Intel and ASML have been working towards this milestone for several years. In 2024, Intel completed installation of one of the industry's first commercial High NA EUV lithography systems , the TWINSCAN EXE:5000, at its Hillsboro, Oregon, research and development facility. The company later became the first to qualify ASML's second-generation TWINSCAN EXE:5200B , which increases wafer throughput and overlay accuracy while incorporating an improved EUV light source over its predecessor.
While the announcement represents High NA EUV's commercial debut, it does not mean Panther Lake is manufactured entirely using the new lithography platform. Instead, Intel has qualified High NA for selected layers, an approach that mirrors how new lithography generations are typically introduced into advanced semiconductor production before broader adoption across future nodes.
Intel Foundry Executive Vice President and General Manager Naga Chandrasekaran said that qualifying the High NA process option on selected Intel 18A product layers enables the company's existing tool fleet to deliver higher manufacturing output while providing flexibility for future process technologies.
Panther Lake itself is not a future product. Intel launched Core Ultra Series 3 at CES on January 5, 2026, opened preorders the following day, and put systems on shelves globally from January 27. The Core Ultra X9 378H followed in April alongside the value-tier Core Series 3, code-named Wildcat Lake, and the handheld-focused Arc G3 parts arrived on May 28.
The announcement’s statement that the product is shipping to customers refers to wafer flow from the fab into the supply chain, rather than to a product launch. ASML says the two companies will continue working on High NA readiness, with the flexibility to incorporate the technology into future nodes based on customer needs — most immediately, Intel 14A , which Intel has designed to use High NA on a set of its tightest-pitch layers.
Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News , or add us as a preferred source , to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.
Etiido Uko is a news contributor for Tom's Hardware covering the latest updates in big tech and the PC industry. He is a mechanical engineer and senior technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things engineering and technology, and is an expert in gadgets, manufacturing, robotics, automotive, and aerospace. ","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'); } Etiido Uko Social Links Navigation News Contributor Etiido Uko is a news contributor for Tom's Hardware covering the latest updates in big tech and the PC industry. He is a mechanical engineer and senior technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things engineering and technology, and is an expert in gadgets, manufacturing, robotics, automotive, and aerospace.
usertests Would this be a new stepping with subtle benefits, such as increased power efficiency? Reply
JRStern usertests said: Would this be a new stepping with subtle benefits, such as increased power efficiency? Probably not, if the part is dual-qualified it is not taking advantage of any additional features of the high NA. Hopefully the advantage is single-pattern instead of dual-pattern so faster processing and perhaps equal or better yield, too. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/intel-becomes-the-first-company-to-ship-high-volume-logic-chips-made-with-asmls-high-na-euv-select-panther-lake-layers-on-18a-are-now-dual-qualified-for-0-55-na-scanners#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/subscription
- Amazon Prime members can get this Asus RTX 5060 for just $2 above MSRP — upgrade to Blackwell gaming power for less than the cost of an RTX 3060
- PC gamer turns Steam games into cartridges with ingenious 2.5-inch SSD system — games are stored on 128GB drives alongside a script to auto-start the title once
- NVIDIA BioNeMo Agent Toolkit Brings Accelerated AI to Life Sciences Researchers in Claude Science
- How Nations Are Deploying AI for Strategic Priorities
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is back in stock with up to $173 in savings, thanks to these Newegg deals — free $70 MSI MAG cooler brings costs well below MSRP for the sta
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.