Intel has announced that its first client processor based on the Intel 18A process, Panther Lake, will begin mass production this year, with initial shipments by year-end and broad availability in January 2026.
The 18A process, Intel's first 2nm-class node, delivers a 15% improvement in performance per watt and a 30% increase in chip density compared to Intel 3. Panther Lake utilizes a multi-chiplet architecture with up to 16 performance and efficiency cores, boosting CPU performance by over 50% and integrating a new Arc GPU for over 50% graphics performance improvement. It also offers up to 180 TOPS of AI compute, targeting AI PC and edge computing applications.
Additionally, the first server processor on 18A, Clearwater Forest, is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2026, aimed at hyperscale data centers and cloud services.
ICgoodFind : The mass production of Intel's 18A process signals intensified competition in advanced nodes, with high performance and chiplet architecture emerging as critical enablers for AI-driven computing.
