Intel is commencing mass production of its Intel 4 process at Fab 34 in Leixlip, Ireland, today. This marks the first production process on European soil to utilize extreme ultraviolet lithography. To celebrate this event, the company is hosting a livestream at 1:45 PM European time, featuring Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger as a speaker.
Intel 4, formerly known as 7nm, is being used for the first time to produce the compute chiplets of Meteor Lake. According to the manufacturer, this node should enable 21.5% higher frequencies at the same power consumption compared to Intel 7 (Alder and Raptor Lake). When operating at the same clock speed, an Intel 4 chip should consume up to 40% less power.
The Irish Fab 34 will be the second facility capable of manufacturing Intel 4-based products. The company has used its Copy Exactly! strategy to transfer knowledge from the American D1 fab in Oregon to Ireland, including improvements in yields.