I guess this is functionally destroying them? Doesnt take long for chips to go out of date. If I buy a load of potatoes and let them rot, have I not destroyed them?
> If I buy a load of potatoes and let them rot, have I not destroyed them?
Depends on how they're stored. Computer chips aren't potato chips, they don't rot, properly stored they can last a really long time, a multitude of storage technologies are available for that purpose.
> Doesnt take long for chips to go out of date.
That used to be the case but it's no longer true. Advanced chips are made by 3 companies total and competition is nowhere to be seen. Then, with every generation of chips, their production costs and prices are rising more than the benefits that generation provides i.e. the benefits curve is flattening faster than cost curve.
Theoretically, China can bring the prices down but they are sanctioned, tariffed and have a huge market of their own to satisfy first.
