Leo Says Ep.67 – Is Intel really ditching its 20A process for TSMC N3?

We recently covered Intel's claim that it would deliver five fabrication nodes in four years which would allow the chip giant to regain its process technology leadership, presumably from TSMC, by 2025. These are bold claims that were immediately challenged by news that Intel would ditch its own 20A process in Arrow Lake and would instead use the TSMC N3 process…

Timestamps

00:00 Quick recap – 5 nodes in 4 years
03:07 Now is Intel dropping 20A node?
06:11 Leo ponders the utility of roadmaps…
07:53 The financials
10:45 Intel is in a tricky position
11:51 Pulling together the different threads

This news was problematic to our ears as it suggested we had just sat through an hour-long Intel briefing about 5 Nodes in 4 Years that was designed to deceive. We were confident Intel intended to deliver on its process roadmap and it was crystal clear their roadmap says that Arrow Lake would use the Intel 20A process, however that still leave a few questions. The first is, which part(s) of  Arrow Lake would be made by Intel and which part(s) by TSMC? The second question is whether that answer would apply to all the SKUs of Arrow Lake or would some models have one configuration and some models use another configuration.

The most likely explanation is provided by YouTuber Moore's Law Is Dead who has information that Intel will use their own silicon in some CPU tiles and will turn to TSMC for other models:

TSMC N3 process: Desktop i9 8+32 cores, Desktop i7 8+16 and Desktop/laptop i5/i7 6+8 cores
Intel 20A process: Desktop i5/i3 6+8 cores
Intel 20A process: Laptop i3 2+8 cores

KitGuru says: What do you think Intel will do with its Arrow Lake lineup? Let us know whether your agree or disagree with Leo!

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