Not too long ago uncovered manifests reveal that Intel has begun transport check samples of its next-generation server and desktop processors. Whereas a lot about these upcoming CPUs stays unsure, their eventual launch may very well be a defining second for Intel’s 18A course of node and its foundry enterprise.
The shipments reportedly occurred final month, however the manifests have been just lately uncovered by leaker x86deadandback. He suspects that two listings for 500W A0 chips correspond to Clearwater Forest processors. One other cargo from the identical interval is explicitly marked as a Nova Lake CPU meant for R&D, suggesting that each product traces have reached a important growth milestone.
Clear as water: A0 500W
Large (SRAM in Base DIE) Boys Do not Cry 🙂https://t.co/iBQy1vMkcJ pic.twitter.com/GisHMS9fXf
– X86 is lifeless&again (@x86deadandback) January 20, 2025
Intel unveiled Clearwater Forest final fall, positioning the upcoming Xeon server CPUs as a cornerstone in its technique to compete with AMD and TSMC. Though TSMC has maintained the semiconductor market’s pole place for years, Intel hopes to leapfrog the Taiwanese big with its subsequent node.
Clearwater Forest and the laptop-focused Panther Lake CPUs mark the debut of Intel’s 18A node. With PowerVia bottom energy supply and efficiency enhancements from the RibbonFET gate-all-around structure, Intel hopes the node will compete in opposition to TSMC’s 3nm and 2nm chips.
Following a turbulent 12 months that compelled CEO Pat Gelsinger to resign, the corporate is betting closely on 18A to show that it could stay within the foundry enterprise. Final month, Intel confirmed that third-party prospects have efficiently powered on 18A samples, suggesting that growth is progressing easily.
Do not Cease!😎 Intel Nova Lake! pic.twitter.com/4EB5xy2BzM
– X86 is lifeless&again (@x86deadandback) January 21, 2025
Intel has additionally confirmed that Clearwater Forest will function stacked cache expertise just like AMD’s 3D V-Cache. Nonetheless, in contrast to AMD’s implementation – which has considerably boosted gaming efficiency – Intel’s model will likely be unique to server processors. Each Clearwater Forest and Panther Lake are anticipated to launch later this 12 months.
In the meantime, Nova Lake is predicted to comply with Panther Lake, doubtlessly arriving in 2026. Though particulars about Nova Lake stay sparse, it’s rumored to succeed the just lately launched Arrow Lake desktop processors and should embody laptop computer variants. Particulars relating to Nova Lake’s semiconductor node additionally stay unclear, but it surely may use Intel’s 14A or TSMC’s 2nm.
TSMC’s 2nm N2 node, like Intel’s 18A, will make use of gate-all-around structure to considerably enhance efficiency and energy effectivity. Mass manufacturing of TSMC’s 2nm chips is about to start in late 2025. Different rivals, together with Samsung and Rapidus, are additionally engaged on related applied sciences. Nonetheless, Samsung faces challenges with low yields, whereas Rapidus is predicted to lag behind TSMC by at the very least two years.
