Intel supplied an replace concerning its upcoming fabrication applied sciences at its 2019 Investor Meeting. The firm is on monitor to provide server-class merchandise utilizing its 10 nm manufacturing expertise already within the first half of 2020, which is one thing that the corporate implied on for some time now, however by no means confirmed formally. What is comparatively shocking is that Intel intends to start out manufacturing of ccommercial chips utilizing its 7 nm course of already in 2021.
Intel’s 7 nm manufacturing expertise had been in improvement independently from the 10 nm course of and by a unique crew, so this one is nearer than one would possibly suppose. The node is about to make use of excessive ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) with laser wavelength of 13.5 nm for choose layers, so it won’t closely depend on multipatterning, a serious supply of issues with Intel’s 10 nm course of. In truth, the usage of EUV will simplify improvement of merchandise, make it simpler to provide them, and can seemingly shorten manufacturing cycle instances too.
The first product to make use of Intel’s 7 nm course of expertise can be Intel’s Xe-architecture-based GP-GPU in 2021. The GPU won’t solely be made utilizing Intel’s most superior node, however will even us Intel’s Intel’s Embedded Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) expertise in addition to Foveros silicon stacking method, which confirms that the product just isn’t a monolithic design.
Speaking of non-monolithic designs, it’s noteworthy that Intel considers its progressive chip packaging applied sciences no much less necessary than its new nodes, so anticipate issues like EMIB and Foveros to be a giant a part of Intel’s future.
While Intel’s first 7 nm product can be launched in 2021, Intel stresses that high-volume manufacturing (HVM) utilizing the expertise will start in 2022 when the expertise can be used not just for a server GPU, but additionally a server CPU. So, anticipate extra 7 nm merchandise three or 4 years down the street.
Late final 12 months Intel introduced a serious plan to improve various its fabs for next-generation course of applied sciences. Officially, Intel is equipping its Fab 42 in Arizona to make chips utilizing its 7 nm fabrication course of. Meanwhile, given the scope of Intel’s improve plan, which incorporates fabs in Oregon, Ireland, and Israel, it appears to be like like the corporate may need different fabs prepared for 7 nm by 2021 – 2022 timeframe.
Meanwhile, as Intel intends to refine all of its fabrication processes in the identical method because it did with its 14 nm node, anticipate Intel’s 10 nm to co-exist with 7 nm for years.
Source: Intel
