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To: Paul Engel who wrote (49966)	8/5/2001 6:56:32 PM
From: Dan3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 275872

Re: or 1.2 Hours/wafer/Implanter Yeah, 3 years ago. They now claim a total cost increase of 10% for the entire SOI process, where you are claiming a 30% increase from wafers alone. A lot of stuff was different 3 years ago: Clinton was President, Intel was profitable, the Yankees were a sure thing for the pennant. Times change.

To: Paul Engel who wrote (49966)	8/5/2001 7:23:05 PM
From: ptanner	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 275872

Paul, Re: SOI Thanks for the article follow-up. Now I know a little more. So, the minimum Dresden implanters required would be 5000 WPW / (7 * 24 / 1.2) = 35 for IBM's old process and probably less now given likely process advances since 1998. EDIT: Using THEWATSONYOUTH's 3-4x estimate of increased throughput would mean about 10 implanters for Dresden. Re: "Note the additional $400 to $500/wafer cost adder for SOI !!" This was a multiplier of eight for SOI (or cost adder of $340-440 but the details don't really matter). But the article indicated this multiplier would drop to "two to four times" with higher throughput equipment. Also, article noted the time required (thickness of oxide layer) falls with lower voltages of smaller process geometry. These costs per wafer would seem to be pretty modest given the potential value when applied to microprocessor production. Hm. I think this counts as all my learning for the day (goal is only at least one new thing). Off to Fry's to buy some parts to round out a new system built for/with my half-brother. -PT

To: Paul Engel who wrote (49966)	8/6/2001 5:28:06 AM
From: Yousef	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Paul, Re: "Note the additional $400 to $500/wafer cost adder for SOI !!" And this is just for the starting wafer !! I wonder what the real cost is once you factor in less parametric control and higher defect density. Make It So, Yousef

To: Paul Engel who wrote (49966)	8/6/2001 11:02:03 AM
From: AK2004	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Paul thanks, take a closer look at this bit: " Davari said IBM believes the use of SOI wafers adds about 10 percent to the overall process cost, compared with bulk silicon wafers, while improving performance by 20 to 30 percent. Those gains stem from a sharp reduction in parasitic-junction capacitance." I do not have to remind you that asps are exponentially increasing with performance. 20%-30% increase in performance may double asps or drive them up by 50%. And here we have it, 10% higher costs resulting in 50%-100% increase in revenue. Not a bad investment, eh? Regards -Albert