- Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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Fundamentally, you can't fool Mother Nature in computers, either - Andy Grove - Only the Paranoid Survive
AMD fabs now called Globalfoundries
AMD'S FAB SPINNOFF is now called Globalfoundries. If you think that is an improvement, you will probably like the new logo as well.
In a flash of common sense, Globalfoundries decided to forgo the normal made up name for a bit of clarity and common sense. No jokes about what the natural habitat of a Qimonda is here, just rationality. The logo is clean and neat as well. Overall, a hearty well done.
The new company will be headed by Doug Grose, AMD's ex-manufacturing guy, and chaired by Hector Ruiz, AMD's ex-chair. The new company will be based in Silicon Valley, making it the only US-based foundry.
The plan is simple, offer cutting- and hopefully bleeding-edge process tech to anyone who wants it, and the company is hinting it won't be limited to traditional CPU makers either. The initial press release has one quote from a non-AMD or related player, and that is from an ARM VP. This could be considered a hint.
Other than that, the biggest change is in the names of the Fabs, they are no longer 30/38 and 36, we welcome the new Fab 1. New York/Luther Park will be Fab 2 a cunning naming scheme that increments the number by 1 for each new site. Dresden is going to differentiate the two fabs there by calling them Module 1 and Module 2.
Since Module 1 is making 45nm SOI products, that would likely make it AMD's old Fab 36, and Module 2 was 30/38. This one is going to be making 32nm bulk products, so that confirms about 73 rumors right there.
Fab 2, AKA the construction site in the woods by Albany NY, is going to have $4.2 Billion sunk into it. Given the Globalfoundries backing, this shouldn't be all that much of a financial stretch. Time to buy stock in the semi equipment makers people.
One last note, there are three new hires, Jim Doran is the new senior vice president and general manager of Fab 1, Bruce McDougall is CFO, and Alexie Lee as vice president and general counsel.
All in all, restraint and common sense is quite obvious in the announcement. The name is sensible, the logo clean, and there have been no grand pronouncements about ruling the world. Yet.
Not a bad start. µ
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the first two articles of the day from Charlie - one about an ex AMD foundry touting for new custom, another about a fabless compay wanting to manufacture CPU's - Charlie's beloved nVidia.
Could it, should it, would it happen?
Meanwhile the Intel people don't know whether to laugh or sue!
I bet they will be making NVidia's GPU's shortly ... based on recent news about TSMC.
Bet UMC are worried too ...
I wonder if Intel will have to close another Fab ... hmmm??
With GF / MSCM / UMC all competing for the scraps in a shrinking market.
Someone's gotta lose.
Who is churning out most of the memory now??
Well, I really thought that GlobalFoundries Fab 2, as it is now called, would never take flight. But thankfully, I have to eat my words.
Our understanding is that Fab 2 will be a duplicate of Fab 1, probably Module 2. In any case, Siemens technology is heavily used at Fab 1, and will be in Fab 2. As the Siemens Solution Partner in the area, guess who will be involved?
"Globalfoundries" :D
This article is entirely too calm and positive to have come from the real Charlie's pen. Charlie, you either need to cut back on your meds to get your edge back, or investigate the theft of your identity by parties unknown.
"...Jim Doran is the new senior vice president and general manager of Fab 1, Bruce McDougall is CFO, and Alexie Lee as vice president..."
Then who are these people? No oil sheiks in command?