INTEL’S GOOD YEAR

Strong numbers, big plans, and a new boss

INTEL JUST HAD a good year. This may be something of a surprise when we’ve all been waiting in vain for it to launch killer new desktop chips. Its range is still filled with 14nm designs that use core architectures dating back to 2015—which is ancient when it comes to modern technology. Intel’s problems moving to 10nm have been myriad, and 7nm looks like a tough ask.

Yet despite all this the company is in good shape, and has the numbers to prove it. Last year Intel had a revenue of $77.9 billion—eight percent more than 2019. Personal computing earned it just over $40 billion last year. A lot of work has been done behind the scenes to get the processor business back on track, and 10nm chips are finally being made in volume— supply is said to be four times what it was a year ago. Progress with 7nm is said to be “strong,” and the target for these is 2023.

Intel also has a new CEO. Bob Swan has gone, and his shoes are being filled by Pat Gelsinger ( picturedabove), who has a background in engineering,—he was part of the team that put the 80486 together. He has some important decisions to make, such as who is going to build Intel’s chips. Future Intel designs are to be processagnostic, something Intel has learned the hard way. This makes it easier to use outside fabricators. Much has been made of the possibilities of using TSMC to fabricate chips. There have been strong rumors that it’ll be used to make 5nm Core i3 and i5 chips, then even move to 3nm versions as new production capacity comes online. But Gelsinger may have other ideas: he’s hinted that he wants to keep processor production in-house. A process-independent hybrid design using 3D stacking should put Intel right back in the game.