Intel has made exciting progress in its chip production goals. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) David Zinsner shared striking data on its new 1.4-nanometer (nm) 14A manufacturing process. Zinsner explained that 14A, when evaluated at the same maturity level, offers better performance and yield compared to the company’s predecessor, 18A.
Intel is smiling
This announcement is crucial for Intel’s future expansion into chip production for external customers on a much larger scale. Intel recently introduced the 18A manufacturing process, which offers strong performance, power, and area efficiency.
This technology will be primarily used in the company’s in-house processors, such as Panther Lake. However, it will be 14A that will ultimately determine the future of Intel’s foundry division.
CFO David Zinsner stated that they’ve made a great start with the 14A process, saying, “When you look at the maturity level of 14A, we’re in a better position in terms of performance and efficiency compared to 18A at the same maturity point.”
This announcement indicates that 14A has achieved similar performance and efficiency figures to 18A, approximately a year ahead of the official timeline for risk production. Because 14A is designed specifically for external customers, this speed provides a critical advantage in achieving direct customer acceptance.
Intel is actively testing with potential customers at every key milestone in this process. Involving customers in the development process and shaping the process with their feedback aims to drive more commercial orders for the final product.
Production of the 14A process is planned to begin towards the end of 2026. The new 14A process includes significant innovations such as High-NA lithography equipment and second-generation RibbonFET transistors, which represent a significant leap forward compared to the current 18A. The successful implementation of 14A is vital to Intel’s positioning as a strong foundry service provider in the industry.
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