Intel is aiming to regain its manufacturing dominance by launching five new process nodes in four years. This includes Intel 7, a revamp of its 10-nanometer node, Intel 4, which was used for computing, and Intel 3, which is the most important node released so far. Intel 3 is the first cutting-edge node that will be used by external foundry customers and offers significant improvements in performance and features.
Intel has already booked about $15 billion in outside business for its foundry, with an unknown portion of those designs being for the Intel 3 process. The Intel 3 process has reached manufacturing readiness and is in high-volume production at Intel’s R&D sites in Oregon and Ireland. It offers up to 18% more performance and 10% higher density compared to Intel 4.
Two more process nodes, Intel 20A and Intel 18A, are in the works and will feature a new transistor design and power delivery technology at the rear. These nodes will also cater to external foundry customers. Intel 20A will be used for upcoming Arrow Lake PC CPUs, while Intel 18A will be utilized by future generations of Intel chips.
Intel’s foundry business is currently not generating much revenue from external customers, but the company expects this to change in 2025 and beyond. The company has set ambitious goals for its foundry business, aiming to become the second-largest foundry in the world by 2030. The improvements brought by Intel 3 demonstrate Intel’s capability to deliver on its foundry roadmap and could signal a turnaround for the company.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding Intel’s foundry business, now could be a good time to invest in the company, as its stock has dropped this year. With Intel set to launch new process nodes and attract external customers, there is potential for growth in the coming years.
In conclusion, Intel is making significant strides in its manufacturing capabilities with the launch of new process nodes like Intel 3. The company’s focus on regaining manufacturing dominance and attracting external customers to its foundry business bodes well for its future prospects. Investors may want to consider investing in Intel now before its foundry business takes off and starts generating significant revenue.
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/intel-foundry-takes-step-forward-094500977.html