**CHANDLER, ARIZONA – October 10, 2025** – Intel today unveiled its groundbreaking next-generation processors, "Panther Lake" for client PCs and "Clearwater Forest" for servers, both powered by the company's advanced 18A semiconductor manufacturing technology. This pivotal announcement, made from Intel's state-of-the-art Fab 52 in Arizona, signifies a major milestone in Intel's ambitious roadmap to reclaim process leadership and reshape the future of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. The new chips promise substantial gains in performance, efficiency, and density, marking a critical step in Intel's strategic turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. ### The Dawn of 18A: A Technological Leap At the core of Intel's latest unveiling is the 18A process node, described as the most advanced semiconductor process ever developed and manufactured in the United States. Th^[1][2][3][4]is sub-2 nanometer equivalent technology introduces two revolutionary innovations: RibbonFET and PowerVia. Ri^{[1][5][3][6][7][8][9][10][11]}bbonFET represents Intel's first new transistor architecture in over a decade, utilizing a Gate-All-Around (GAA) design that enhances scalability and switching efficiency for improved performance and energy efficiency. Co^{[1][5][3][6][7][8][9][10][11]}mplementing this, PowerVia is a backside power delivery system that reroutes power beneath the transistor layer, significantly improving power and signal delivery, reducing voltage leakage, and freeing up space on the front side of the wafer. C^{[1][5][3][6][7][8][9][10][11]}ompared to its predecessor, Intel 3, the 18A process delivers up to 15% better performance per watt and a 30% improvement in chip density. Th^{[2][5][3][12][11]}ese advancements are foundational to Intel's "five nodes in four years" strategy, a rapid progression aimed at achieving process leadership by 2025. Th^[13][14][15]e 18A node is not just an incremental upgrade; it is a strategic imperative designed to enable Intel to directly compete with and potentially surpass leading foundries like TSMC and Samsung. #^[5][14][15]## Panther Lake: Powering the Next-Gen AI PC Intel's Core Ultra series 3, code-named "Panther Lake," is set to revolutionize the client PC market. These processors are the first client system-on-chips (SoCs) built entirely on the 18A process node. Pa^[2][3]nther Lake introduces a scalable, multi-chiplet architecture, offering unprecedented flexibility across various form factors, segments, and price points. It^{[1][2][3][16]} is engineered to deliver Lunar Lake-level energy efficiency with Arrow Lake-class performance. K^[1][2][16]ey features of Panther Lake include: * Up to 16 new Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores), featuring the new "Cougar Cove" P-cores and "Darkmont" E-cores. * ^{[1][2][12][15][16]} More than 50% faster CPU performance compared to the previous generation. * ^[1][2] A new Intel Arc GPU with up to 12 Xe cores, providing over 50% faster graphics performance. * ^[1][2][15] A balanced XPU design for next-level AI acceleration, capable of up to 180 Platform TOPS (trillions of operations per second). * ^[2] Projected to deliver greater than 10% better single-threaded CPU performance and more than 50% better multi-threaded CPU performance than Lunar Lake at similar power levels. * ^[12] Expected to require over 30% less power than Arrow Lake for comparable multi-threaded CPU performance. P^[12]anther Lake processors are slated to begin shipping in late 2025, with broad market availability anticipated starting January 2026, targeting a wide spectrum of consumer and commercial AI PCs, gaming devices, and edge solutions. #^[17][2][15]## Clearwater Forest: Efficiency and Scale for the Data Center For the demanding data center segment, Intel previewed Xeon 6+ (code-named "Clearwater Forest"), its first 18A-based server processor. Po^[17][2]sitioned as Intel's most efficient server processor to date, Clearwater Forest is a next-generation E-core processor designed for hyperscale data centers, cloud providers, and telcos. H^[2][3]ighlights of Clearwater Forest include: * Up to 288 E-cores, providing massive parallel throughput and density. * ^[2] A 17% Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) uplift over the prior generation. * ^[2] Significant gains in density, throughput, and power efficiency, crucial for reducing energy costs and scaling workloads in AI-driven environments. C^[2][3][10]learwater Forest is expected to launch in the first half of 2026, aiming to provide superior efficiency and scale for modern data center workloads. #^[17][2][15]## A New Chapter for Intel and US Manufacturing The production of both Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest will take place at Intel's newly operational Fab 52 facility in Chandler, Arizona. Th^{[17][1][2][4][9][11]}is move underscores Intel's strategic investment in strengthening U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership, building a resilient domestic semiconductor supply chain. CE^{[1][2][3][4][6][7]}O Lip-Bu Tan, who assumed leadership in March 2025, emphasized Intel's renewed focus on its core business and engineering-driven culture, with 18A being "job number one" for ramp-up. W^{[17][3][6][8]}hile Intel has made significant strides, the company's Intel Foundry Services (IFS) business still seeks substantial external customers for future nodes like 14A to ensure cost-effectiveness and sustained leadership. Ne^[12][6]vertheless, the successful unveiling and imminent production of 18A-powered processors like Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest represent a confident stride forward for Intel, signaling its determination to innovate and compete at the forefront of the global semiconductor industry.

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