Intel's 18A process seems likely to be a massive breakthrough for the company, as supply chain sources now say clients are optimistic about it.
Intel's 18A Node Sees Massive Attention From Industry Giants; Likely To Play a Decisive Role In The Race For Cutting-Edge Nodes
Intel's Foundry semiconductor venture hasn't been quite fruitful, given that the division's aim of "five processes in four years" didn't work out too well when it comes to market adoption. However, with the latest 18A node, it is safe to assume that Intel Foundry is set to see a massive comeback. According to Ctee, several ASICs, including NVIDIA and Broadcom, are sampling with Intel for its 18A node, which shows that in the cutting-edge node race, TSMC might have found itself an aggressive competitor.
It is claimed that the major adopter for the 18A process will be Intel itself, and that the firm plans to have a "70% adoption rate" of in-house nodes for their products, which means that Intel's ambitions for vertically integrating the supply chain will play out. Moreover, the report says that Nova Lake's compute tile won't be entirely outsourced to TSMC, rather, Intel's 18A would likely play a part in it, which means that Team Blue is confident in its foundry division, and we will see more influence of IFS on Intel's consumer and professional products.
In terms of external adoption, it is reported that 18A's chip samples are already being verified with partners, and so far, the feedback has remained positive. Intel is working with the likes of NVIDIA, Broadcom, Faraday Technology, IBM, and several other partners to ensure that 18A meets the industry standard, and with that, it is clear that 18A has a high interest in it. And, given that top tech giants like NVIDIA are looking to diversify the supply chain, with more interest in the US, Intel Foundry could be an integral partner for Team Green.
For a quick rundown on Intel's 18A, it is claimed that the process has an SRAM density equal to that of TSMC's N2 process, and in terms of in-house counterparts, the 18A has seen a massive leap in performance relative to the Intel 3 node. With technologies like PowerVia, Intel has ensured that the 18A process is a testament to the markets; however, with the release of Panther Lake SoCs, we'll have a clearer idea of what to expect with the process.
