Tag: Panther Lake

  • Intel Nova Lake CPU to be Made on TSMC’s 2nm Process

    Intel Nova Lake CPU to be Made on TSMC’s 2nm Process

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel’s 18A node has high expectations but is currently producing Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest chips.
    2. Intel has secured fabrication space at TSMC’s upcoming 2 nm node for Nova Lake desktop CPUs.
    3. The collaboration with TSMC raises concerns about Intel’s 18A-P node reliability or capacity limitations.
    4. Nova Lake will compete with AMD’s Zen 6, Apple’s M6, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite 2.
    5. Detailed specifications for Nova Lake are limited, but leaks suggest a high-spec SKU could feature up to 54 CPU cores.

    As Intel Foundry’s initial external node, 18A has significant expectations attached to it. Currently, it’s producing Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest chips, but a recent article from Taiwanese source Economic Daily suggests that Intel’s future desktop architecture may still need to depend on its main rival.

    Collaboration with TSMC

    It appears that Intel has secured some fabrication space at TSMC’s advanced 2 nm node, which is expected to start mass production later this year. This space will be utilized for creating CPU tiles for the Intel Nova Lake desktop CPUs set to debut next year. This development isn’t unexpected, as previous reports hinted at potential clients for TSMC’s 2 nm technology.

    Speculation and Doubts

    Neither Intel nor TSMC have made any public statements regarding this matter, which is understandable. However, Intel’s choice to collaborate with TSMC for CPU tiles raises concerns about the reliability of its own 18A-P node. Alternatively, this could simply be a matter of capacity limitations. Regardless, it places Nova Lake in the same arena as AMD’s Zen 6, Apple’s M6, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite 2.

    Limited Information on Nova Lake

    Since Nova Lake is still far from release, detailed information about its specifications is scarce. A previous leak from a reputable source indicated that its highest-spec SKU could feature up to 54 CPU cores, including 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and 4 LPE-cores. Moreover, it is expected to incorporate Coyote Cove P-cores along with Arctic Wolf E/LPE-cores.

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  • Intel Partners with TSMC for Long-Term Strategy Amid 18A Yield Issues

    Intel Partners with TSMC for Long-Term Strategy Amid 18A Yield Issues

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel is delaying the production of its Panther Lake mobile processors due to low yields from its 18A semiconductor manufacturing process.
    2. The company has formed a long-term alliance with TSMC to outsource wafer production, moving away from its goal to eliminate outsourcing.
    3. TSMC’s manufacturing process for 3nm and 2nm technologies is more efficient than Intel’s current in-house capabilities.
    4. The delay in Panther Lake production may push shipments to 2026, missing potential sales opportunities in late 2025.
    5. Intel’s new strategy suggests a recognition of the advantages of partnering with TSMC for future production.

    It has been recently reported that Intel is possibly delaying the production of its next-generation Panther Lake mobile processors due to disappointing yields from its own 18A semiconductor manufacturing process. In the latest Intel earnings call, the company revealed a long-term alliance with TSMC to outsource the wafers needed for making its processors. This call featured a discussion between Intel’s John Pitzer and Morgan Stanley’s Joe Moore, as transcribed by Seeking Alpha.

    Challenges with In-House Production

    Intel has faced difficulties in successfully bringing semiconductor manufacturing in-house, as the 18A process developed by Intel Foundry has not achieved satisfactory yields. Conversely, TSMC boasts a more seasoned and efficient manufacturing process for 3nm and 2nm technologies. During the earnings call, Intel’s Corporate Vice President of Investor Relations mentioned that the company has been outsourcing around 30% of its wafers, largely to TSMC, for some time. However, not long ago, Intel aimed to reduce this number to zero.

    New Direction for Partnership

    Currently, it seems Intel has adopted a new approach that includes a prolonged partnership with TSMC. Pitzer reportedly commented, “We think it’s always good to have at least some of our wafers with TSMC. They’re a great supplier. It creates a good competition between them and Intel Foundry.”

    The announcement of this strategy comes soon after industry analyst Ming Chi Kuo indicated that production of Intel’s Panther Lake mobile processors has been postponed due to the underperformance of the 18A process. This delay means that the company will likely not be able to ship Panther Lake notebooks until 2026, causing them to miss potential sales in the fourth quarter of 2025. This will negatively impact the revenue, profits, and trust in the supply chain for the latter half of 2025.

    Implications for Future Production

    This strategic shift may indicate that Intel has acknowledged the benefits of a longer-term collaboration with TSMC. Still, it remains uncertain how this will influence the Panther Lake processors, which were expected to be the first mobile SoCs developed using the 18A process.

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  • Intel Panther Lake Notebooks Delayed Until 2026

    Intel Panther Lake Notebooks Delayed Until 2026

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel’s Panther Lake mobile system-on-chips (SoCs) release has been delayed until 2026 due to performance issues with the 18A semiconductor manufacturing process.
    2. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that mass production for Panther Lake has shifted from early September 2025 to late 2025.
    3. The delay could negatively impact Intel’s revenue, profits, and trust within the supply chain in the second half of 2025.
    4. The 18A manufacturing method uses RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia technology, but performance yields have been disappointing.
    5. Intel aims to compete with TSMC’s 2N process, but current results have not met expectations.

