# Whither Semiconductors? The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round and ‘Round

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2021-07-16
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round
- Listen: https://www.eetimes.com/podcasts/eetoa-ep144/

## Summary

Jim McGregor, co-founder of Tirias Research, discusses the evolving competitive landscape of the semiconductor industry, identifying Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA (following its potential acquisition of Arm) as the new dominant trio. He explains how the convergence of computing, connectivity, and intelligence is blurring traditional boundaries, with companies like Qualcomm, Samsung, and MediaTek competing across smartphones, servers, and automotive sectors. McGregor highlights the shift toward heterogeneous computing, specialized accelerators like DPUs, and the move away from monolithic dies toward multi-chip modules and advanced packaging to overcome Moore's Law limitations.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=0) Introduction: Industry Overview and Xingwa Unigroup
- [6:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=387) The New Big Three: Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA/Arm
- [11:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=671) Custom Silicon vs. Off-the-Shelf: The Economics of Specialization
- [14:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=888) Process Technology Diversity: Why Bleeding Edge Isn't Always Best
- [21:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=1262) Convergence of Workloads: GPUs, AI, and Heterogeneous Computing
- [23:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=1394) Accelerated Processing: The Role of DPUs and Infrastructure Processors
- [27:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=1668) Multi-Chip Modules and the End of Monolithic Dies
- [29:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round#t=1740) Post-Moore's Law: Quantum, Optical, and Exotic Materials

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Intel (company)
- AMD (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- Arm (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- Samsung (company)
- MediaTek (company)
- Xingwa Unigroup (company)
- Yangtze Memory Technologies (company)
- UNISOC (company)
- GlobalFoundries (company)
- Psi Quantum (company)
- Synopsys (company)
- Cadence (company)
- RISC-V (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 7: Semiconductor Industry Power Players](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-02-21-episode-7-semiconductor-industry-power-players) (The Circuit)
- [Episode 3: Moore's Law and Process vs. Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-01-16-episode-3-moores-law-and-process-vs-packaging) (The Circuit)
- [Episode 95: QCOM Financial Investor Day, and NVIDA Earnings (age of Nvidia is over)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-11-25-episode-95-qcom-financial-investor-day-and-nvida-earnings-age-of-nvidia-is-over) (The Circuit)
- [Episode 16: Is the Semiconductor Growth Cycle Over?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-04-25-episode-16-is-the-semiconductor-growth-cycle-over) (The Circuit)
- [Episode 13: How Semiconductors Will Shape The Automotive Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-04-03-episode-13-how-semiconductors-will-shape-the-automotive-industry) (The Circuit)

## Citing this page

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