For the general public, it is difficult for them to be aware of the fierce war that is breaking out in the chip industry. People who are not in this industry only hear about it at most.
Only those people and companies involved in this semiconductor war can feel the cruelty most intuitively.
Taking Yangtze Memory as an example, they lose 5 to 10 yuan for every memory chip they sell.
For enterprises, this kind of shopping is like using blood as bullets to shoot out, constantly attriting each other to see who can't support it. Only the one who persists to the end is likely to become the final winner.
However, among these companies, SMIC still has certain advantages, mainly because SMIC has mastered the high ground of the 12nm process.
This top-notch technology is an irresistible temptation for companies that need to process CPUs and GPUs.
…
"Mr. Yu, this is our production line. The current yield rate has increased to about 87%, and it is estimated that it will increase to more than 95% by the end of the month." Zhao Jun introduced quickly.
In the dust-free workshop, the 12-nanometer chip production line is constantly producing storage chips for debugging equipment. Although hundreds of thousands of materials are lost a day, this pain is the only way to go.
Yu Chengdong looked at the running production line, and he suddenly suggested: "If I tap out the Kirin 800 to you now, can it speed up the production?"
"This..." Zhao Jun turned his head and discussed quietly with Li Weiguang for a while. Li Weiguang finally nodded:
"Mr. Yu, if you are willing to bring the Kirin 800 to tape-out, we can try to complete the tape-out in February and put it into mass production in March."
The reason why Huawei is so anxious to put into production is that Sanxin Electronics' 16nm mobile phone CPUs are being mass-produced, and the display screen is also stuck by Sanxin Electronics.
BOE is working on research and development, but water from a distance cannot quench the thirst for nearness, and Huawei mobile phones need to break through.
If you find TSMC as an OEM, you can only use the Kirin 400 chip with a 16nm process. Kirin 400 will definitely not be able to withstand Qualcomm and Sanxin. Now they have come up with Huawei's trump card - Kirin 800.
HiSilicon chips can currently only complete the 16nm process, and the Kirin 800 is designed for the 12nm process, so the only choice is SMIC.
Yu Chengdong gritted his teeth and prepared to tape out in advance so that the Kirin 800 could be put into mass production in March this year. Moreover, he knew that SMIC’s production line productivity is more than five times faster than TSMC, which should be enough to meet Huawei’s mobile phone needs.
"Mr. Zhao, we will send the chip design template the day after tomorrow, and you can arrange the tapeout as soon as possible."
"No problem." Zhao Jun smiled brightly. Taping out film requires money, and it's not a small amount. According to Huawei's requirements, it can't be done without two to three hundred million.
If other people's money is used for trial production, SMIC has no reason to refuse.
The two parties hit it off immediately, and after signing the contract, HiSilicon immediately sent the chip design template to SMIC, and SMIC also immediately debugged the production line for tape-out debugging for the Kirin 800.
…
When the semiconductor industry is filled with smoke, Western companies once again resorted to other means.
January 14th.
Android Company announced a comprehensive upgrade of the Android mobile phone system.
Microsoft followed suit and announced a comprehensive upgrade of its computer system.
These upgrades have no impact on ordinary users. At most, the system becomes a little larger.
However, for most manufacturers using Android or Microsoft systems, this matter is not that simple.
…
"Mr. Gao, something serious has happened." Yang Shining said hurriedly.
After hearing the call, Gao Zhiyuan frowned: "Mr. Yang, please speak slowly."
"Mr. Gao, it's like this..." Yang Shining kept the story short and explained the cause and effect of the matter.
After hearing what Yang Shining said, Gao Zhiyuan's face changed drastically and he was so angry that he shouted: "Despicable Google and Microsoft."
It turns out that the so-called all-round upgrade is to insert a whitelist. Any chips that are not in the whitelist cannot be used on Android and Microsoft systems.
This is simply a waste of money. Dozens of chips on mobile phones and computers are suddenly blocked by the operating system.
The reason for Google and Microsoft is that the chips have not been tested and may have security vulnerabilities, which may lead to leaks of personal privacy.
After calming down, Gao Zhiyuan immediately replied: "Mr. Yang, you immediately send an invitation to all domestic chip manufacturing companies. We are going to take Google and Microsoft to court."
"good."
After hanging up the phone, Gao Zhiyuan knew that this matter could not be resolved through litigation. If Google and Microsoft deliberately delayed time and waited for the judgment to be made in a few years, both Yangtze Memory and Unisplendour might have gone out of business.
He knew that he had to find a way to solve this big trouble. If time dragged on, China's chip manufacturing industry might simply die.
Without the chip manufacturing industry, the semiconductor equipment manufacturing industry will also enter a cold winter.
An anxious Gao Zhiyuan was walking around the office. Suddenly he stopped, grabbed his coat and put it on while shouting: "Equation."
"Here, Mr. Gao."
“The president’s villa is where you can drive right away.”
"yes."
The assistant quickly called the driver, and a Mercedes-Benz sped towards Moss Village.
And the Internet exploded at this time.
[Google and Microsoft are pulling out all the stops, and domestic chips are in crisis.] - Sina News
[Shocked! The despicable and shameless West...] - UC News
[Dead blow! Domestic chips are restricted and suppressed without any bottom line.] - NetEase News
[The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued urgent notes to Google and Microsoft, asking about restrictions on domestic chips.] - Xinhua News Agency
[Yangtze Memory said it would not compromise with Google and Microsoft and would defend the dignity of China’s semiconductor industry to the death.] - Penguin Watch
[Shenguang Instrument angrily denounces this as hegemonism that ignores international rules and will use legal means to sanction Google and Microsoft.] - Journal of Truth
Inside the big forum of Science House.
"Seeing the rise of domestic chips, they used such dirty tricks to fool Google and Microsoft." - Eternal Keyboard Man
"@万古KeyboardMan, do you really think who is behind what Google and Microsoft do? Don't you understand?" - Meow Star
"Boycott Google and Microsoft." - Shit Boy
"@ insert shit boy, what do you do to resist the keyboard warrior." - Lu Dazhuang
"What an ugly face. He is indeed a capitalist with no bottom line." - Che Guevara
"Hey! Domestic chips that have just started to develop are going to end like this. I can't bear to accept it!" - Emperor Qi Tian
"Where are those Internet companies that usually talk about how powerful they are, but when the critical moment comes, they become a coward." - Thousands of horses and horses were silent.
"The absence of a domestic operating system has become a fatal weakness." - Shi Heyuanfang
Domestic netizens were furious, from Microsoft and Google to ABT, and from the United States to the entire West. Chinese officials also quickly took action, hoping to change the decisions of Google and Microsoft.
But Google and Microsoft seem to have taken a step back - they are determined to insist that domestic chips have security risks and can only be used on mobile phones or computers unless they undergo comprehensive technical testing.
The so-called comprehensive technical inspection cycle is about half a year. If you accept this inspection, you will fall into the opponent's trap.
It is not up to them to decide whether it is safe or not at that time. It is obvious that the other party is just trying to delay time and bring down China's chip manufacturing companies.
As a last resort, officials could only announce sanctions against Google and Microsoft.
However, Google and Microsoft are already dead pigs who are not afraid of boiling water and are determined to kill domestic chip companies.