Intel has decided to abandon its 20A node, indicating that it will not be used in any desktop processors. Instead, the company has announced a shift in resources towards developing its smaller 18A node. The 20A node was initially intended for Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake CPUs, but Intel is now working with external partners, most likely TSMC, to create these chips.
The concept of the 20A node was first introduced in 2021 by CEO Pat Gelsinger as part of Intel’s plan to transition from the 14nm node to smaller manufacturing processes. The move to the 18A node could be seen as Intel’s step towards more innovative technologies, but it raises concerns considering Intel’s historical roadmap. The anticipated release of the 20A node was supposed to mark the beginning of the “Angstrom era,” signaling a shift away from measuring transistor size in nanometers.
Recent challenges have put Intel in a difficult position, including layoffs and significant revenue declines prompting investor lawsuits. Additionally, Intel’s manufacturing business is facing issues as its produced wafers failed tests from Broadcom, according to reports by Reuters.
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Despite these challenges, Intel continues to focus on its foundry business, as evidenced by its involvement in the 2022 Chips and Science Act. Intel is waiting to receive funding from this act, and internal sources indicate frustration with the delayed payments by the government, as reported by Bloomberg.
Although Intel has faced difficulties, it has secured significant clients for its foundry business, including Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Defense signing on to produce chips using Intel’s 18A node. This shift in focus to the 18A node may be a strategic move to capitalize on these key contracts while addressing financial challenges.
Intel recently postponed its Innovation event where details about Arrow Lake were expected to be revealed. Despite setbacks with the 20A node, Intel has introduced its Lunar Lake CPUs for laptops, scheduled to launch later this month.
