US -based chip manufacturer Intel announced that the 18A production process, which he has been working on for a long time to regain his competitiveness, is ready. In the first half of 2025, the company announced that the Tape-Out, the final design, is ready for production for its third-party customers. This development is vital for many things about Intel’s Foundry (Foundry) business and in general about Intel’s future.

Intel 18A comes out of its competitors first

18A, which has a production process of 18 Angstrom (1.8nm), promises 30 percent more chip density and 15 percent higher per Watt performance than Intel 3. Intel’s new generation laptops Panther Lake and server class Clearwater Forest CPUs will be produced with this process. Both products are expected to be released before the end of 2025.

One of the most remarkable innovations in this process is the rear -party power distribution technology called Powervia. Intel aims to increase energy efficiency by 4 percent and improve standard cell usage by 5 to 10 percent by carrying power distribution components to the bottom of the chip.

Another important innovation is the design of Ribbonfet that Intel brings to transistor technology of Gate-al-Around (GAA). This technology allows to control the electric current more precisely and minimizes power leakage and makes it possible to produce high -performance, energy -saving chips.

In the race with TSMC’s N2 process

Intel’s largest competitors, TSMC, is preparing to use GAA transistor technology during the 2NM N2 process. However, voluminous production is expected to start at the end of 2025 and the first N2 -based consumer products will not be released until the mid -2026. In addition, TSMC’s Powervia rival solution will be commissioned in 2026 with the A16 process.

Intel 18a and TSMC N2 production processes were compared, and apparently both processes have advantages in different fields. Intel’s 18A process has a higher performance potential, while the N2 process of the TSMC has a more dense transistor packaging capacity. If Intel enters the market before the TSMC with 18a, it may have the opportunity to reversed years of competition loss.

Intel’s success in this process is seen as a critical step to save the company’s documentary business. As of 2024, Intel announced a huge $ 13 billion damage for the Foundry side, while TSMC reported $ 41 billion operational profit. These financial challenges brought about the speculation that Intel would sell or divide the documentary business.

On the other hand, political pressures on localization of chip production in the US may also affect Intel’s fate. The Trump administration wants to produce the most advanced chips in the United States .. Intel is likely to receive additional advantages or investments in this process. Of course, all these possibilities depend on the fact that the 18A process is released in a really strong and efficient way.