Intel locks in 18A for next three CPU gens
Intel will use its 18A manufacturing process for at least three generations of desktop and server processors. Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan confirmed the company plans to release the first Panther Lake processor by December 2025, with additional models arriving in early 2026. The executive outlined plans for Nova Lake desktop chips in late 2026 and new Xeon server processors based on the 18A technology.
The semiconductor manufacturer operates its first high-volume 18A production facility in Arizona and continues development on an enhanced 18A-P variant that delivers 10 percent performance gains. Intel expects strong demand for Granite Rapids server chips from major cloud providers. The company will introduce Clearwater Forest and Diamond Rapids server processors in mid-2026 while developing Coral Rapids chips that restore simultaneous multithreading capabilities. Intel also announced plans for annual graphics processor releases optimized for artificial intelligence tasks.
