Intel Earnings Q4

Sort of. It used to be you'd get a new computer every 14-16 months because of the major performance increases. During the C2D era up until Ryzen popped out the market was very lackluster. 2020-2021 was big, but you'll see another growth period in 2024 as people realize their computer won't be supported by Windows 11 come January 2025. It's easy to say "Just use the bypass method" or "Just use Linux!" but I'd say at least 95% of people are going to buy a new computer. The remaining will find some weird ESU hack to extend it or sit on old hardware or move to Linux. That third choice isn't too likely.

The guy you responded to was both right and wrong. Intel, TSMC, Samsung had everything ready to go. They lacked components from their preferred suppliers. That would include components like the tiny SMDs on the underside of a current Intel CPU or the top of a Ryzen 7000. However, the most important was the lack of supply and high demand of BuF or commonly referred to as ABF, Ajinmoto Buildup Film. It is a must-have for any advanced circuitry for insulation. Ajinmoto and their licensed partners like Unmichron Technologies dominate the market. Other players exist, but not for high end processors or similar. And before you ask, it is in fact the same Ajinmoto that made commercially available MSG. They've had a materials science division going back forever and they got into the computing business in the late 1980s.

ABF was used for various components when I worked as an engineer in silicon fabrication at two different companies earlier in my career before I made a switch. Sadly it's likely the industry learned next to nothing and the next major pandemic is going to be just as bad if not worse as more people embrace technology.

/r/stocks Thread Parent