How are Microchips Made? 🖥️🛠️ CPU Manufacturing Process Steps
Why Hacker News recommends it
Pointed to as a clear visual reference for chip manufacturing steps.
What it is
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.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2024 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Recommends throwaway31131 · 2025-06 · on “How Are Transistors Assembled Inside a CPU? [video]”
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
Recommends itopaloglu83 · 2025-11 · on ““One Student One Chip” Course Homepage”
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]
Cites epoxia · 2024-08 · on “Japan on edge of EUV lithography chip-making revolution”
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]
Cites Kye · 2025-11 · on “TSMC Arizona outage saw fab halt, Apple wafers scrapped”
A video showing those steps, for the curious: [this video] It's probably not 100% identical to TSMC's process.