LSI Logic did not announce that its Colorado Springs fab had already shut on April 11, 2001. It announced a planned closure, then expected in August, and estimated that 500 employees—about 7% of its workforce—would be affected. Later accounts disagreed on the headcount, closure timing and whether the plant was sold.
What LSI Logic announced on April 11, 2001
LSI Logic said it planned to close its 8-inch wafer fabrication plant in Colorado Springs, with the shutdown then expected in August. The company estimated a related charge of $120 million to $150 million and said about 500 employees, roughly 7% of its workforce, would be affected. Some employees would be offered transfers; others would receive severance, according to EE Times’ April 11, 2001 report.
Those were estimates accompanying an announcement, not confirmed final figures. The headline phrase “shuts down” is retrospective shorthand: the fab was still operating when the plan was announced.
Why LSI Logic said it planned to close the fab
The company pointed to a weakening economy, falling end demand and inventory accumulating in the supply chain. It said the plant’s mature technologies were especially affected. Wilfred J. Corrigan, LSI Logic’s chairman and chief executive, said: “This decision is precipitated by the weakening national economy, sharp decline in end-demand and the build-up of inventory in the supply chain.”
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- ULTRA POWER - SUPPORTS THE LATEST RYZEN 9000 PROCESSORS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE - The MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI employs a 14 Duet Rail Power System (80A, SPS) VRM for the AMD B850 chipset (AM5, Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000) with Core Boost architecture
- FROZR GUARD - Premium cooling features such as 7W/mK MOSFET thermal pads, extra choke thermal pads and an Extended Heatsink; Includes chipset heatsink, EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II, and a Combo-fan (for pump & system) header (3A)
- DDR5 MEMORY, PCIe 5.0 x16 SLOT - 4 x DDR5 DIMM SMT slots enable extreme memory overclocking speeds (1DPC 1R, 8400+ MT/s); 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 SMT slot (128GB/s) with Steel Armor II supports cutting-edge graphics cards
- QUADRUPLE M.2 CONNECTORS - Storage options include 2 x M.2 Gen5 x4 128Gbps slots, 1 x M.2 Gen4 x4 64Gbps slot and 1 x M.2 Gen4 x2 32Gbps slot; Features EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II to prevent thermal throttling and EZ M.2 Clip II for EZ DIY experience
- CONNECTIVITY - Network hardware includes a full-speed Wi-Fi 7 module with Bluetooth 5.4 & 5Gbps LAN; Rear ports include USB 20G Type-C and 7.1 USB High Performance Audio with Audio Boost 5 (supports S/PDIF output)
The closure was also part of a longer manufacturing shift. The Colorado Springs fab had come to LSI Logic through its 1998 acquisition of Symbios. The company described the proposed move as consolidating manufacturing and increasing its use of foundries, according to EE Times’ announcement coverage.
How later reports differed from the announcement
| Issue | April 2001 announcement | Later reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Employees affected | 500, about 7% of the workforce, estimated by LSI Logic as reported by EE Times on April 11, 2001. | About 420, according to the Colorado Legislative Council Staff’s August 2001 report: August 2001 forecast. |
| Closure timing | August was the expected shutdown month, according to EE Times on April 11, 2001. | The Colorado Legislative Council Staff’s August report said closure was expected in September or October. |
| Sale status | The April announcement described a planned closure. | The Colorado Legislative Council Staff said a planned sale to a German company had fallen through. But EE Times reported on June 18, 2001, that the fab had been sold to X-Fab for about $120 million: EE Times’ June 18 report. |
The reports do not reconcile the sale accounts or establish a definitive final closure date or headcount. The August report’s later estimate of about 420 workers should therefore not be substituted for the 500 employees reported at announcement as if one were a verified correction of the other.
Rank #2
- AMD Socket AM4: Ready to support AMD Ryzen 5000 / Ryzen 4000 / Ryzen 3000 Series processors
- Enhanced Power Solution: Digital twin 10 plus3 phases VRM solution with premium chokes and capacitors for steady power delivery.
- Advanced Thermal Armor: Enlarged VRM heatsinks layered with 5 W/mk thermal pads for better heat dissipation. Pre-Installed I/O Armor for quicker PC DIY assembly.
- Boost Your Memory Performance: Compatible with DDR4 memory and supports 4 x DIMMs with AMD EXPO Memory Module Support.
- Comprehensive Connectivity: WIFI 6, PCIe 4.0, 2x M.2 Slots, 1GbE LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
What was reported about the fab and its capacity
In its June 18, 2001 report on the reported X-Fab sale, EE Times described the Colorado Springs plant as having capacity for 3,000 eight-inch wafers per week. It reported process capability of 0.35–0.60 microns and said 0.25-micron processes had been demonstrated. These are figures from that contemporaneous report, not evidence of the plant’s eventual operating rate or capabilities under a later owner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reported charge means
The $120 million to $150 million figure was LSI Logic’s estimated charge associated with the announced closure, as reported in April 2001. It is not established here as the final cost actually recorded. For readers trying to understand the headline’s employment figure, the key distinction is that 500 was the initial expected impact; later sources gave a different estimate and a different closure window.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Supports 12th/13th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron processors for LGA 1700 socket
- Supports DDR4 Memory, Dual Channel DDR4 5333+MHz (OC)
- Enhanced Power Design: 12+1 Duet Rail Power System with P-PAK, 8-pin + 4-pin CPU power connectors, Core Boost, Memory Boost
- Premium Thermal Solution: Extended Heatsink, MOSFET thermal pads rated for 7W/mK, additional choke thermal pads and M.2 Shield Frozr are built for high performance system and non-stop gaming experience
- High Quality PCB: 6-layer PCB made by 2oz thickened copper and server grade level material
Rank #4
- AMD Socket AM5: Supports AMD Ryzen 9000 / Ryzen 8000 / Ryzen 7000 Series Processors
- DDR5 Compatible: 4*DIMMs
- Power Design: 14+2+2
- Thermals: VRM and M.2 Thermal Guard
- Connectivity: PCIe 5.0, 3x M.2 Slots, USB-C, Sensor Panel Link
Rank #3
- AMD Socket AM4: Ready to support AMD Ryzen 5000/4000/3000 Series Processors
- Enhanced Power Solution: Digital 3+3 VRM Design and premium chokes and capacitors for steady power delivery.
- Advanced Thermal Armor: Chipset heatsinks for better heat dissipation.
- Boost Your Memory: Compatible with DDR4 and supports 4 DIMMS with Extreme Memory Profile support.
- Comprehensive Connectivity: 1x Ultra Durable PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, 1x PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for hassle-free setup.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
