IBM fab at East Fishkill having yield problems...

[Hanners]

Any idea if this could potentially affect NV40 yields?

One problem is ongoing yield issues within the company's 300-mm fab in East Fishkill, N.Y. For months, IBM has been struggling with yields in the fab, a 130- and 90-nm plant.

"We do see demand, but we need to make the products," Joyce said. "We need to improve our yields in our 300-mm plant. Our yields did see some improvement, but not as fast" as the company had hoped.

IBM is seeing better-than-expected yields at its 200-mm plant in Burlington, Vt., he said. But profits at the 200-mm fab did not offset ongoing losses within the 300-mm fab, or a sudden drop in IP revenues in the first quarter, he said.

From EE Times.

 

[BRiT]

Or maybe it's the NV40 yields that are affecting IBM's overall numbers?

 

[Sazar]

Any idea if this could potentially affect NV40 yields?

One problem is ongoing yield issues within the company's 300-mm fab in East Fishkill, N.Y. For months, IBM has been struggling with yields in the fab, a 130- and 90-nm plant.

"We do see demand, but we need to make the products," Joyce said. "We need to improve our yields in our 300-mm plant. Our yields did see some improvement, but not as fast" as the company had hoped.

IBM is seeing better-than-expected yields at its 200-mm plant in Burlington, Vt., he said. But profits at the 200-mm fab did not offset ongoing losses within the 300-mm fab, or a sudden drop in IP revenues in the first quarter, he said.

From EE Times.

do you know how NV pays IBM ? is it per working chip or is it per wafer?

 

[Unit01]

can't be per chip. That's like lottery, not all are guaranteed to work?
My guess it's per wafer.

 

[Sxotty]

I always wonder about stuff like this could there be some vibration in the ground or something at that fab and not the other? Or what cause it oftens seems like certain facilities constantly do better than others.

 

[Sazar]

I always wonder about stuff like this could there be some vibration in the ground or something at that fab and not the other? Or what cause it oftens seems like certain facilities constantly do better than others.

its probably just the process... yields are generally low on the newer processes... case in point... TSMC wrt nv30 yields @ the beginning and now look @ it...

btw off topic... @ the rate they appear to be losing wafers perhaps they should rename the place from FishKill to WaferKill..

 

[Ylandro]

Maybe the operators need to change their after-shave?


No.. not completely kidding. Friend of mine had such an incident in a cleanroom. They suddenly had problems processing wafers. Turned out the aftershave of the guy handling the wafer contaminated the surface....

Ok... that was NOT in a production faciltiy, but in a research lab. Little more close contact with the wafers.

 

[Richthofen]

can't be per chip. That's like lottery, not all are guaranteed to work?
My guess it's per wafer.

well your guess is wrong.
They pay IBM per working chip.

 

[thatdude90210]

well your guess is wrong.
They pay IBM per working chip.

And the proof? How come Nvidia is the one with the low margins? And don't cite cc remarks, because you can easily point out wrong cc remarks like "nv30 is holiday product" "we expect record revenue (for last quarter)."

 

[Evildeus]

Well it does seem that IBM bill on working chip... too leasy to find for you a link

 

[kemosabe]

Just about every indication has been that NVDA has not come away impressed with IBM's yields nor its success with advanced processes. Still no word of any progress with low-k.

The latest talk out of Taiwan was on the recurring theme of very low yields, this time on testing of their 0.09u process.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/02/26/2003100213

Unless all these stories stem from a conspiracy to give IBM a bad name, it appears that their reported technological edge has been greatly exaggerated.

 

[{Sniping}Waste]

Maybe the operators need to change their after-shave?


No.. not completely kidding. Friend of mine had such an incident in a cleanroom. They suddenly had problems processing wafers. Turned out the aftershave of the guy handling the wafer contaminated the surface....

Ok... that was NOT in a production faciltiy, but in a research lab. Little more close contact with the wafers.

Or havn't found the guy that sneaks frenchfries in the clean room in the eapy stage.