Intel 18A Advances: First Production Begins

According to reports, Intel has made significant progress with its latest Intel 18A process technology. Intel engineering manager Pankaj Marria revealed on social media that the team has completed its first production run in Arizona, marking the beginning of Intel's push toward achieving the world's most advanced manufacturing node. This cutting-edge technology is entirely developed and manufactured in the United States. Mass production of Intel 18A is expected to commence in mid-2025, with the first batch featuring the Core Ultra 300 series "Panther Lake" processors.

Intel 18A introduces RibbonFET gate-all-around (GAA) transistor technology alongside the industry-first PowerVia backside power delivery. These advancements enhance transistor density and utilization by 5% to 10% while reducing resistance-induced power loss, ultimately improving ISO power performance by up to 4%. Compared to the Intel 3 node, Intel 18A delivers a 15% increase in performance per watt and a 30% boost in chip density.

Analysis by research firm TechInsights indicates that Intel 18A leads in performance among 2nm-class process technologies, with TSMC's N2 and Samsung's SF2 ranking second and third, respectively. Furthermore, Intel's Vice President of Investor Relations, John Pitzer, noted that the yield rate of Panther Lake processors built on the Intel 18A process is already surpassing the performance of Meteor Lake during the same development phase.

Recently, Reuters reported that three of the world's top five chip design companies—NVIDIA, Broadcom, and AMD—are considering adopting Intel 18A for their semiconductor manufacturing. These companies are currently conducting production tests, and if they move forward with Intel's technology, it could mark a major breakthrough for Intel's foundry business.