Intel is building numerous chip factories worldwide, which will also produce semiconductors for other chip developers. Among them should also be Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) with CPU cores and other function blocks from the British developer ARM. The new Intel 18A manufacturing technology has been announced for 2024, and ARM and Intel Foundry Services (IFS) are now jointly optimizing their respective technology for this purpose. ARM speaks of “Design Technology Co-Optimization” (DTCO).
Co-optimization of design and manufacturing
ARM also optimizes its own “Intellectual Property Cores” (IP cores) together with other chip contract manufacturers (foundries) for their respective production technology. ARM also sells so-called “POP IP” for a specific manufacturing technology: This allows SoC developers to reach their goals faster and the respective IP cores more reliably achieve specified design criteria, for example in terms of clock frequency, power consumption, efficiency or manufacturing yield.
Such optimizations for ARM cores are available for production processes from e.g TSMC, Samsung, Globalfoundries, UMC, minimum wage and soon Intel IFS.
18A Benefits
The Intel 18A manufacturing technology is closely related to Intel 20A and enables nanosheet transistors (called RibbonFET by Intel, also called GAA by others) as well as the routing of power and data signal lines (PowerVias, Backside Power Delivery). Intel is also planning to use EUV lithography with a large numerical aperture (high-NA EUV).
With 18A, Intel hopes to have again achieved a clear technical lead over the TSMC process N2 expected at the end of 2025. This is intended to attract large customers in order to utilize the expensive chip fabs.
The first fab at the new Intel site in Ohio is scheduled to go into operation in 2025 and produce 18A chips, followed by the fab in Magdeburg about two years later. Previously, Intel manufactured 18A at other locations that have not yet been precisely named. Intel is also building two new fabs in Arizona at the site of Fab 42.
The US military also wants chips with Intel 18A to be manufactured in US fabs that are classified as Trusted Foundries.
(cue)
