Intel announced Tuesday that its advanced 18A-P manufacturing process has moved into risk production, a milestone the chipmaker is highlighting as demand for its central processors continues to climb.
By advancing 18A-P into this early stage of production, Intel is looking to demonstrate that it can deliver on its manufacturing promises — a move that could make the technology more attractive to outside customers looking for a reliable chip fabrication partner.
Intel’s finance chief David Zinsner noted in March that CEO Lip-Bu Tan has shifted his position on the 18A process, now viewing it as a potential option for external clients. That marks a reversal from Tan’s earlier stance, in which he believed the process would only generate returns through Intel’s own product lineup.
The new 18A-P process brings notable technical improvements over the original 18A. At the same power level — referred to as iso-power — it delivers 9% better performance. Alternatively, at the same processing speed, known as iso-performance, it uses 18% less power. The updated process also offers better thermal management and greater design flexibility.
Intel also noted that 18A-P is fully compatible with the design rules of the original 18A, meaning companies can reuse existing intellectual property and established design workflows without starting from scratch.
The demand for Intel’s central processors from companies providing AI-based services was so robust in the first quarter that the chipmaker ended up selling chips it had previously written off as unsellable.
Looking ahead, Intel projected second-quarter revenue in the range of $13.8 billion to $14.8 billion — well above analyst expectations of $13.07 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
