From Verdict.co.uk
The new generation of Intel CPUs will be critical to the company’s performance in the PC chip market this decade. Alder Lake, to be released later in 2021, is claimed by Intel to have a 19% increase in performance per watt compared to previous generations. If Intel delivers on such promises, then the company could likely regain its position at the top in the CPU industry. Analytics companies such as GlobalData rank Intel among the leaders, but nobody has it as number one.
Fumbled manufacturing processes have caused Intel to lose its crown as the world’s foremost semiconductor manufacturer for PCs. The company’s chip yields have not been good enough even before the current shortage, and its rivals, such as Samsung and AMD, have been able to bring better chips to market, for a cheaper price.
With the arrival of Pat Gelsinger as CEO, a processor engineer by trade, and an innovative helmsman, Intel has been making grand proclamations about its plans to dominate the sub-5nm generation of chips. Alder Lake, which is made using a 10 nanometer (nm) process called Intel 7, will be followed by Raptor Lake in 2022, then Meteor Lake in 2023 which will use a 7nm process called Intel 4. Only by that point does the company see itself regaining top spot.
Thermal problems have beleaguered the company’s chips recently and Intel is not providing information on Alder Lake’s thermal performance. Should Alder Lake also experience heating issues, then this will impact sales and further damage confidence in the brand.
Intel’s breadth of IP, buy-side power, and brand equity amongst gaming enthusiasts – who are, after all, the main market for these products at launch – could see the company regain top spot if all goes well. But Intel is already behind. Apple’s ARM-based M1 system on a chip, which shipped late 2020, is already using a 5nm process manufactured by TSMC and received rave reviews. 5nm chips from AMD are also rumored to be released in 2022 after its 7nm chips were also well received.
