Taiwan Foundries Cut Prices

TheMailMan78 · Dec 31, 2011, 05:58 PM

Taiwan foundries are going to be cutting prices by 10 to 15% for wafers built on mature node processes. Since these wafers have lower production costs the foundries are passing on the savings. This move is to boost consumer confidence in building their inventory after a year of shaky ground in the U.S. and European markets. This according to DigiTimes.

Also DigiTimes is reporting despite slow demand for mature process manufacturing, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) continues to see orders heat up for advanced 28nm technology, according to sources at non Taiwan-based chip suppliers.

This news could mean that these same vendors that are getting a cut in overhead thanks to the foundries could pass on the savings to the end customer to boost revenue.

Source: DigiTimes

blanarahul · Dec 31, 2011, 06:02 PM

Does this mean we can have 500$ Radeon HD 7970s???

DanishDevil · Dec 31, 2011, 06:04 PM

I was just going to say that I hope this means a price drop for 6970's. If they released at $500, it would dominate the high-end segment until Kepler steps in (then who knows).

TheMailMan78 · Dec 31, 2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blanarahul

Does this mean we can have 500$ Radeon HD 7970s???

No more like $530 7970's.

afw · Dec 31, 2011, 07:08 PM

Would be great if nVidia drops the price of 580 to ~$350

( with this price cut and to counter 7970 sales )

FreedomEclipse · Dec 31, 2011, 07:31 PM

I love it when wafers drop in price.

SteelSix · Dec 31, 2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afw

Would be great if nVidia drops the price of 580 to ~$350

( with this price cut and to counter 7970 sales )

I'd not be surprised if they do exactly that..

sirroman · Dec 31, 2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blanarahul

Does this mean we can have 500$ Radeon HD 7970s???

No, 28nm isn't mature.

NdMk2o1o · Dec 31, 2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreedomEclipse

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/pink_wafer430x300.jpg

I love it when wafers drop in price.

using the same joke twice??

I expected better from you man!!

I am going to stick with my 570 until at least the 6**/7** series unless games become unplayable on it in the next year which ain't going to happen, when there is a big breakthrough in both games and GPU's that requires me to upgrade I will, fed up of spending £200 a year for incremental improvements, btw that's my choice so I am not saying I am being forced too though just am not going to do it anymore.

Legacy-ZA · Dec 31, 2011, 09:03 PM

I am afraid, I think the middle man will profit more from this than the end consumer. I'll "buy" it when I see low prices.

Relayer · Dec 31, 2011, 09:37 PM

This sounds like a good thing for nVidia if all they have are 40nm to compete with AMD @ 28nm.

digibucc · Dec 31, 2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirroman

No, 28nm isn't mature.

that's my thought too

General Lee · Dec 31, 2011, 09:50 PM

Mature nodes probably mean older than 40 nm, so no GPU price cuts because of this.

Delta6326 · Jan 1, 2012, 04:09 AM

This will be for 6*** stuff. and older

beautyless · Jan 1, 2012, 11:15 AM

Just an idea.

Can they produce a Graphic chip using 1 wafer?
And how much money they can make from a wafer with 18 or 30 inches size?

Delta6326 · Jan 1, 2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beautyless

Just an idea.

Can they produce a Graphic chip using 1 wafer?
And how much money they can make from a wafer with 18 or 30 inches size?

You can make a lot from one wafer.

So I think it's like D=450 mm and say S=389 mm² For a AMD 6970

How to figure d=diameter and target IC size [S, mm2]

CoreDuo · Jan 1, 2012, 09:20 PM

All this seems like to me is a way for AMD and NVIDIA to continue selling at current price levels and pocket the savings to improve their respective bottom lines. They both could certainly use it.

