# WFE to the Moon (Still), Semicon West and OCP Insights

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2026-10-19
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 190
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/26584b9e

## Summary

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg recap the semiconductor industry's structural shift, highlighting ASML, TSMC, and Applied Materials' aggressive Capex and innovation in wafer equipment and advanced packaging. They analyze the Open Compute Project (OCP) Summit, focusing on the physical realities of data center infrastructure, including Delta Electronics' liquid cooling manifolds, the 800V DC power transition, and the complex trade-offs between co-packaged optics (CPO) and copper interconnects. The hosts discuss how these hardware constraints are forcing data center operators to make difficult architectural decisions regarding GPU density, rack topology, and the sequencing of technology adoption.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=5) Introduction: Semicon West and OCP Recap
- [1:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=67) Semicon West: ASML, TSMC, and Applied Materials Innovation
- [9:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=551) TSMC's TerraFab and Data Center Engagement
- [14:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=853) Trailing Edge, HBM Stacking, and ASML Hybrid Bonding
- [24:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=1456) OCP Summit: Liquid Cooling and 800V DC Transition
- [35:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=2131) Delta Electronics Manifold and Data Center Space Constraints
- [42:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=2571) Copper vs. Optical Interconnects and CPO Timing
- [53:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights#t=3208) Nvidia Rubin Ultra and Future Networking Topologies

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- ASML (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Applied Materials (company)
- Delta Electronics (company)
- Nvidia (company)
- Broadcom (company)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-10-19-wfe-to-the-moon-still-semicon-west-and-ocp-insights. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Circuit.