Intel has confirmed that Nova Lake CPUs will use its newer 18A-P chip process. The company says its next wave of PC processors is ahead of plan, even as weak computer sales and high memory costs cause trouble for the wider market.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan shared the update during Intel's earnings call. He expects Nova Lake to attract twice the number of design deals that Panther Lake had when it first arrived. That's a big target, though it remains a company forecast.
And there's more information on the way. Intel plans to discuss the chips at CES, but it hasn't revealed their core counts, clock speeds, final release plans, or expected gains in real tasks.
The 18A-P process is a key part of the story. It's an upgraded take on Intel's 18A technology, built to offer better efficiency and speed at the chip-making level.
Intel claims the process can deliver up to 9% more speed without using extra power. Or it can cut energy use by 18% while keeping speed at the same level. Those figures don't mean Nova Lake CPUs will be that much faster.
Here's another useful detail. Intel says manufacturers can switch designs from 18A to 18A-P without having to start the chip layout from scratch. That could make it easier to adopt the updated process.
But the financial picture is less cheerful. Intel brought in $16.5 billion in quarterly sales, a 21% rise from the prior year. Its client computing and physical AI business, though, fell 5% to $8.1 billion.
David Zinsner, Intel's finance chief, expects the slump in PC demand to last through at least the first half of 2027. The company also sees revenue landing between $15 billion and $16 billion in the next quarter.
Memory prices are part of the problem. Intel says more costly RAM is pushing up PC prices, while computer makers are keeping a close watch on stock as fewer systems reach buyers.
And supply isn't helping across the board. Intel claims Wildcat Lake chips have already sold out, with orders running ahead of what it can deliver. That suggests demand for certain processors remains strong despite the wider slowdown.
There are updates from Intel's factories as well. The company reports that 18A production yields improved at a double-digit rate during the quarter. Making chips on that process has also become about 40% cheaper than it was at the start of the year.
Those are Intel's figures, of course. Better factory results are encouraging, but they don't prove that its chip-making business can maintain a profit over the long run.
Meanwhile, 18A-P is also set for use across other Intel products. The company says its internal rollout remains on schedule, while Diamond Rapids server chips are already being sampled ahead of a larger production push in 2027.
For people planning a PC upgrade, plenty remains unknown. Buyers still need details about compatible motherboards, supported memory, chip models, prices, and when the processors will actually reach stores.
The upcoming CES presentation should help answer some of those questions. For the moment, Intel has settled the manufacturing process choice, but real-world Nova Lake performance remains an open question.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan shared the update during Intel's earnings call. He expects Nova Lake to attract twice the number of design deals that Panther Lake had when it first arrived. That's a big target, though it remains a company forecast.
And there's more information on the way. Intel plans to discuss the chips at CES, but it hasn't revealed their core counts, clock speeds, final release plans, or expected gains in real tasks.
The 18A-P process is a key part of the story. It's an upgraded take on Intel's 18A technology, built to offer better efficiency and speed at the chip-making level.
Intel claims the process can deliver up to 9% more speed without using extra power. Or it can cut energy use by 18% while keeping speed at the same level. Those figures don't mean Nova Lake CPUs will be that much faster.
Here's another useful detail. Intel says manufacturers can switch designs from 18A to 18A-P without having to start the chip layout from scratch. That could make it easier to adopt the updated process.
But the financial picture is less cheerful. Intel brought in $16.5 billion in quarterly sales, a 21% rise from the prior year. Its client computing and physical AI business, though, fell 5% to $8.1 billion.
David Zinsner, Intel's finance chief, expects the slump in PC demand to last through at least the first half of 2027. The company also sees revenue landing between $15 billion and $16 billion in the next quarter.
Memory prices are part of the problem. Intel says more costly RAM is pushing up PC prices, while computer makers are keeping a close watch on stock as fewer systems reach buyers.
And supply isn't helping across the board. Intel claims Wildcat Lake chips have already sold out, with orders running ahead of what it can deliver. That suggests demand for certain processors remains strong despite the wider slowdown.
There are updates from Intel's factories as well. The company reports that 18A production yields improved at a double-digit rate during the quarter. Making chips on that process has also become about 40% cheaper than it was at the start of the year.
Those are Intel's figures, of course. Better factory results are encouraging, but they don't prove that its chip-making business can maintain a profit over the long run.
Meanwhile, 18A-P is also set for use across other Intel products. The company says its internal rollout remains on schedule, while Diamond Rapids server chips are already being sampled ahead of a larger production push in 2027.
For people planning a PC upgrade, plenty remains unknown. Buyers still need details about compatible motherboards, supported memory, chip models, prices, and when the processors will actually reach stores.
The upcoming CES presentation should help answer some of those questions. For the moment, Intel has settled the manufacturing process choice, but real-world Nova Lake performance remains an open question.
