TSMC Secures Major Intel Order for 2nm Nova Lake-S Processors

TSMC has secured another major customer for its cutting-edge 2nm process. Industry sources reveal that Intel has entrusted TSMC to manufacture its next-generation desktop processor, Nova Lake-S, slated for a 2026 launch. The processor is reportedly in the final stages of 2nm design definition, with mass production scheduled after validation. Intel's move is expected to further fuel TSMC's advanced process order momentum.

TSMC is scheduled to hold its earnings call on July 17, but the company is currently in its pre-earnings quiet period. Intel also declined to comment on market rumors as of July 14. Meanwhile, TSMC's stock closed down NT$5 at NT$1,095 on July 14, and its ADR fell around 0.8% in early Monday trading. Intel's shares slipped approximately 1.5% during the same session.

TSMC previously confirmed that its 2nm production will begin in the second half of this year. Market insiders note that demand for the 2nm node is already surging even before mass production begins. Major chipmakers such as Apple, Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and MediaTek have all lined up for capacity, with Intel now joining the competition to secure production slots.

According to a GURU3D report, Intel has finalized the design of the Nova Lake-S processor at TSMC. While initial speculation suggested that parts of Nova Lake would be produced using Intel's in-house 18A process, recent updates confirm that at least one die within Nova Lake-S will be fabricated on TSMC's 2nm node. This hybrid manufacturing strategy enhances production flexibility, helping Intel mitigate potential delays or supply constraints caused by its own fabrication limits.

Intel and TSMC maintain a competitive yet collaborative relationship. Intel has already outsourced the compute tiles of its Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake processors to TSMC’s 3nm process. The collaboration now extends to 2nm, making Nova Lake-S Intel’s first processor series built on TSMC's most advanced node.

The Nova Lake lineup is expected to cover a range of desktop and laptop processors, with Nova Lake-S tailored for high-performance desktop systems. The top-tier Nova Lake-S models may feature up to 52 cores, including 16 performance cores (P-cores), 32 efficiency cores (E-cores), and 4 low-power efficiency cores, delivering exceptional processing power.

Beyond its impressive core architecture, Nova Lake integrates an advanced memory controller supporting speeds up to 8,800 MT/s. The GPU capabilities are driven by the Xe3 Celestial architecture, while the Xe4 Druid architecture handles media decoding and display functions, emphasizing a diverse and powerful subsystem design.