Reply to post: Re: How long ?

We're so, so, sorry you're not able to get PC chips, says Intel to everyone who hasn't gone with AMD yet

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward

Re: How long ?

3 years is a good estimate - it's about 2 years plus whatever the lead time is for step-and-scan systems from ASML which is 6+ months and usually around a year for Intel/TSMC/Samsung but varies as orders fluctuate. While you wait for the equipment, you can do any preparation work (building, AC, power etc) but that is unlikely to affect time frames.

You then have equipment installation, cleaning, testing and finally production. Installation and cleaning will take around a year - all going well testing and production will take 6 months each which is basically double the length of time it takes to get a wafer through from start to finish.

If you find significant issues (i.e. contamination/a process issue/design rules that needs addressed) the 3 months starts again. There are many additional tests run while the wafers make their way through all of the processes to ensure success, but they are focussed on ensuring test/production runs are successful rather than necessarily adding time to the process.

Hugely simplified of course, and glosses over many of the tests used to try and quickly identify issues before test runs discover a problem, but as they rarely add to the timeline

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