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Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom\u2019s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-25/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Anton Shilov Social Links Navigation Contributing Writer Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.
Gururu There was a time when every outlet was reporting failure to even make 18A. Reply
usertests Gururu said: There was a time when every outlet was reporting failure to even make 18A. Intel hasn't made anything clocking above 5.1 GHz on 18A. Which is not the end of the world by any means, but suspicious. High-end Nova Lake-S is expected to use TSMC N2 for compute tiles, with 18A only used for the low-end. 14A is supposed to be the big breakthrough for getting external fab customers, last time I checked. So they have a lot to prove. If they succeed, great, since TSMC needs more competition (maybe from Rapidus too). Reply
TerryLaze usertests said: Intel hasn't made anything clocking above 5.1 GHz on 18A. Isn't the only thing they made on 18A until now laptop and server?!?! For laptop 5.1Ghz is pretty much the top anyway, isn't it?!? Reply
usertests TerryLaze said: Isn't the only thing they made on 18A until now laptop and server?!?! For laptop 5.1Ghz is pretty much the top anyway, isn't it?!? Mobile class Core Ultra 9 285H clocks up to 5.4 GHz. Desktop chip shoved into laptops Core Ultra 9 285HX gets to 5.5 GHz. Those use TSMC N3B. The Core i9-13900HK also hits 5.4 GHz, on Intel 7. Future power-hungry mobile chips could approach 6 GHz within a couple of generation. If only low end Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs get an 18A tile, it could indicate that the node can't ever be used for that 5.4 – 6.2 GHz range hit by previous Intel CPUs. That's the point, and it could explain why all of Intel's best Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs will use TSMC N2 for compute tiles. Reply
TerryLaze usertests said: Mobile class Core Ultra 9 285H clocks up to 5.4 GHz. Desktop chip shoved into laptops Core Ultra 9 285HX gets to 5.5 GHz. Those use TSMC N3B. The Core i9-13900HK also hits 5.4 GHz, on Intel 7. Future power-hungry mobile chips could approach 6 GHz within a couple of generation. So beginning of 2026 18A was already at 5.1 out of 5.4Ghz and desktop is said to come out a full year later…refinements are a thing you know, and a full year of refinements are a lot of thing. usertests said: If only low end Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs get an 18A tile, it could indicate that the node can't ever be used for that 5.4 – 6.2 GHz range hit by previous Intel CPUs. That's the point, and it could explain why all of Intel's best Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs will use TSMC N2 for compute tiles. It could, it could also be an indication for intel making more money from server products and cheaping out on desktops with tsmc. Also it's just a rumor, it might be true but everything they said points to them focusing on making as much as they can in house. If they use external it will only be because it will make it be possible to produce, and sell, more product making more money in the end. And yeah of course if you have to pay external prices for something you will only use it in products that will make that money back. Reply
KaiserTom "Yields are better than our under-promised, pessimistic expectations we've established". Cool blatant marketing and ad. Means nothing until they actually produce something meaningful, for a competitive price, and that won't fail on arrival or shortly after. Like the last few generations which haven't. The stock is falling, so gotta put out any news to delay the falling knife. But ironically, news like this tends to confirm the local top and usually gets institutions and investors to sell more. Good news confirms good rumors, which confirms the peak price and that you should sell. Bad news confirming bad rumors confirms the bottom and you should tend to buy. Reply
Thunder64 usertests said: Intel hasn't made anything clocking above 5.1 GHz on 18A. Which is not the end of the world by any means, but suspicious. High-end Nova Lake-S is expected to use TSMC N2 for compute tiles, with 18A only used for the low-end. 14A is supposed to be the big breakthrough for getting external fab customers, last time I checked. So they have a lot to prove. If they succeed, great, since TSMC needs more competition (maybe from Rapidus too). Wasn't that supposed to be 18A? At this point I don't even think we're at the "Trust, but verify" stage. Reply
usertests Thunder64 said: Wasn't that supposed to be 18A? At this point I don't even think we're at the "Trust, but verify" stage. True but the latest information is that they kicked the can to 14A. I think they can get some leeway since they transitioned CEOs. Reply
purposelycryptic Thunder64 said: Wasn't that supposed to be 18A? At this point I don't even think we're at the "Trust, but verify" stage. It's a corporation – no matter what news they put out, you should always treat anything said as "DON'T trust, verify", or, at most, "This sounds pretty cool, now let's wait to verify". I'm personally leaning towards the latter sentiment; this sounds like great news for 14A, and I'm looking forward to see what comes of it. I'm not rushing out to buy more shares, but I'm not selling the ones I have, either. Reply
Bigshrimp The way the CFO phrased how 14A is doing better than expected rings of corporate double-speak to try to raise their stock price. The defects could still be substantial and they will just claim it's doing better than expected. I could expect to win the lottery tomorrow and reality will smash that into smithereens when I don't win the lottery tomorrow, lol. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/intel-14a-defect-density-is-dropping-faster-than-the-company-expected-we-have-not-seen-this-performance-since-22nm-says-cfo#main
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