Intel has the means to return to a new process technology every two-years with a new roadmap showing 10nm up-to 1.4nm fabrication processors, it was ASML that made this slide public, not Intel.

At this year's conference for electronic components IEDM, ASML Dutch manufacturer of lithography systems ASML spoke about the future of Intel's process technology. According to a slide presented by CEO Martin van den Brink, Intel even wants to start manufacturing in 1.4 nanometers ten years from now.

First things first, 10 nm production is due in three iterations, which has already started with Ice Lake for low- and ultra-low-voltage devices and will be completed in 2021 with 10nm ++ and 10nm+++. In the same year, 7 nm mass production using the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) process would begin. Much like 10nm, the 7nm nodes are to be given three revisions as well, which, however, are each identified without a plus (x nm), with a plus (x nm +) and with two plus signs (x nm ++).

In 2021, Ponte Vecchio (GPU) based on the Xe architecture is to be the first 7 nm representative of Intel to be produced in series, although initially for Exascale servers. Two-year cadence, but no concrete figures (yes they mentioned 2021).

The releases slide then shows 5nm for 2023, 3nm and 2nm in 2025 and 2027, and then 1.4 nm in 2029. Fun fact, 1.4 nm is the thickness of only twelve silicon atoms 5nm for 2023, 3nm and 2nm in 2025 and 2027, and then 1.4 nm in 2029. Fun fact, TSMC will start mass-producing 5 nm chips as early as next year and aim to boost the mass production of 3 nm products in 2022, the figures quoted by ASML do not appear to be unrealistic, even if Intel recently found it difficult who struggled with 10nm manufacturing.