    A recent report from a well-known analyst indicates that the release of Intel’s Panther Lake mobile system-on-chips (SoCs) has been delayed until 2026. The delay is attributed to the underwhelming performance of Intel’s 18A semiconductor manufacturing process, which incorporates RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia technology. Panther Lake is expected to be the next advancement in Team Blue’s line of notebook and mobile processors, promising major performance enhancements over the existing Meteor Lake processors.

    Analyst Insights on Production Delays

    Market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is recognized for his insights into Apple’s manufacturing supply chain, has provided new information from his latest review of Electronics Manufacturing Service (EMS), Original Design Manufacturing (ODM), and several brands. According to him, the mass production schedule for Intel’s Panther Lake (PTL) series has shifted from early September 2025 to the middle of the fourth quarter of 2025. Consequently, devices and notebooks powered by these Panther Lake chips might not reach consumers until 2026.

    Impact on Intel’s Revenue and Trust

    Initially, Intel had planned for production to begin in the second half of 2025, meaning this delay still falls within that timeframe. However, the inability to launch new products utilizing this new hardware could negatively affect Intel’s revenue, profits, and overall trust within the supply chain for the second half of 2025, as noted by the analyst.

    Intel is facing delays in the production of PTL chips largely due to disappointing performance yields from its 18A manufacturing method. This method employs RibbonFET technology, a Gate-all-around (GAA) transistor that aims to enhance both density and performance. It also incorporates PowerVia, which is a backside-power delivery structure designed to boost cell utilization by 5 to 10% and improve ISO-power performance by as much as 4%, as stated by Intel. With this approach, Intel hopes to rival TSMC’s 2N process, but so far, the results have not met expectations, at least for the time being.

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  • Intel Unveils 2025-2026 Client Processor Plans, Cancels Falcon Shore

    Intel Unveils 2025-2026 Client Processor Plans, Cancels Falcon Shore

    2024 hasn’t been very promising for Intel, especially with CEO Pat Gelsinger resigning. The recent quarterly earnings report clearly indicates that Team Blue still faces challenges. However, Intel is trying to reassure investors that at least the client roadmap for the upcoming years remains on schedule. This was explained by co-CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus during the Q4 2024 earnings call.

    Panther Lake CPUs on the Horizon

    The next stage in the client roadmap is the Panther Lake CPU family. According to Johnston Holthaus, this will be the first generation utilizing the 18A nodes. Both volume production and the launch are set for the second half of 2025. Similarly to Lunar Lake, Panther Lake is expected to debut on laptops first. While details about the desktop versions of Panther Lake were not officially revealed, these chips might also be launched in late 2025, perhaps under a different name, akin to how Arrow Lake followed Lunar Lake.

    Future with Nova Lake

    Additionally, co-CEO Johnston Holthaus discussed the Nova Lake family, which is planned for 2026. It remains uncertain if this will directly succeed Panther Lake or if it will be the desktop series stemming from Panther Lake. Johnston Holthaus emphasized that both Panther Lake and Nova Lake “will provide strong performance across the entire PC stack,” suggesting a focus on desktop CPUs.

    Falcon Shore’s Shift in Plans

    On a different note, Intel’s Falcon Shore XPU/GPU, aimed at data centers to compete with established Nvidia’s AI GPUs and AMD’s Instinct lineup, is no longer going to be launched as a consumer product. Johnston Holthaus clarified that Falcon Shore will instead stay as “an internal test chip” that will assist in the development of the next generation Jaguar Shores.

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  • Lenovo Product Manager Hints at Early 2026 Panther Lake-H Release

    Lenovo Product Manager Hints at Early 2026 Panther Lake-H Release

    We recently got to see Intel’s new Arrow Lake-H CPU, the Core Ultra 9 285H, on Geekbench for the first time. This CPU is expected to be launched at CES 2025, along with the Arrow Lake-HX and upgraded Raptor Lake CPUs. Additionally, the next generation, Panther Lake (Core Ultra 300), is rumored to debut around the same timeframe next year.

    Insights from Lenovo

    This information was shared by a Lenovo product manager through ITHome, with a mention of @harukaze5719 on X. On the other hand, the user @SquashBionic, who has a good track record of leaking Intel-related information, suggests that Panther Lake might see an earlier paper launch within the year. This seems possible, and Intel might introduce Panther Lake close to the launch date of Lunar Lake.

    CEO’s Promises

    SquashBionic’s comments align with what Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger has stated about a Panther Lake launch in 2025. Given that a Panther Lake chip has been powered on already, we shouldn’t expect mass production and an official launch to be very far off. Alternatively, Intel might reveal some of the Panther Lake series in 2025 and unveil the remaining models in 2026. Currently, at least five Panther Lake SKUs are known, with the highest-spec version limited to 45 Watts.

    Memory Restrictions

    According to the ITHome report, Panther Lake will not feature on-package memory like Lunar Lake does. However, there is a specific case that isn’t part of Panther Lake-U, which means at least one CPU from the Panther Lake lineup will come with non-upgradable RAM. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also echoed this in a recent Medium article, noting that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) weren’t too happy about the memory limitations and that Intel had limited influence over DRAM pricing.

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