itopaloglu83Nov 2025Recommends
Just to add to this, the Branch Education YouTube channel has great videos detailing the manufacturing process as well, here's one for starters: ▶ this video
in ““One Student One Chip” Course Homepage” · View on HN
How are Microchips Made? 🖥️🛠️ CPU Manufacturing Process Steps
How are Microchips Made? 🖥️🛠️ CPU Manufacturing Process Steps on HackerTube: recommended by 2 Hacker News commenters across 2 separate months, 2024–2025.
Branch Education
Open on YouTubeexplainer · evergreen
Branch Education walks through a semiconductor fab and the dozens of steps used to turn silicon wafers into microchips, with 3D animation. It covers lithography, deposition and etching at a high level.
Why Hacker News recommends it
Pointed to as a clear visual reference for chip manufacturing steps.
- people recommended it
- 2
- separate months
- 2
- strong recommendations
- 0
- discussed on HN
- 2024–2025
“the Branch Education YouTube channel has great videos detailing the manufacturing process as well”
What HN commenters said
4 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
throwaway31131Jun 2025Recommends
In the description they say a video on lithography is on the way. In the mean time maybe this one from the same channel: ▶ this video Great channel
in “How Are Transistors Assembled Inside a CPU? [video]” · View on HN
KyeNov 2025Cites it
A video showing those steps, for the curious: ▶ this video It's probably not 100% identical to TSMC's process.
in “TSMC Arizona outage saw fab halt, Apple wafers scrapped” · View on HN
epoxiaAug 2024Cites it
The graphic from the OIST in the link makes reference to both the reduced power needed and reduced capital costs, less mirrors & cheaper EUV light source. Also, less power -> less heat -> less cooling. I scoured for some other info as well: A single chip would go through a photo-lithography tool about 80 times. A photo-lithography tool can work on approx. 125 wafers per hour (5 FOUPS). A wafer contains ~230 chips. Current EUV light source requires a 20kw carbon laser. ▶ this video [link]
in “Japan on edge of EUV lithography chip-making revolution” · View on HN
Topics & tags
Semiconductors & chip manufacturingComputer architecture & CPUschip fabricationlithographycpuwafersbranch education