Well, TSMC's N2 process is expected to be pivotal for the tech industry, but from a PC consumer's perspective, it holds immense importance for Intel & AMD as well.
TSMC To Dominate In Next-Gen CPU Offerings, Such As In Intel's Nova Lake & AMD's EPYC Venice
We recently reported on the demand for TSMC's 2nm process, particularly from mobile and HPC customers, and it was revealed that, relative to 3nm, N2 will witness significantly higher interest, driving the Taiwan giant to increase its production capacities. Now, based on a Morgan Stanley note shared by @QQ_Timmy, it is claimed that AMD and Intel are also expected to adopt TSMC's 2nm node, as both CPU manufacturers are integrating it into their next-gen lineups, such as the EPYC Venice and Nova Lake architectures. This shows that every mainstream segment of the tech world is dependent on the Taiwan giant.
We already know that AMD is expected to be one of the first customers of TSMC's 2nm process, with the firm utilizing it for next-gen EPYC Venice data center CPUs. CEO Lisa Su formally unveiled the company's plans to use the N2 node a few months ago, hence there's no surprise here. However, Intel is expected to introduce an interesting shift with Nova Lake, as MS claims that the compute tile of the CPU lineup will utilize TSMC's 2nm node. This aligns with the company's intention to diversify its semiconductor strategy.
However, the analyst note says that the reason behind N2's integration in Nova Lake is subpar yield rates of the 18A node, which will apparently force Intel to look towards TSMC. But, we know that Intel has expressed plans to pivot towards TSMC for their CPU products, claiming that the firm will prioritize customer satisfaction, even if it requires not sourcing chips internally. With Nova Lake being placed at TSMC, indeed, the confidence surrounding Intel Foundry for products as significant as NVL isn't yet there for now.
For now, our eyes are on Intel's Panther Lake lineup, as it will reveal how the 18A node has evolved. Based on current information, PTL is set to debut this quarter, with mass production slated for Q1 of next year.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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