23: There is only one God in China.

"Have you heard? The company actually prioritized tape-out for a company from Mainland China this time. What's more, it was for the most difficult 28nm latest process, and it failed!"

"When did we get another chip company in China?"

"It's not a chip company, it's a mobile phone company. Their mobile processor chip failed its tape-out today. Experts from the USA are currently investigating it."

"Isn't Qualcomm the only one testing our latest 28nm chip process right now? How did another Mainland company show up? Could there be something wrong with their circuit design?"

"Not sure, but word is that it's our problem."

Taiwan, China.

TSMC.

Several Engineers on break were chatting away, sharing the latest gossip.

A failure in chip mask fabrication was all too common for a giant foundry like TSMC. In most cases, it was caused by issues in the chip company's circuit design.

But this time, things were a bit different.

According to the grapevine, TSMC had gathered a large group of chip experts and even recalled several big shots from labs in the USA to solve this process issue.

Put it this way: there are only two types of chip foundries in the world.

One is TSMC.

The other is 'everyone else.'

TSMC holds 70% of the global chip foundry market. For such a giant to find the new 28nm production process tricky shows just how important this 28nm breakthrough was.

You have to realize that this 28nm process would continue to evolve for the next ten years, and chips based on this process would be everywhere.

Some might ask: if everyone is developing 7nm and 5nm, why is there still a market for 28nm?

Because the process is extremely mature and cheap!

TSMC's current 28nm process is the 28nm LP process, which stands for Low Power (low performance, low power consumption). For example, the APQ8064 that Qualcomm just successfully trial-produced uses the SiON process instead of HKMG, so it isn't suitable for high-frequency operation.

However, the Lingxiao S2 and related processes brought by Dr. Lu are based on the future 28nm HP, which belongs to the second generation of 28nm processes. HP stands for High Performance. Due to the introduction of HKMG, the chip's clock speed can be further increased, and compared to the LP process, it has lower leakage at the same frequency.

Inside a TSMC seminar room, Wilson, a chip expert from the USA, looked at the design circuit diagrams for the Lingxiao S2 and couldn't stop exclaiming, "Oh, my God!"

He was completely shocked.

Beside Wilson, a group of people in white lab coats were equally amazed and confused. When did China get another chip design team?

The chip industry circle is very small.

Basically, everyone knows when something is up—whose architecture is superior, whose circuit design is impressive.

While this expert group was still studying, a TSMC coordinator walked in and asked:

"Professor Wilson, experts, have you found the cause of the tape-out failure? The client has been pressing us and has stated very clearly that there is no problem with their circuit design."

The calm atmosphere was broken, and Wilson snapped out of it.

"Oh, my God. The LP process they proposed is our latest process—how did they know about it? Moreover, the DSP processor they designed actually uses a dual-core architecture. We need a little time to perfect this brand-new process."

As he spoke, the other experts and professors also began to react.

They carefully observed the circuit diagram of the DSP processor and finally realized where the problem lay.

They finally understood why the tape-out had failed.

The TSMC factory was currently processing Qualcomm's APQ8064, which is based on the LP process and uses a single-core DSP processor. They had defaulted to assuming the Lingxiao S2 was also a single-core design.

They hadn't expected this Red Star chip team to innovate so boldly.

"Which team produced the design for this chip? I want to have a good talk with them."

"It's such a pity for a team like this to stay in China. Only the USA can provide the right development platform for a team like this."

Wilson directly expressed his intention to poach them.

Though his words were a bit harsh, it was a fact that developing in the USA offered better prospects than doing so domestically at the time.

"The lead is Dr. Lu Yuanjiang from China. He is currently resting."

"Lu Yuanjiang, Lu Yuanjiang..."

Wilson practiced the awkward pronunciation under his breath and then left the seminar room on his own.

Now that the problem had been identified, the remaining tasks were for the TSMC Engineers to perfect the process and resolve the issue.

In the lounge.

