Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[SemiconEng]

Well, there's a huge amount of stuff that needs to be done at fab36 once the walls and roof are up............


How fast it gets done, Depends on how much money you want to spend. The record Fab construction from greenfield site, to first wafer start, I believe, is currently held by intel Fab22, 18 months, with tons of money thrown at it. I wouldn't be surprised at double construction costs at that speed. Normal is 24-36 months.

Anyway, you don't actually have to have the Fab's outside walls up first. What actually happens, is that they put up the building's superstructure, and then build the internal cleanroom FIRST. Seal off the cleanroom, start pumping it down, clean it out, then slightly pressurize it, THEN you build the outside structure, put up the exterior walls, plumbing electrical, chemical, etc etc etc, and just "Hook Them Up", to the cleanroom equipment, through what's called "Pop Out's" in the Cleanroom sub floor, or ceiling.

Pretty cool huh?