We have world-wide chip shortages across all industries including ASML which makes chip-making equipment for everyone else. If anyone had a meaningful amount of spare capacity on a relevant process, it would get snatched instantaneously by companies attempting to make headway on their backlogs which are causing companies to shut down entire manufacturing plants due to chip shortages. That wouldn't happen if fabs had their usual 10-20% of spare capacity for rush orders and maintenance swaps.
If there was any end in sight for their current backlogs, Samsung, TSMC and Intel wouldn't be spending 17-25G$ each on brand-new fabs, they'd be upgrading existing ones instead. Can't shut down a fab for upgrades when it is operating at near-100% with nowhere to shift production to.
NVIDIA has made FIRM STATEMENT that there ARE absolutely NO issues with Samsung’s production of RTX3XXX series GPU chips. NVIDIA has denied ASUS CEO’s ridiculous accusation.
NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang stated the current shortage is purely due to substantial increase in demand and Samsung has been producing as scheduled and as specified on the original contract. Jensen Huang is biologically Taiwanese, but he has high view on Samsung’s engineering capability. He has stated himself that Samsung’s 8nm process has been proven high quality, and stated Samsung will continue to work on future generation of GPU as well.
Consequently, NVIDIA has also ordered additional schedule of deliveries from Samsung very recently. If there were problems from Samsung’s GPU product, NVIDIA would never have ordered more from Samsung, but they have.
ASUS CEO blaming graphics cards shortage to Samsung’s inability to sufficiently produce RTX3XXX GPUs is absolutely malicious in every way possible. As stated above, NVIDIA states there are no issues with Samsung. In return, Samsung states they have heard no complaints from NVIDIA. ASUS CEO is basically stating Samsung can’t handle the production, so the reason for shortage, and the work should be sent to somewhere else (TSMC). This is colluding, lying, slandering Samsung to gain benefit.
In 2020, Nvidia introduced RTX3000 series of cards which increased its capability substantially while reducing power consumption. This was a big news on the computer industry and expectation was high. The GPU chip was to be manufactured by Samsung’s 8nm process and the industry took notice on Samsung’s capability in producing such GPU.
But, TSMC and Taiwan’s semiconductor thugs have been very jealous of this and have been reacting very poorly with disgrace. This is somewhat understanding as Taiwan itself relies almost entirely on semiconductor revenue. Without it, Taiwan is in trouble. If Samsung surpasses TSMC, the result could potentially be significant economic hit to Taiwan.
Obviously TSMC is frightened of Samsung right now. They have people like you and Tom's Hardware (a Canadian tech media with heavy support from Taiwanese funding) doing all it can to spread articles of slandering and down playing Samsung’s products and technology while hyping up Taiwanese goods. This is how you Taiwanese (and Chinese) have been doing business for the past decades (from my honest observation). Ever since Samsung has decided to get serious on semiconductors and began gaining new contracts with companies such as Nvidia and Intel, TSMC has been absolutely fearful of losing its top spot in the semiconductor manufacturing sector and TSMC has been doing everything and anything it can to spread derogatory lies about Samsung, and slandering Samsung’s semiconductor capability.
But now Samsung is taking actions.
Samsung has been tolerant to ASUS’ ridiculous numerous accusations in the past and the recent dirty deed by ASUS CEO has gone way too far. Samsung will sue Asus for Patent Infringement violations. Samsung will also sue colluding partner JOLED (Japanese display technology firm) in partnering on the infringement in which Samsung has many proofs in the matter.
Samsung has used its most resourceful team of specialists in assessing every single ASUS’ display manufacturing process. Samsung has found all patent infringements ASUS’ violated and reported to US International Trade Commission (ITC). In addition, Samsung has requested cease of import of ASUS monitors that are infringing on Samsung patents. ITC has begun its investigation on March 25, 2021, and ITC has stated it will be very difficult for ASUS to escape Samsung's lawsuit.
Samsung has been involved with countless patent infringement law suits in the past in both sides. Samsung never sues anyone unless they know they have a strong case to win with strong proof. They do not waste time on pointless lawsuits unlike many other tech firms out there. ASUS will have a law suit they will need to defend. This will be a very expensive law suit for ASUS as they have sold millions of monitors infringing on Samsung patents. And again, in the process of ASUS patent infringement research, Samsung discovered JOLED was also colluding and infringing with ASUS.
Additionally, the US now very well know that relying 50% or more of the world's semiconductor needs to TSMC is EXTREMEMLY risky matter that we all need to step away from. TSMC has issues with Chinese information theft, a shortage of water supply due to drought (significant water usage required in semiconductor), frequent earthquake causing factory closure, and recent events such as fire in the factory are just the recent interruptions that are causing problems for all of its customers relying on TSMC.
The cost of ASUS CEO blabbering his mouth blaming, accusing, slandering Samsung will be very high. It will be interesting in the next 1 to 3 years.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram