Intel’s 15th Gen CPUs to Harness 20A Process, Lunar Lake on 18A: TSMC’s 3nm for iGPUs

Intel has announced its plans for the future of its CPUs, with the upcoming 15th Gen Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake processors set to make significant advancements. These new CPUs will harness TSMC’s 3nm-class process nodes, marking a continuation of Intel’s outsourcing strategy.

The 15th Gen Arrow Lake lineup will feature Intel’s 20A node for the CPU tile, while the iGPU tile will utilize TSMC’s 3nm (N3) node. This upgrade from the previous Meteor Lake will bring a more advanced CPU tile, with an increase from 4A to 20A. The iGPU tile, however, will remain unchanged.

Lunar Lake, on the other hand, will be limited to the notebook segment and will be produced in limited quantities for high-end and enthusiast ultrabooks/convertibles. It will feature a CPU tile fabricated on Intel’s 18A node and an iGPU tile outsourced to TSMC’s N3B node (3nm+).

Intel’s Foundry division is also making strides to become a separate entity, aiming to serve rivals such as AMD, ARM, and nVidia. CEO Pat Gelsinger revealed that there will be a clear separateion between Intel products and Intel Foundry, with separate legal entities and budgets for each division.

The 15th Gen Arrow Lake processors are expected to be the most significant upgrade since Alder Lake. They will adopt a disaggregated (chiplet) architecture, featuring a 2nm-class 20A CPU die. The P-Cores will be upgraded to Lion Cove, while the E-Cores will see an improvement to Skymont. The iGPU tile will remain the same as Meteor Lake, utilizing the Xe-LPG architecture on TSMC’s 3nm node. These processors will offer up to 24 cores (8P + 16E) without hyperthreading, signaling Intel’s transition from SMT to Rentable Units.

Leaked Intel documents suggest that the 15th Gen processors will bring a 5% uplift in single-threaded performance and a 15% boost in multi-threaded performance. Additionally, the P-core L2 cache is expected to increase by 50% to 3MB.

Lunar Lake, on the other hand, will be a successor to Lakefield and will be fabricated on Intel’s 18A node for the CPU and TSMC’s N3B node for the iGPU. These chips will feature up to 10 cores (4P + 4E + 2LP) and will be similar to Arrow Lake but produced on superior nodes with a lower TDP of 7-15W. They are scheduled to launch during the holiday season following Arrow Lake’s release.

Overall, Intel’s 15th Gen CPUs, including Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake, promise significant advancements in performance and architecture. With the utilization of TSMC’s advanced process nodes, Intel aims to stay competitive in the ever-evolving CPU market. As we look towards the future, it will be interesting to see how these new processors fare against their competitors and what further innovations Intel has in store.

Background Information

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About AMD: AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

  

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About ARM: ARM, originally known as Acorn RISC Machine, is a British semiconductor and software design company that specializes in creating energy-efficient microprocessors, system-on-chip (SoC) designs, and related technologies. Founded in 1990, ARM has become a important player in the global semiconductor industry and is widely recognized for its contributions to mobile computing, embedded systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ARM's microprocessor designs are based on the Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture, which prioritizes simplicity and efficiency in instruction execution. This approach has enabled ARM to produce highly efficient and power-saving processors that are used in a vast array of devices, ranging from smartphones and tablets to IoT devices, smart TVs, and more. The company does not manufacture its own chips but licenses its processor designs and intellectual property to a wide range of manufacturers, including Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, and NVIDIA, who then integrate ARM's technology into their own SoCs. This licensing model has contributed to ARM's widespread adoption and influence across various industries.

