Intel Launches Clearwater Forest Xeon Chip

According to Tom's Hardware, Intel showcased its Clearwater Forest Xeon chip during the Enterprise Tech Tour event in Portland, Oregon last week. This marks Intel's first chip utilizing the cutting-edge Intel 18A process technology, although it is expected to be available to the market in the latter half of next year.

At the event, Intel also introduced its latest Xeon 6 Granite Rapids data center chips, which utilize the Intel 3 process. This advancement notably increases the core count of Intel's data center processors, bringing it on par with competitors like AMD for the first time since the launch of AMD's EPYC processors in 2017. However, further differentiation will depend on the performance of the Clearwater Forest Xeon chip, built on the Intel 18A process.

For Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, the successful mass production of the Intel 18A technology, projected for the first half of 2025, is crucial for the company's recovery strategy. This next-generation technology not only aims to enhance Intel's PC and data center processors but also hopes to surpass TSMC's 2nm process, potentially attracting more clients in the foundry space.

Intel has reported that the defect density for the Intel 18A process has reached D0 level, below 0.40 (def/cm²). Industry insiders suggest that achieving D0 below 0.2 is necessary for initial production and below 0.1 for mass manufacturing.

To ensure a smooth launch of the Intel 18A process, Intel recently decided to forgo the Intel 20A node, reallocating engineering resources to focus on Intel 18A, which employs the RibbonFET fully surrounded gate transistor architecture and PowerVia back power delivery technology already completed in the 20A process.

On August 7, Intel announced that samples of the first products based on the Intel 18A process—AI PC client processor Panther Lake and server processor Clearwater Forest—have successfully powered on and booted the operating system, with less than two quarters since their successful tape-out. Both Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest are on track for mass production starting in 2025. Furthermore, the first external client utilizing the Intel 18A process is expected to complete tape-out in the first half of next year.

Among announced collaborations, Microsoft plans to use the Intel 18A process for its custom chip design, while Intel will produce AI Fabric chips for AWS.

If the Intel 18A process proves successful, it will not only enhance Intel's competitive edge in PC and server processors but also establish a foundation for its foundry business. Intel anticipates generating wafer foundry revenue from external clients by 2026, with "meaningful" income expected by 2027.

Consequently, the timely launch of Intel's first Intel 18A processor, the Clearwater Forest Xeon, and its subsequent performance in the market will be critical for the company's future.