TSMC's 2nm Node to Power Next-Generation Intel Nova Lake, AMD EPYC Venice CPUs
According to some reports, TSMC's forthcoming 2nm process technology could very well be integrated as a pillar technology for the upcoming Intel and AMD CPUs. A recent note by Morgan Stanley's analyst states that the Nova Lake architecture of Intel and AMD's EPYC Venice architecture is among the upcoming products to capitalize on the relatively newer manufacturing process, which indicates a strong dependence of the high-performance computing segment on TSMC as a pure-play foundry player.
AMD's Adoption for EPYC Venice Has Been Confirmed
It is no shock that AMD will adopt the N2 node. Several months ago, CEO Dr. Lisa Su publicly announced that next-generation EPYC "Venice" data center CPUs will be built on TSMC's 2nm process. This stance confirms AMD's place as one of the first major customers for the new technology.
Intel's Repositioning with Nova Lake
Perhaps the most exciting news from the report is about Intel. According to Morgan Stanley's findings, the compute tile for Intel's next-generation "Nova Lake" CPU line will be manufactured by TSMC with its 2nm node. This represents a strategic shift for Intel to leverage external foundries for core components of a product.
Since the speculation may have been due to low yield rates with Intel's 18A process node, this was also in line with its public campaign to use the best available technology for its products, whether from its foundries or an external partner like TSMC.
The Road Ahead Panther Lake and 18A Node
Now under watch within the industry is the "Panther Lake" range from Intel, which is expected to be the first big endeavor using the company's internal 18A process. Current information indicates that Panther Lake CPUs will be launched this quarter, with mass production scheduled for early next year. The performance and success or otherwise of Panther Lake will give a vital hint on the maturity of Intel's advanced manufacturing capabilities.