A PR manager from TSMC was sitting next to Dr. Lu, constantly urging him to wait a bit longer.

"Manager Lu, please just wait a little longer. Our company has already invited experts from the USA to study the cause of this failure. Since you say your design is definitely fine, there should be results soon."

"Besides, during this time, we can go out and have some fun, enjoy the scenery of our Taiwan, and see our famous Betel Nut Beauties."

Seeing the PR manager leaning closer and closer, Dr. Lu had no choice but to stand up and pace around the room.

He didn't know what perfume this manager was wearing, but it was quite provocative.

Dr. Lu felt like this wasn't a chip foundry at all, it was more like... "Our company's CEO Chen has given a strict order. I only want to get the chips back for testing as soon as possible. If you can't find the reason, please proceed according to the contract."

His words were firm and forceful, every syllable making his stance clear.

Dr. Lu thought: A honey trap? I've been around the block for years; what haven't I seen?

How could Dr. Lu not be anxious? He had been in Taiwan for over two months. Just last month, Qualcomm had already released their latest APQ8064, the S4 chip. Now, the company's entire high-end smartphone project was waiting on his chip.

Although TSMC took responsibility for the failure and the costs, the time wasted was very real.

While Dr. Lu was waiting anxiously, the door to the lounge was pushed open.

A foreigner greeted him in very distinctive Chinese:

"Dr. Lu Yuanjiang, very happy to meet you."

Seeing the blond foreigner, Dr. Lu guessed he might be the chip expert from the USA.

"You can speak English, I understand it."

Dr. Lu replied in fluent American English.

Listening to this blond foreigner speak Chinese was too painful.

Wilson immediately switched to English and said:

"Dr. Lu, was that Lingxiao S2 chip designed and developed by your team?"

"Is there a problem? I've said it many times: our chip design is absolutely fine. The tape-out failure is definitely a problem with your process."

"No, no, no, Dr. Lu, you've misunderstood. I'm not saying there's a problem with your chip. The design of that chip is perfect, I can guarantee it to our God!"

"This failure was indeed a TSMC process issue. Now that the problem has been identified, they are working hard to perfect it. I came here because I want to invite you and your team to join our lab."

"Your lab?" Dr. Lu asked suspiciously, wondering what this foreigner was up to.

"That's right. I want to invite you to join us to develop the latest technology. A talent like you shouldn't be in China. We in the USA can provide everything you need. I can guarantee on my God that if you agree, you can get a US Green Card immediately."

Dr. Lu finally understood what the foreigner meant—he was here to poach him.

He had been stuck here for nearly two months, and instead of solving the problem, this guy was thinking about poaching people first?

And guaranteeing a Green Card in the name of God? Am I, Lu Yuanjiang, someone who lacks such things?!

Pah!

Furthermore, China only has one God, and that is The Jade Emperor, the Supreme Deity of the Golden Palace of Heaven!

Your God?

Screw you!!!

Suppressing his anger, Dr. Lu looked at Wilson and the camera in the room and said:

"If your company's technology is limited, then don't waste each other's time. As for your God, I'm sorry, I only believe in our Chinese God."

"Dr. Lu, I just want to give you a better research environment and better benefits. Besides, your China simply doesn't..."

"Enough, don't say another word. I have zero interest in your bullshit Green Card. Right now, I only want our chips."

Just as Dr. Lu finished speaking, another figure entered the lounge. Looking at Dr. Lu, who was on the verge of exploding, he said:

"The problem has been found. Our Engineers are working hard to upgrade the process. The factory is also giving your chips expedited treatment; they are currently at the top of the priority list. I believe we will definitely see the finished chips within a month!"

Dr. Lu looked at the middle-aged man. This was a Vice President of TSMC. Since he had appeared, it meant that the foreigner's ideas only represented his personal thoughts.

Seeing the TSMC VP's attitude, Dr. Lu's tone softened:

"Then I will wait a bit longer. I hope we can succeed in one go this time."