After the 14nm node, TSMC, Samsung and other companies took the lead in mass-producing 7nm and 5nm processes, while Intel was a few years behind in this competition, and only started to replace 14nm with 10nm (renamed Intel 7) last year, but the next two In the middle of the year, Intel may turn around and lead TSMC's 2nm process with the 18A process.

After Intel's new CEO Henry Kissinger took office last year, Intel has accelerated its pace in semiconductor technology. Although on the one hand, it is cooperating with TSMC for 3nm or even 2nm process foundry, on the other hand, it is also strengthening its own wafer production and re-establishing wafers. The foundry department IFS competes with TSMC to grab the market.

The key to Intel's competition with TSMC is who can mass-produce the new generation process faster, especially the key 2nm node. The progress announced by TSMC is that the process will be trial-produced in 2024 and mass-produced in 2025, which may be the second half of the year or the end of the year. .

As for Intel, the turning point is in the era of 20A and 18A processes. This is Intel's GAA transistor process technology, equivalent to 2nm and 1.8nm processes, which will be mass-produced in the first half of 2024 and the second half of 2024, respectively. The 18A process is ahead of schedule. The semi-annual mass production was originally scheduled for 2025.

This may lead to a result - in the second half of 2024, TSMC's 2nm process has just been trial-produced, and Intel's 1.8nm process will be mass-produced, and it is rare to have a lead in chip technology.

Not only overseas media such as The Register and PC Gamer hold this view, but also Scotten Jones, head of IC Knowledge, a professional research organization, who also believes that Intel will defeat TSMC at the 18A process node.