tech
Intel begins production of most-advanced chip, inching closer to possible Apple deal
Intel is entering production of 18A-P, its most-advanced chip node that could be the target of a coming deal with Apple
TL;DR
- Intel announced the start of production for its most advanced chip node, 18A-P, at the VLSI Symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- The 18A-P node is in 'risk production,' indicating it's nearing customer qualification and represents a key part of Intel's turnaround strategy.
- 18A-P offers a 9% performance increase or 18% power reduction compared to the 18A node and is more heat resistant.
- Analysts suggest that securing a high yield rate (over 90%) in the initial phase will be crucial for attracting customers.
- While Intel's x86 architecture differs from the Arm architecture used by Apple, Google, and Amazon, Intel's advanced packaging technology (EMIB) is seen as a competitive advantage against TSMC's CoWoS.
- There's a potential for Intel to secure a major customer for its advanced packaging technology due to bottlenecks at TSMC.