  

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About Intel: Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

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About nVidia: NVIDIA has firmly established itself as a leader in the realm of client computing, continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation in graphics and AI technologies. With a deep commitment to enhancing user experiences, NVIDIA's client computing business focuses on delivering solutions that power everything from gaming and creative workloads to enterprise applications. for its GeForce graphics cards, the company has redefined high-performance gaming, setting industry standards for realistic visuals, fluid frame rates, and immersive experiences. Complementing its gaming expertise, NVIDIA's Quadro and NVIDIA RTX graphics cards cater to professionals in design, content creation, and scientific fields, enabling real-time ray tracing and AI-driven workflows that elevate productivity and creativity to unprecedented heights. By seamlessly integrating graphics, AI, and software, NVIDIA continues to shape the landscape of client computing, fostering innovation and immersive interactions in a rapidly evolving digital world.

  

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About TSMC: TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, is a semiconductor foundry based in Taiwan. Established in 1987, TSMC is a important player in the global semiconductor industry, specializing in the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers for a wide range of clients, including technology companies and chip designers. The company is known for its semiconductor fabrication processes and plays a critical role in advancing semiconductor technology worldwide.

  

Technology Explained

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chiplet: Chiplets are a new type of technology that is revolutionizing the computer industry. They are small, modular components that can be used to build powerful computing systems. Chiplets are designed to be used in combination with other components, such as processors, memory, and storage, to create a complete system. This allows for more efficient and cost-effective production of computers, as well as more powerful and versatile systems. Chiplets can be used to create powerful gaming PCs, high-end workstations, and even supercomputers. They are also being used in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Chiplets are an exciting new technology that is changing the way we build and use computers.

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CPU: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. It is the most important component of a computer system, as it is responsible for controlling all other components. CPUs are used in a wide range of applications, from desktop computers to mobile devices, gaming consoles, and even supercomputers. CPUs are used to process data, execute instructions, and control the flow of information within a computer system. They are also used to control the input and output of data, as well as to store and retrieve data from memory. CPUs are essential for the functioning of any computer system, and their applications in the computer industry are vast.

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E-Cores: E-Cores (Efficiency Cores) are a type of technology used in the computer industry to provide a more efficient and reliable way of powering and cooling computer components. They are made up of a combination of copper and aluminum, and are designed to be more efficient than traditional copper cores. E-Cores are used in a variety of applications, such as in CPUs, GPUs, and other computer components. They are also used in servers, laptops, and other electronic devices. The technology is designed to reduce heat and power consumption, while also providing a more reliable and efficient way of powering and cooling computer components.

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Foundry: A foundry is a dedicated manufacturing facility focused on producing semiconductor components like integrated circuits (ICs) for external clients. These foundries are pivotal in the semiconductor industry, providing diverse manufacturing processes and technologies to create chips based on designs from fabless semiconductor firms or other customers. This setup empowers companies to concentrate on innovative design without needing substantial investments in manufacturing infrastructure. Some well-known foundries include TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), Samsung Foundry, GlobalFoundries, and UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation).

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iGPU: An integrated Graphics Processing Unit (iGPU) is a component built into a computer's central processing unit (CPU) or system-on-chip (SoC) that handles graphical tasks. Unlike dedicated graphics cards, which are separate components, an iGPU shares system resources with the CPU, allowing for basic graphics capabilities without the need for an additional card. While typically less powerful than dedicated GPUs, iGPUs are energy-efficient and well-suited for everyday computing tasks

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P-Cores: P-Cores (Performance Cores) are a type of processor technology developed by Intel that is designed to improve the performance of computer systems. This technology is based on the concept of multi-core processors, which are processors that contain multiple cores or processing units. P-Cores are designed to increase the speed and efficiency of computer systems by allowing multiple cores to work together in parallel. This technology is used in a variety of applications, including gaming, video editing, and data analysis. P-Cores are also used in servers and other high-performance computing systems. The technology is also used in mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to improve battery life and performance. P-Cores are an important part of the computer industry, as they allow for faster and more efficient computing.

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SMT: Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) is a technology that allows a CPU core to process two tasks (threads) simultaneously. It is crucial to the swift operation of modern-day CPUs. SMT is AMD’s brand of multithreading, while Hyperthreading is Intel’s