Intel has determined to postpone quantity manufacturing of its Meteor Lake’s GPU tile utilizing TSMC’s 3nm-class know-how (N3, N3E, and many others.) to late 2023, in keeping with a report from TrendForce Analysis. The delay has allegedly affected TSMC’s investments in increasing N3-capable manufacturing capability.
Apple and Intel have been anticipated to be the primary firms to undertake TSMC’s N3 manufacturing node within the second half of 2022, with preliminary chips set to be delivered in early 2023. However Intel’s first N3 product was projected to be GPU tile for its 14th Era Core ‘Meteor Lake’ processors which can be anticipated to be launched in fall 2023. Because of this, it postponed the beginning of its GPU tile excessive quantity manufacturing to the primary half of 2023 and not too long ago delayed it additional into 2023, in keeping with TrendForce.
Primarily based on Intel’s new timing, we will speculate that the corporate might need determined to skip TSMC’s N3 fabrication course of and use N3E manufacturing know-how as a substitute. N3E guarantees an improved course of window and probably increased yields at the price of a bit decrease transistor density. We have no idea whether or not that is the case, however it would possibly make sense for Intel.
Earlier immediately, Intel affirmed Meteor Lake’s 2023 launch date, repeating statements from CEO Pat Gelsinger within the firm’s Q2 2022 earnings name: “In 2023, we’ll ship our first disaggregated CPU constructed on Intel 4, Meteor Lake, which is displaying good well being in each our and our prospects’ labs.”
Since Intel had reportedly adjusted its 2023 outsourcing plan and notified TSMC about it, the foundry needed to alter its N3-capable capability growth, affecting its CapEx in 2022 and 2023.
However whereas Intel altered its plans for N3, different massive prospects of TSMC will proceed with the adoption of the corporate’s 3nm-class nodes following their roadmap. Apple is predicted to be the primary and solely person of TSMC’s N3 node in 2H 2022 – early 2023. Corporations like AMD, MediaTek, and Qualcomm intend to begin utilizing TSMC’s N3E and N3P fabrication processes in 2024. Because of this, TSMC will nonetheless have to speculate rather a lot in its N3-capable manufacturing capability in 2022 – 2023 timeframe.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that we’re coping with an unofficial supply and take the knowledge with a grain of salt since plans have a tendency to alter.
