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Intel won't skip 10nm process for 7nm
Intel confirms it won't skip 10nm for 7nm, planning to maximize the process and extend its lifecycle before a full transition.
At the recent UBS conference, Intel representatives confirmed the company won't skip its 10nm process to jump straight to 7nm. Instead, Intel plans to maximize the value from each new manufacturing technology transition.
This follows Intel's prolonged 14nm to 10nm transition, a period when the company steadily lost market share and its undisputed lead in the semiconductor industry.
Still, Intel recently outlined ambitious plans to hit 1.4nm by 2030, a goal that's definitely encouraging.
Furthermore, Intel states that in 2020, it expects to resolve most CPU supply issues and even launch 10nm Ice Lake-based server chips.
Regarding 10nm and 7nm, Intel representatives provided the following comment:
We've overcome all 10nm development issues and are now ramping up production. We'll also see several more 10nm versions — 10nm+ and 10nm++ — with numerous improvements. Only after those will we transition to 7nm, which should be ready by then.
Based on these comments, Intel isn't ditching its 10nm process. The company plans to extend its lifecycle — possibly matching 14nm's longevity — by gradually releasing 10nm+, 10nm++, and beyond.
Conversely, TSMC is already heavily promoting its 5nm process, which is considered equivalent to Intel's 7nm. The catch? TSMC's 5nm will be ready by 2021, while Intel's 7nm isn't expected to mature until 2023.
Source: WccfTech
