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Chip Types and Classifications

Chips can be classified by function:

Analog, Power, RF, Processors, Memories, Commodity: logic, discretes, FPGA and CPLD, SoC/ASIC, Other high volume (disk drive, LCD, ... ).

Manufacturers can be classified as well:

  1. Major chip makers such as IBM and Intel that design, manufacture and sell their chips (Integrated Device Manufacturers / IDM).
  2. Fabless manufacturers such as NVIDIA and Xilinx that design and sell chips but outsource manufacturing to foundry comp anies.
  3. Foundry companies (such as TSMC and UMC) that manufacture chips designed and sold by their customers.

The world's major foundries are SMC and »TSMC: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


5: (C) 2008-11, DJ Greaves, University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory.