I've done whatever I want

Chapter 184 Explosive Chip
The development of the global semiconductor industry is not advancing all the way, but showing obvious waves and ups and downs.

If you draw the quarterly sales growth rate of global semiconductors into a line since 2000, you will definitely find an interesting rule. This line shows regular fluctuations, which the industry will experience approximately every 3 to 5 years. Relatively large ups and downs.

Although around the turn of the millennium, a number of new-generation chip companies such as SMIC, Huawei HiSilicon, Spreadtrum, Vimicro, etc. were born in China, presenting a situation where a hundred flowers are blooming, but due to the bursting of the global technology bubble, The demand for chips has shrunk sharply, and the situation of the global chip industry is not optimistic. The annual sales of the chip industry dropped rapidly from more than 2000 billion U.S. dollars in 2000 to 2002 billion U.S. dollars in 1400. There has been no fundamental improvement.

In 2003, the A760, the world's first mass-produced mobile phone based on the Linux kernel, came out, and Motorola officially entered the smartphone market. In this year, Motorola signed an acquisition agreement with great ambitions, preparing to buy Shenzhen Huawei, the son of tomorrow in the communications industry.

But these actions did not reverse the development of this industry giant. Motorola had to transfer part of its MOS-17 silicon wafer production line of its integrated semiconductor manufacturing complex in Tianjin to SMIC in exchange for funds in order to survive.

Due to poor management and opposition to divesting the semiconductor business with a loss of up to US$15 billion, under pressure from the board of directors and Wall Street shareholders, Chris Galvin's career has entered an era of personal tragedy.

Ed Sandel is taking over!

What’s interesting is that Chris Galvin’s strategy has not been continued by his successor. Ed Sandel ruthlessly voted against everything he insisted on, and carried out the most cruel and thorough split.

Zafirovsky, who presided over the acquisition of Huawei Communications, did not get the support of the newly appointed CEO, which eventually led to the failure of this long-planned acquisition, because Motorola's board of directors felt that Huawei was not worth $75 billion at all.

But soon they were slapped in the face by their own naive decision-making. Huawei soon emerged, surpassing Cisco to become the world's largest communications industry.

At the same time, Motorola made another stupid move, unexpectedly paying $2 million to split the entire semiconductor business, showing their decisive attitude.

This time they were still slapped in the face, and then a generation of semiconductor giant Freescale was born.

Undoubtedly, in October 2003, the turbulent Motorola Semiconductor Company cast a shadow over the prospect of MPC10 project conversion.

On Sunday morning, Magnolia Fragrance Garden was no longer as busy as before. Early in the morning, Xin Tong got up, touched a digital circuit book from the pillow, and studied it carefully.

Jiang Hua, an old classmate, has won the love of Little Swallow, the factory flower again, so he no longer needs to be distracted to give him advice. The MPC5200 project has entered the testing and verification stage. It is up to people to make things happen, and now they can focus on self-examination for undergraduate courses.

For Xin Tong, who is aiming to create a world-shattering chip, it is obvious that microelectronics knowledge is a compulsory course for him.

Roommate Zhang Kaijun from SMIC Wafer Factory had a day off today. Early in the morning, he said goodbye to the warm sheets and went out for a morning run. He used his actions to practice the precious motto of his alma mater, Qinghua University - 50 years of healthy work for the motherland. Year!
Yuan Chengxu, a chip analog circuit design madman, recited the classic "Great Compassion Mantra" in a low voice in the beautiful morning for his great faith in life!
On National Day, he climbed Mount Jiuhua alone. He made a special trip to pay homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, whom he had admired for a long time. He put his hands together and looked pious.

After returning, his chip design skills improved a lot and he solved several design bugs in succession, which further strengthened his great belief.

After the half-marathon morning run, Zhang Kaijun bought breakfast for the three of them at the Goubuli Steamed Bun Shop downstairs, and returned to the rental house.

"Brothers, get up and eat!" Zhang Kaijun raised his voice as he put the buns and soy milk on the table in the restaurant.

Xin Tong put down his book, stretched his waist, got up from the bed, and walked to the dining room, the three of them sat together, chatting all over the world while eating a heart-warming breakfast.

"Recently Motorola's operation is really incomprehensible. They even sold Tianjin's 8-inch fab to SMIC at a discount!" Zhang Kaijun works in the fab and is very concerned about the developments in the industry.

"The semiconductor industry is in a downturn, and it's not easy to survive!" Yuan Chengxu's expectations are a bit pessimistic.

"I think Motorola made a wrong decision. When the industry is at its lowest, it's often a great opportunity to buy the bottom! But they chose to sell high-quality assets." Xin Tong thought of his old classmate Jiang Hua who disobeyed the advice and sold The lessons learned from the "Dai Viet Era" restaurants were a bloody lesson!

"The semiconductor manufacturing industry, especially the wafer manufacturing industry, is a heavy asset-intensive industry, and it needs tens of billions of dollars to invest in it. Due to the rapid technological iteration, a lot of money may not be rewarded. Industry giants such as Motorola I can’t even handle it, the wafer manufacturing industry is too complicated, it’s better for you to engage in chip design!” Zhang Kaijun sighed with emotion after taking a sip of soy milk through a straw.

When Xin Tong heard it, he felt it was very reasonable, and he told himself silently that if he started a business in the future, he should be cautious in investing in Fab factories.

"Gong Zhang, chip design companies are not as simple as you think. There is a huge distance between circuit design and chip mass production. Our company's analog chips use a 180nm wafer manufacturing process. A tape out costs nearly ten million yuan. , if the film cannot be switched to production after a few more streams, the billionaire will become a pauper." Chip design madman Yuan Chengxu naturally has a say in the chip design industry, he said while chewing the buns with relish.

"I think if you want to be in the semiconductor industry, it's best to start in the packaging and testing industry! The investment in this industry is relatively low, you can start with tens of millions, the technology iteration is not that fast, and the risk is much lower." Zhang Kaijun said while He looked at Xin Tong.

Xin Tong nodded, that was exactly what he meant.

"If it were me, I would still build a design house! The packaging and testing industry is too low and not exciting!" Yuan Chengxu said, taking a sip of soy milk.

"Brilliant!" Xin Tong gave a thumbs up!
"Do you really have this plan?" Zhang Kaijun asked.

"Of course, I am currently investing in shares based on my technology. If the isolation chip designed by me can become a hit after mass production, I will have an income of tens of millions in three to five years, and then I can go out and work alone! "

Xin Tong looked at the chip maniac who believed in Buddhism and did not expect that he also had the idea of ​​​​starting a business.

(End of this chapter)