energy-memory

Defying a decline in market revenue, the world's top-10 semiconductor suppliers managed to generate revenue growth of 2.1% in the first quarter of 2020, as they benefitted from a COVID-19-driven increase in PC and server sales, according to Omdia. The top-10 chipmakers collectively generated revenue of US$63.6 billion in the first quarter, up from US$62.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019, Omdia said. This contrasts with a 2% sequential decline in the overall global chip market in the first quarter, with revenue falling to US$110.1 billion, down from US$112.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019. While Omdia typically employs a year-over-year comparison for market-share growth figures, the unprecedented downturn for the semiconductor market in 2019 and the pandemic in 2020 have made annual comparisons less meaningful, prompting a focus on the sequential aspect on the semiconductor market. "Many of the leading semiconductor suppliers benefitted from strong demand for...

Remote offices, online learning, and e-commerce have grown rapidly because of the coronavirus-driven shift to working from home, resulting in increased demand for server memory. From cloud computing to small- and medium-sized edge applications, many fields have expanded their data centers. These new data centers often find themselves being challenged by the issue of pollution. To address this, leading industrial memory manufacturer Apacer has leveraged its anti-sulfuration patent to launch server memory equipped with the highest specifications of sulfur protection currently available. This DDR4 anti-sulfuration server memory stands apart from competitors in the market and enhances the reliability of data centers. To reduce the impact of pollutants on the system availability of information appliances, large data centers implement strict environmental control management and regulate indoor air quality according to the highest standard set by the International Society of Automation (ISA)...

MediaTek has booked more capacities at foundries and backend service providers for the second half of 2020. MediaTek is seeing robust demand not only for its smartphone chips but also for its other offerings. As far as chip supply is concerned, Apple is ditching Intel and equipping its next Macs with its own processors. Taiwan-based Unimicron is being identified as potentially a major supplier of ABF substrates for the Apple silicon. Meanwhile, Kioxia is expected to complete its acquisition of Lite-On Tech's SSD unit in July, after a few months' delay in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. MediaTek books additional capacities for wafer foundry and backend services: MediaTek has increased its bookings for additional capacities at Taiwan's wafer foundry houses, mainly TSMC, and backend IC packaging and testing service firms for the second half of 2020 as the firm is ramping up chip shipments not only for 4G/5G smartphones but also for tablet, networking, TV, STB, IoT and...