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You're forgetting about the billions of USD that go into buying the machines that make up the fab.

> The material is just silicon.

No, a lot of chemicals are required as well.




Those billions are also mostly R&D. It's also from a country external to Taiwan. ASML, the Ductch.

Yes, Obviously there's a lot that goes on in this process, more then "just" silicon. But if you want a summary, then cost expertise and knowhow, eclipses actual process. In a sense it is just "silicon" when measured relative to the ability and knowledge required to transform that material.




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