Intel delays 7-nanometer chips until late 2022 or early 2023

During its second-quarter earnings announcement, Intel said today that it has delayed the launch of its 7-nanometer chips by six months, bringing the launch date to late 2022 or early 2023 (via Tom’s Hardware)

Intel’s returns for its 7nm process are now twelve months behind its internal target. From Intel’s earnings release:

The timing of the company’s 7nm-based CPU products is changing approximately six months from previous expectations. The main driver is Intel’s 7nm process performance, which according to recent data is now trending approximately twelve months behind the company’s internal target.

Intel CEO Bob Swan, in the second quarter 2020 earnings call, said that Intel identified a “default mode” in the 7nm process and has invested in “contingency plans” that include third-party outside foundries. . At the end of the call, Swan said he was “not happy” with Intel’s 7nm performance. Intel originally aimed to launch 7nm chips in 2021.

While the new 7nm process is in development, Intel plans to release 10nm-based “Tiger Lake” chips in the near future, and the company’s 10nm-based server CPU “Ice Lake” is on track to be released later this year. In the second half of 2021, a new line of client CPUs codenamed “Alder Lake” will be released, which will include its first 10nm desktop CPU.

Intel has struggled with multiple performance issues over the years, leading to chip delays and roadmap changes. Intel’s problems are perhaps one of the reasons Apple has decided to ditch Intel chips in favor of its own Arm-based chip technology for Mac. In the past, Apple has been forced to delay upgrades or use chips. Older due to delays in Intel’s production plans.

Starting this year, Apple is transitioning from the Mac line to its own Apple Silicon chips, with the first Mac processors based on the 5-nanometer A14 chips in the works for the iPhone 2020 line.

Apple has not provided details on which Macs will get the Apple Silicon chips first, but rumors suggest that the 13-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air models could be updated with the new chips before the end of the year. Apple says it will take two years to completely abandon Intel chips.