SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : AMD:News, Press Releases and Information Only!
AMD 215.96+6.0%3:21 PM EST

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Bill Jackson who wrote (4190)2/3/1998 1:49:00 PM
From: Ali Chen  Read Replies (1) of 6843
 
Bill, this is my last attempt to clear your confusion:

"the chipmakers, Intel included produce the specs for their
chip sets well in advance, and they are tested by the board
makers, and revised until they are useable by a wide spectrum
of board makers."
First, I would exclude Intel form this nice company. Do you
believe that Intel gives their specs to Taiwan more in
advance than to their internal board designers?

"The Taiwanese can have a new board prototype in 2-3 days after getting chip set specs.." ???? do you ever read what
you wrote?

"..and samples" - this is A BIG DIFFERENCE. Dont you see it?

"They can do test cycles and make a next protoype board
in 1-2 days" - impossible. For the new board there is no
automated assembly line yet. The prototypes must be populated
and soldered BY HANDS. This is much longer than 1-2 days you
think.

"Modern logic analyzers can measure the timing and other
parameters to help get the board made fast."
You tell me.
Analysers can measure, but HUMAN CANNOT ANALYSE
data that fast. You cannot speed-up the debugging
by assigning more engineers to this task.
Sometimes it takes WEEKS to figure out what is
wrong with signal propagation, and how to fix
the problem.
(example - for Ph.D P.Engel it took one YEAR to
figure out the reason for residual water in chip
package. It cost about $8M to Intel)

"A friend of mine works for a Taiwan company and
he tells me that when a hew chip set comes out it
is 24 hours aday work to get the motherboard ready
and through all the prototype cycles needed to make
it go."
I can believe that. The only one piece of info is
missing here - how many "24 hours aday" workdays
it takes?

"Most chip set vendors provide a schematic start
motherboard..,"

If you think, this argument totals all your
sentiments: in the case of Intel, it means that
THEY ALREADY HAVE DONE THE DESIGN, and boards
are probably in mass production by the time you
just receive the reference schematics.

"..and they just optimize it and find the parametric
variability with assorted glue and other parts to allow
them to make a high yield board." This is probably the
only true statement in your post. Sorry.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext