this an old American product? Whether it was intentional or not, we still don’t know. Although
is expensive, the big guys in the industry have a strong interest in it. However, according to the latest orders, only Intel has ordered the latest High NA lithography machine. Samsung and TSMC have not taken action. It is most likely that it was purchased by the old U.S. limited.
With the help of the United States, Intel has successfully occupied the latest lithography machine production capacity. It has the right to order four units at a time, which means that TSMC may have lost the priority supply of lithography machines.
After Samsung went to the ASML headquarters in person, the corresponding cooperation agreement has been finalized at this stage. On the other hand, TSMC has not made the slightest move. Basically, there are only two possibilities. One is that it is suppressed by the United States, and the other is that it is suppressed by the United States. The second is the newly developed technology, which does not require the use of this type of photolithography machine.
Lao America is digging a hole for itself
Everyone knows that the purpose of Lao America inviting TSMC to build a factory in the United States is to come for its advanced technology. Previously, it used ridiculous reasons to ask TSMC to provide 200 technical personnel to help Intel Establish advanced chip process production capacity to solve the current global chip shortage situation.
TSMC naturally knows the purpose of this approach. The implementation of this plan is also very difficult. At present, both parties insist on this, and helping Intel "occupy" the lithography machine production capacity is very likely to further "coerce" TSMC.
Although Intel has great "ambitions" in the market, and has threatened to regain its previous advantages and fully achieve the overtake of TSMC and Samsung, but in this way, both TSMC and Samsung have entered the 3nm era, and Intel has even entered the 7nm era. If you fail to achieve it, what can you do to surpass it?
It can be said that Intel is at least five years behind in terms of technical strength. As Zhang Zhongmou said, there is no possibility of relying on money to make up for technical disadvantages. Lao Americans naturally realize this. , so they will try their best to obtain advanced technology.
However, even if Intel can obtain a new generation of lithography machines, it is of no value to them currently. Using advanced lithography machines to OEM low-end processes is very uneconomical from a cost perspective.
And the United States is spending huge sums of money to purchase photolithography machines. It is very likely that it is still performing a "drama". The purpose is to further restrict the advancement of advanced production capacity and gain more time for the development of local industries. It wants a technology Time difference.
But this "calculation" was wrong from the beginning. No wonder the foreign media said: "The restrictive behavior of the United States is undoubtedly "digging its own grave"!" Similar words, what do you think of this? ?
