{"id":339557,"date":"2021-09-15T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T11:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage\/"},"modified":"2021-09-15T14:00:18","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T11:00:18","slug":"what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Is a Semiconductor, and Why Is There a Shortage?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29203ecfb7a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29203ecfb7a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage\/#Semiconductors_Are_What_Make_Microchips\" >Semiconductors Are What Make Microchips<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage\/#Where_Youll_Find_Semiconductors\" >Where You\u2019ll Find Semiconductors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage\/#The_Big_Shortage\" >The Big Shortage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-a-semiconductor-and-why-is-there-a-shortage\/#What_Does_It_All_Mean\" >What Does It All Mean?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#What Is a Semiconductor, and Why Is There a Shortage?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-753065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/semiconductor-manufacturing.jpg?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/semiconductor-manufacturing.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/semiconductor-manufacturing.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Semiconductors being manufactured\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/silicon-wafer-die-attach-machine-semiconductor-1015265728\">Macro photo \/ Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They\u2019re everywhere on the tech <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> nowadays, but what exactly are \u201csemiconductors,\u201d and why is there a shortage of them in 2021? We explain this important material and how its supply can affect all kinds of electronics.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Semiconductors_Are_What_Make_Microchips\"><\/span>Semiconductors Are What Make Microchips<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chances are you\u2019re reading this article on a computer, whether it\u2019s your phone or a laptop. Nearly every single digital electronic device that you use is running thanks to substances known as semiconductors. These materials, such as silicon, are halfway between conducting and insulating electricity. They\u2019re crucial to creating integrated circuits (ICs), also known as microchips.\u00a0The terms \u201csemiconductor\u201d and \u201cchip\u201d tend to be used relatively interchangeably in the tech space.<\/p>\n<p>Integrated\u00a0circuits are built out of an array of circuits placed on top of a semiconductor, and they handle all the processing tasks of most consumer computers. Every PC part\u2014memory, CPU, and graphics card\u2014runs on an integrated chip. That\u2019s why they\u2019re crucial to the production of all your devices.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Build Your Own Computer, Part One: Choosing Hardware<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Youll_Find_Semiconductors\"><\/span>Where You\u2019ll Find Semiconductors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-753070\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/man-sterile-suit-holding-microchip.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Man in sterile suit examining a microchip in a factory\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/ultra-modern-electronic-manufacturing-factory-design-684989734\">Gorodenkoff\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Look around you. Everything that needs to \u201ccompute\u201d or \u201cprocess\u201d any information, be it your Bluetooth earbuds, smart speakers, or Nintendo Switch, has an integrated chip inside it.<\/p>\n<p>For example, semiconductors are present in automobiles. Current cars use an integrated circuit to handle digital display meters, entertainment systems, and more complex features like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/94409\/detroits-new-garage-will-help-cars-learn-to-park-themselves\/\">assisted parking<\/a>. That\u2019s why auto manufacturers are struggling to finish production on many of their cars right now; the shortage has negatively affected their ability to sell new vehicles on the market as well.<\/p>\n<p>Other devices that make use of these chips are our everyday <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>liances. Washing machines use chips to calculate timed spin cycles and saved settings to determine how to wash a specific batch of clothes. Modern refrigerators use chips to power their temperature regulation control or define different temperatures for particular zones. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/10444\/the-best-robotic-vacuum-cleaners-for-every-budget\/\">Robot vacuum cleaners<\/a> have complex artificial intelligence systems that allow them to self-navigate, switch modes, and avoid obstacles.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Big_Shortage\"><\/span>The Big Shortage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>At the time of writing in 2021, we\u2019re in the middle of a massive semiconductor shortage. Many tech enthusiasts first encountered the consequences of the global shortage due to the lack of new graphics cards available for retail consumers, which has caused a severe spike in prices.\u00a0However, the graphics card shortage is a small piece of the wide-reaching effects of the semiconductor shortage.<\/p>\n<p>There are two main driving factors behind the shortage. The most obvious of these, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic. Semiconductors, like most products, are made by factories in workers. Because these workers were either prompted to stay at home or were on a limited schedule, for months in the first half of 2020, the production of new chips slowed to crawl. This drastically affected the entire supply chain.<\/p>\n<p>The other factor is the mismatch between supply and demand, which has become even more pronounced due to the rising need for home office devices. It costs a lot of money to create a semiconductor manufacturing plant. And as you\u2019ll see later, the demand for semiconductors across various companies has risen drastically over the last few years. The global chip industry can\u2019t make them quickly enough to meet the rising demand.<\/p>\n<p>This shortage has affected even the largest <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> and manufacturing companies in the world. It\u2019s caused the lack of available Playstation 5 and Xbox <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series<\/a> X consoles, it forced Apple to move the release of their new mobile devices by months, and it\u2019s prompted companies to alter the rate of creation of new products. One of the reasons why Nintendo decided to introduce <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/91223\/nintendos-new-switch-arrives-with-fewer-upgrades-than-rumored\/\">a new Nintendo Switch<\/a> with the same internal components was that the shortage made it difficult to source a new set of chips.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_It_All_Mean\"><\/span>What Does It All Mean?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because of the shortage, all of these things have started to shrink production drastically. Depending on what happens in the next few months, semiconductors could move into more normal production or could get even worse.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/technology\/stmicros-average-chip-prices-up-5-so-far-this-year-ceo-says-2021-07-29\/\">Reuters<\/a>, the CEO of chip-making company\u00a0STMicro believes that chip availability will come back to normal in the first half of 2023. Until then, maybe consider staying with your current devices and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/26029\/when-it-comes-to-buying-a-new-smartphone-patience-is-a-virtue\/\">holding off on an upgrade<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Do &#8220;7nm&#8221; and &#8220;10nm&#8221; Mean for CPUs, and Why Do They Matter?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/737644\/what-is-a-semiconductor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#What Is a Semiconductor, and Why Is There a Shortage?&#8221; Macro photo \/ Shutterstock.com They\u2019re everywhere on the tech news nowadays, but what exactly are \u201csemiconductors,\u201d and why is there a shortage of them in 2021? We explain this important material and how its supply can affect all kinds of electronics. Semiconductors Are What Make&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/semiconductor-manufacturing.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-339557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=339557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=339557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=339557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=339557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}