Intel's NovaLake Processor TSMC Involvement and Challenges Ahead

TapTechNews August 6th news, according to Taiwan media 'Commercial Times' report, Intel has opened a case for the future NovaLake consumer-level processor at TSMC, and internally is also observing the research and development progress of Intel 14A process to assess the feasibility of using its own process.

Intel has not officially announced the NovaLake processor. According to TapTechNews' previous report, the exposed Dell's internal document in August 2023 showed that Dell then believed that NovaLake would be the next-generation product after PantherLake, and it is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2026 to the first quarter of 2027.

And Intel 14A is Intel's first-generation process node that introduces High-NA EUV lithography, and is expected to enter mass production in 2026. The transistor logic density of Intel 14A is 20% higher than that of Intel 18A, and the energy efficiency is improved by 15% compared to Intel 18A.

However, Intel's pioneering introduction of the High-NA lithography process at the 14A node also means that Intel needs to overcome many newly emerging technical difficulties without precedent, facing severe challenges.

The Taiwan media believes that Intel's use of a two-sided bet strategy in the process technology of the NovaLake processor can not only maintain the stability of CPU products, but also give its own wafer foundry business an opportunity to practice.