Intel refutes claims that the company “pulled the plug” on 10nm

Intel refutes claims that the company

Intel refutes claims that the company “pulled the plug” on 10nm

Earlier today we reported on a story from SemiAccurate which claimed that Intel had “pulled the plug on their struggling 10nm process”, a major shift for the company. 

Since then Intel has refuted these claims, stating that the company is “making good progress on 10nm” and that their yields are improving at a rate which is consistent with the timeline which is presented in their last earnings report. Beyond that, Intel says that reports that the company are “ending work” on 10nm are “untrue”. 

Below is Intel’s full response; 

  

      Media reports published today that Intel is ending work on the 10nm process are untrue. We are making good progress on 10nm. Yields are improving consistent with the timeline we shared during our last earnings report.

 

What remains to be seen is whether or not Intel’s 10nm process will be the same process that was detailed back in 2017, or of their technology has been downgraded since then while retaining the same “10nm” branding. Intel has only stated that they are not “ending work on 10nm”, which leaves a lot of wiggle room for the process to be changed a redefined.

Regardless, Intel appears to be adamant that the company is making progress with their 10nm technology, as that the node’s development is in line with their internal expectations. This statement means that Intel’s roadmap should remain unchanged, making it seem likely that Intel will ship products using a “10nm” manufacturing node in late 2019.  

We should expect to hear more about 10nm in Intel’s next earnings call, which is expected on October 25th. 

Intel refutes claims that the company

  
In the eyes of Intel, 10nm is what they decide to call 10nm, making it possible that SemiAccurate’s report and Intel’s response are both correct. The “10nm Cannon Lake” products described by SemiAccurate are likely to never release as full-on retail products, and Intel’s 10nm roadmap could be on track with a reworked 10nm process. It will take some time before the truth of this situation comes to light.     

The question now is whether or not the 10nm that Intel is working on today is the same 10nm that Intel promised us in early 2017. Will we see the same area reductions and transistor scaling as promised? Or has Intel’s lofty ambitions to 10nm been scaled back in favour of higher yields and financial viability? 

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