Dec 31, 2011, 05:58 PM	#1
TheMailMan78 Banstick Dummy Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Crystal River, FL Posts: 15,111 (6.92/day) Thanks: 1,337 Thanked 6,834 Times in 3,741 Posts System Specs	Taiwan Foundries Cut Prices Taiwan foundries are going to be cutting prices by 10 to 15% for wafers built on mature node processes. Since these wafers have lower production costs the foundries are passing on the savings. This move is to boost consumer confidence in building their inventory after a year of shaky ground in the U.S. and European markets. This according to DigiTimes. Also DigiTimes is reporting despite slow demand for mature process manufacturing, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) continues to see orders heat up for advanced 28nm technology, according to sources at non Taiwan-based chip suppliers. This news could mean that these same vendors that are getting a cut in overhead thanks to the foundries could pass on the savings to the end customer to boost revenue. Source: DigiTimes

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Dec 31, 2011, 06:04 PM	#3
DanishDevil Eligible for custom title Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 8,631 (3.10/day) Thanks: 1,362 Thanked 2,018 Times in 1,585 Posts System Specs	I was just going to say that I hope this means a price drop for 6970's. If they released at $500, it would dominate the high-end segment until Kepler steps in (then who knows). __________________ [B/S/T: FS/FT Cisco VPN Gigabit Routers \| WTB] [Logitech Z-5500 Digital Soundroom \| The TPU Darkroom \| The TPU Zune Social \| Tech Net Subscribers Club]

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Dec 31, 2011, 06:02 PM	#2
blanarahul Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: India where latest tech and water cooling is obsolete. Posts: 78 (0.15/day) Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	Does this mean we can have 500$ Radeon HD 7970s???

Dec 31, 2011, 07:08 PM	#5
afw Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 629 (0.41/day) Thanks: 93 Thanked 129 Times in 97 Posts System Specs	Would be great if nVidia drops the price of 580 to ~$350 ( with this price cut and to counter 7970 sales ) __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main Rig : Asus Sabertooth z77 , Intel i7 2700k, Corsair Vengeance 8GB , Corsair FORCE GT 120GB, Seasonic x650 GOLD , Acer G235H , SilverStone Raven RV02 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Dec 31, 2011, 07:31 PM	#6
FreedomEclipse Crazy Dogmatic Bullsh!t! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: (British Born Chinese) London, United Kingdom Posts: 7,532 (3.38/day) Thanks: 825 Thanked 1,609 Times in 1,288 Posts System Specs	I love it when wafers drop in price. __________________ “I used to be a serial upgrader like you, then i took a downgrade to the knee” -FreedomEclipse

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Dec 31, 2011, 09:03 PM	#10
Legacy-ZA Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 20 (0.04/day) Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts System Specs	I am afraid, I think the middle man will profit more from this than the end consumer. I'll "buy" it when I see low prices.

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Dec 31, 2011, 09:37 PM	#11
Relayer Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 87 (0.05/day) Thanks: 13 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	This sounds like a good thing for nVidia if all they have are 40nm to compete with AMD @ 28nm.

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Dec 31, 2011, 09:50 PM	#13
General Lee Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 51 (0.07/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Mature nodes probably mean older than 40 nm, so no GPU price cuts because of this.

Jan 1, 2012, 04:09 AM	#14
Delta6326 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Iowa, USA Posts: 3,290 (1.80/day) Thanks: 558 Thanked 600 Times in 438 Posts System Specs	This will be for 6*** stuff. and older __________________ Diablo III- Delta6326#1894 TechPowerUp WCG Forum Skyrim Skill Perks By Delta6326

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Jan 1, 2012, 11:15 AM	#15
beautyless Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: No sign of life, I'm look like the machine. Posts: 43 (0.04/day) Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	Just an idea. Can they produce a Graphic chip using 1 wafer? And how much money they can make from a wafer with 18 or 30 inches size? __________________

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Jan 1, 2012, 09:20 PM	#17
CoreDuo Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 (0.02/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts System Specs	All this seems like to me is a way for AMD and NVIDIA to continue selling at current price levels and pocket the savings to improve their respective bottom lines. They both could certainly use it.

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