The firm talked about that the 10 nm “Tiger Lake” cell processor and “Ice Lake-SP” enterprise processor stays on-track for 2020. The firm’s 12th Generation Core “Alder Lake-S” desktop processors will not arrive earlier than the second half of 2021. In the meantime, Intel will launch its 11th Gen Core “Rocket Lake” processor on the 14 nm node, however with elevated IPC from the brand new “Cypress Cove” CPU cores. Also in 2H-2021, the corporate will launch its “Sapphire Rapids” enterprise processors that include next-gen connectivity and up to date CPU cores.
It’s fascinating to notice that Intel was particular about “CPU” when speaking about 7 nm, that means that Intel’s foundry woes solely have an effect on its CPU product stack, and never a phrase was talked about within the launch concerning the firm’s discrete GPU and scalar compute processors which might be being prototyped and validated. This might be the most important trace we’ll ever get from Intel that the corporate’s dGPUs are being designed for third-party foundries (comparable to Samsung or TSMC), and that the Xe dGPU product roadmap is disconnected from that of Intel’s fabs.
Intel is accelerating its transition to 10 nm merchandise this 12 months with rising volumes and powerful demand for an increasing line up. This features a rising portfolio of 10 nm-based Intel Core processors with “Tiger Lake” launching quickly, and the primary 10 nm-based server CPU “Ice Lake,” which stays deliberate for the tip of this 12 months. In the second half of 2021, Intel expects to ship a brand new line of shopper CPU’s (code-named “Alder Lake”), which can embody its first 10 nm-based desktop CPU, and a brand new 10 nm-based server CPU (code-named “Sapphire Rapids”). The firm’s 7 nm-based CPU product timing is shifting roughly six months relative to prior expectations. The main driver is the yield of Intel’s 7 nm course of, which based mostly on latest information, is now trending roughly twelve months behind the corporate’s inner goal.
Intel’s put up outcomes name additionally revealed a handful fascinating tentative dates. For starters, “Tiger Lake” is transport in “a matter of weeks,” indicating an imminent launch forward of the “Back to School” buying season. Next up, the corporate’s high-performance scalar compute processor, codenamed “Ponte Vecchio” stays slated for 2021-22, and provided that it is reportedly being designed for 7 nm, we’ve our subsequent huge trace affirmation that these dGPUs can be constructed on third-party 7 nm fabs. Intel did point out that the Foveros packaging know-how might be additional developed through the years, and its upcoming discrete GPUs may mix dies (tiles) from a number of sources, which may embody its personal fabs.
Given the delays in Intel’s 7 nm foundry node, the primary Intel client-segment processors based mostly on the node will not arrive earlier than late-2022 or 2023, which implies refinements of the present 10 nm silicon fabrication node ought to assist Intel’s client-segment product stack for the foreseeable future. The first enterprise 7 nm processors will arrive by the primary half of 2023. Intel additionally talked about that they anticipate to see “one full node improvement” from a refined 10 nanometer course of, which is not stunning, given how a lot expertise they’ve enhancing their 14 nanometer course of.
