Intel cancels the 20A node, meant for Arrow Lake CPU production

Last week, Intel officially launched the first of their next-gen Core Ultra 200 CPUs, which brings new architectures as well as more advanced silicon technology. That raised optimistic expectations , but those are getting cast in doubt now. Intel has cancelled its 2nm manufacturing process node (Intel 20A), which was part of its plan to catch up with TSMC. However, the follow-up process nodes are still being developed. Read more “Intel cancels the 20A node, meant for Arrow Lake CPU production” »

Intel is seriously considering selling fabs due to money shortage

It used to be unthinkablebut Intel has, in its own words, run into economic problems, or at least a less than satisfactory situation. The company posted worse-than-expected revenue and a big loss in the last quarter, follow-up cuts and layoffs have already been announced. But it looks like this could lead to an even more significant historic turn. Instead of investing in chip technology, it could close its own fabs or end up broken up. Read more “Intel is seriously considering selling fabs due to money shortage” »

Intel’s 4nm process: Meteor Lake processors will reach 5.1+ GHz

Not long ago, we wrote here about the clock speeds expected from Intel’s first 4nm processors, the mobile Meteor Lake. There were widespread concerns that this new technology would again suffer from clock speed regression, as seen with Intel’s early 10nm process. Recently, however, things are starting to look positive, and so Meteor Lake could end up doing very well, with these processors running above the 5.0 GHz threshold. Read more “Intel’s 4nm process: Meteor Lake processors will reach 5.1+ GHz” »

N4X: TSMC unveils special processes for high performance chips

Five to ten years ago, Intel had been the undisputed king of silicon processes, but the delay of 10nm node has ended that and TSMC has been the clear leader since. It is often said that its processes are specialised for mobile use, still remaining inferior to Intel in terms of the maximum achieved clock frequency. But this might change soon. The company will now focus on this very area and high performance chips for PCs. Read more “N4X: TSMC unveils special processes for high performance chips” »

Samsung will start 2nm chip production 3 years after 3nm node

Samsung’s semiconductor production has been a center of negative news lately. Apart form delays, Samsung processes are believed to be inferior to TSMC node-for-node. But despite this Samsung is still the number two in leading edge process nodes out of the Foundry producers. Now the company has announced 2nm node, which should go into production in four years, two to three years after the volume ramp of the 3nm technology. Read more “Samsung will start 2nm chip production 3 years after 3nm node” »