Intel details its Intel 4 EUV process technology - 20% performance boost planned
Has Intel finally fixed their fabs?
Published: 14th June 2022 | Source: Techpowerup |
Intel's Intel 4 Process Node aims to deliver 20% more performance and a 2x increase in density
At the IEEE's annual VLSI Symposium, Intel has revealed a lot of new information about their upcoming lithography nodes. Specifically, Intel has released a lot of information about their new Intel 4 (formerly called 7nm) process technology, revealing it as Intel's first node to make use of EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) lithography technology.
When compared to today's Intel 7 (formerly 10nm) lithography node, Intel 4 reportedly delivers 20+% ISO-power performance gains, and a 2x increase in high-performance logic library scaling. Basically, Intel's Intel 4 node can deliver higher performance levels, greater levels of power efficiency, and increased silicon density. That's great news for Intel.
Intel 4 is due to be used first within Intel's Meteor Lake processors, a multi-chip CPU design from Intel that will utilise the company's advanced packaging technologies.
While Intel's new Intel 4 node promised a 2x increase in transistor density over Intel 7, it is worth noting that this only applies to logic. Structures like SRAM see a smaller increase in silicon density, providing a 0.77 area reduction. SRAM plays a huge role in chip design, especially when it comes to caches, and SRAM's lower area reductions will limit how much Intel will be able to increase their cache sizes with their Intel 4 node.
Without EUV technology, Intel's Intel 4 node would require more masks for etching and increased multi-patterning. Intel has estimated that EUV has reduced the number of masks that they require by 20% when compared to Intel 7, reducing the complexity of their Intel 4 node while achieving better results.
Intel's first Intel 4 products are due to launch in 2023 with Meteor Lake. Currently, we expect Meteor Lake to launch in late 2023, with Intel's 13th Generation Raptor Lake processors arriving later this year.
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