Rumor: Intel Killing 10nm Fab Process, Skipping to 7nm; Intel Denies Reports

One way or the other, we should know by their next earnings report what is going on with their 10nm chips.

Intel’s problems with the 10nm fab process for its chips are well documented. The company announced an intent to try and more than double the transistor count using the 10nm process, an aim that proved far too ambitious, and led it to scale back. Currently, Intel is due to release its 10nm chips in the back half of 2019, according to a statement they themselves released last. However, a Semi Accurate report claims that this will not happen.

Per this report, the yields on Intel’s 10nm batch are so low that they are just going to skip it and cut their losses, instead jumping to the 7nm fab process. Semi Accurate is citing internal sources saying the process is currently untenable.

Unusually enough, the report has provoked a direct denial from Intel, who posted on their official Twitter account that the report is false, and that the 10nm project at Intel is underway, and will be released in the back half of 2019, as scheduled. While we don’t have any reason got doubt their word right now, they definitely have had a lot of trouble with 10nm chips. For now, the official word is that they are still on track for the 10nm chips coming out as they promised, but we’ll know more either way at their next earnings report on Thursday.

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