Intel confirmed its subsequent main shopper CPU structure throughout a convention name right now: “Nova Lake,” which can debut in 2026.
The information was delivered by Michelle Johnston Holthaus, who heads Intel Product, and David Zinsner, who together with Holthaus is serving as co-chief government officer of Intel after Pat Gelsinger was requested to step down on the finish of 2024. Thursday marked the primary earnings name for the co-chiefs, who fielded questions from Wall Road analysts after reporting earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024. The corporate mentioned that the seek for a everlasting CEO continues.
In broad strokes, Intel’s roadmap for 2025 and 2026 is ready: Panther Lake will debut later this 12 months, Holthaus mentioned, adopted by Nova Lake in 2026. Whereas Panther Lake will largely be made inside Intel, versus exterior fabs, Nova Lake will nonetheless be break up between Intel’s personal foundry enterprise in addition to exterior sources, presumably TSMC.
“2026 is much more thrilling from a shopper perspective as Panther Lake achieves significant volumes and we introduce our subsequent technology shopper household, code title Nova Lake,” Holthaus mentioned. “Each will present robust efficiency throughout your complete PC stack with considerably higher prices and margins for us, enhancing our aggressive place and reinforcing our worth proposition to our companions and clients.”
Historically, Intel launches a brand new processor structure within the second half of every 12 months. This seems to be the sport plan for 2025, as Panther Lake will launch throughout the second half of 2025. That’s in line with what Holthaus informed reporters at CES in early January, the place she mentioned Intel was already sampling the half. Holthaus acknowledged the elevated competitors from AMD and Qualcomm, and that revenue margins on its Lunar Lake components had been decrease due to the built-in reminiscence.
Panther Lake shall be fabricated on Intel 18A, the final of Intel’s “5 course of nodes in 4 years” technique. The manufacturing of many of the silicon throughout the assorted chiplets shall be achieved internally, as a part of Intel’s foundry enterprise. For Nova Lake, “we’ll have dies each inside and out of doors [the company] for that course of,” Holthaus mentioned, with out describing the chip additional.
Panther Lake, Nova Lake return to Intel’s fabs
Intel mentioned in February of final 12 months that it will type a subsidiary devoted to its foundry enterprise. In Sept. 2024, Intel made that subsidiary impartial, with its personal board of administrators. Through the name, Holthaus indicated that Intel Foundry is being handled similar to every other silicon provider.
“As CEO of Intel Product, I’ll all the time make course of expertise choices primarily based on what’s finest for my clients,” she mentioned. “And Intel Foundry might want to earn my enterprise on daily basis, simply as I have to earn the enterprise of my clients.”
“A stronger Intel Product mixed with a extra aggressive Intel Foundry is a recipe for fulfillment for Intel general,” Holthaus added.
Holthaus indicated, nonetheless, that she believed Intel’s foundry enterprise would achieve success, however solely slowly, noting that a part of incomes clients belief is a gradual ramp, with decrease preliminary volumes. “We gained’t win each deal out of the gates,” she mentioned. “We’ll be selective and targeted on areas the place we’re assured that we generally is a significant contributor to the success of our buyer.”
Intel executives mentioned that they proceed to be “engaged” with the Trump Administration. The Division of Commerce, as a part of the U.S. Chips Act, has paid Intel $1.1 billion throughout the fourth quarter and $1.1 billion in January, as a part of a complete $7.86 billion in grant cash.
For the fourth quarter, Intel misplaced $100 million on income of $14.3 billion, down 7 p.c. Intel’s Shopper Computing Group, the house of its PC chip enterprise, made $8.0 billion, down 9 p.c.
