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Samsung May Overtake Intel As World's Largest Chip Maker In 2017 (pcmag.com)
According to U.S. semiconductor market research firm IC Insights, Samsung is likely to overtake Intel as the world's largest chip maker later this year. Bill McClean, president of IC Insights, explained that "If money market prices continue to hold or increase through the second quarter and the balance of this year, Samsung could charge into the top spot and displace Intel." PC Magazine reports: Intel first became the world's largest chipmaker back in 1993 and has held the title ever since. But as the mobile market has exploded, so did the need for the chips that make them work. Unlike on PC where Intel dominates, mobile is a different matter entirely, and Samsung is on hand to provide the DRAM and NAND chips they require. Intel first became the world's largest chipmaker back in 1993 and has held the title ever since. But as the mobile market has exploded, so did the need for the chips that make them work. Unlike on PC where Intel dominates, mobile is a different matter entirely, and Samsung is on hand to provide the DRAM and NAND chips they require.
According this is link it was the Japanese manufacturers.
http://www.icinsights.com/news/bulletins/Tracking-The-Top-10-Semiconductor-Sales-Leaders-Over-26-Years/
IMHO, you can buy an 8 core 64 Bit 2Ghz computer for $60 these days, complete with Bluetooth, HDMI, flash, Wifi, ethernet.... so Intel has already lost the market to a *cluster* of companies that includes Samsung, and it's for those companies to fight it out to see who becomes the dominant one. Intel will not be one of the winners.
I don't think Samsung are currently likely to come out top, the Chinese chip makers are too cheap, they've been commoditized.
(Google Android TV Box S912 and you'll find a load of these, stick Ubuntu Arm on these and they're faultless, as Android boxes they will play 3D games and 4K video reasonably).
The article really says that Samsung's revenue will exceed Intel's if memory prices stay high. If prices drop, then Samsung is number 2. It has little to do with actual production of product. By this metric, Samsung could produce less and still become first in revenue if prices rise enough.