Intel to Launch 18A Chip Production in 2025

Intel has revealed that its lead products based on the Intel 18A process technology—Panther Lake, an AI PC client processor, and Clearwater Forest, a server processor—have successfully powered on and booted operating systems. Production for both products is slated to begin in 2025. The company also expects its first external customer to begin using Intel 18A technology in the first half of next year.

Intel Foundry is pioneering the implementation of RibbonFET gate-all-around transistors and PowerVia backside power technology. These advancements are available to all customers through Intel 18A, with ecosystem electronic design automation (EDA) and IP tools facilitating their integration.

With the Intel 18A PDK 1.0 released last month, the company’s EDA and IP partners are updating tools and design flows to support external foundry customers in initiating their Intel 18A chip designs.

Clearwater Forest, a prototype for future CPU and AI chips, will be the industry's first mass-produced solution combining RibbonFET, PowerVia, and Foveros Direct 3D technology. This combination is expected to offer high performance, increased density, and improved power handling.

RibbonFET technology enhances control over electrical current in transistors, allowing for further miniaturization and reduced power leakage. PowerVia optimizes power delivery by separating it from the front of the wafer, reducing resistance and boosting efficiency. These innovations are anticipated to deliver significant improvements in computing performance and battery life for future devices.

HBL