It's a matter of volume at this point. Yes, TSMC's leading edge is very important and valuable but companies can't even get enough N5 and N3 wafers.
Intel made about 1.2 - 2 million wafers in 2024. TSMC made 13 million in 2024.[0]
If US loses TSMC access today, Intel would have to build 10 fabs to replace the volume. Each fab costs about $20-30 billion and takes 3-4 years to start making wafers.
aurareturn|6 days ago
Intel made about 1.2 - 2 million wafers in 2024. TSMC made 13 million in 2024.[0]
If US loses TSMC access today, Intel would have to build 10 fabs to replace the volume. Each fab costs about $20-30 billion and takes 3-4 years to start making wafers.
[0]https://semiwiki.com/forum/threads/how-many-wafers-did-intel...