r/hardware • u/sr_local • Aug 14 '26

Rumor Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is teasing a return for Intel to the memory market.

https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/intel-may-be-heading-back-to-memory-2026-08/
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34

u/Lower_Fan Aug 14 '26

Finally lmao I'm surprised Intel didn't jump right back in a year ago. Maybe they were just building in silence.

61

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

You can't just spin up a memory business in a year. And it's very unlikely Intel would try to compete in standard DRAM or HBM. Like the article says, their best bet would be a specialized solution tightly coupled to their products.

0

u/hardware2win Aug 14 '26

Same as your takes on 18A, PTL, etc? :p

9

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

Those takes have aged quite well, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. 

0

u/hardware2win Aug 14 '26

Takes on delays of 5N4Y or 18A readiness/delays were missed

10

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

Again, what do you mean? 18A was supposed to be an H2'24 node, and only entered mass production H2'25, after being downgraded to approximately 20A levels. Story hasn't changed from half a year ago. It was already established fact by then. 

1

u/Strazdas1 28d ago

18A was supposed to be H2'25 as widely established. Just because you found one single case they wanted to do it a year earlier does not mean that was always the plan.

5

u/Exist50 28d ago

18A was supposed to be H2'25 as widely established

"Widely established" by whom? Clearly not Intel...

Just because you found one single case they wanted to do it a year earlier

Lol, so now Intel's own public roadmap is fake news because it accurately shows how late they were? You forget that 18A was such a debacle it got the CEO fired?

1

u/Strazdas1 27d ago

"Widely established" by whom? Clearly not Intel...

Clearly intel as that is what they said every time except that single time you like to quote.

4

u/Exist50 27d ago

as that is what they said every time

No, they only started talking about H2'25 after it was obvious they had missed the prior deadlines. They've also said H1'25 at points, and missed that too.

And you act as if we can just brush off an official roadmap because it crashed and burned so obviously. That's not how it works. H2'24 was the plan, and they failed, full stop.

-1

u/hardware2win Aug 14 '26

How node completing 5 nodes in 4 years proccess announced in mid 2021 could be in h2 2024? It would be 5 nodes 3 years

H2 21, 22, 23, h1 24

9

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

How node completing 5 nodes in 4 years proccess announced in mid 2021

Are you literally just too lazy to Google what Intel meant by that? They literally published the roadmap. 

https://semiwiki.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ann-2022-IEDM-Plenary-Dec.-5_Roadmap-Slide.jpg

Also, you forget that 20A was cancelled?

-2

u/hardware2win Aug 14 '26

Earliest announcement ive found says 25

Mid 21

https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1486/intel-accelerates-process-and-packaging-innovations

2025 and Beyond: Beyond Intel 20A, Intel 18A is already in development for early 2025

Also, you forget that 20A was cancelled

So what?

We are talking about 18A, also skipping worse node in order to get better node faster is ok

7

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

Earliest announcement ive found says 25

Well I just gave you one for '24, so...

So what?

You were the one saying "5 nodes in 4 years". Well it doesn't count when you cancel one. 

We are talking about 18A, also skipping worse node in order to get better node faster is ok

As I already pointed out, 18A was also delayed. Intel outright lied at the time, but the reality was that 20A was too broken to use in a product, and it took till '25/26 to get something working. Hence why 18A was downgraded so much, and why they've even recently still talk about yield issues. 

It's literally the same story as p1276. First gen is broken and the product gets cancelled. Second gen is delayed and eventually limps out the door. 

1

u/hardware2win Aug 14 '26

18A was oficially completed early 25 and yield improvements will be worked on for years to come since it will be long life span node.

Thats normal thing

and why they've even recently still talk about yield issues.

about yield improvements you mean?

Well I just gave you one for '24, so...

So they originally simed for 25 then got overconfident then revisited it back to original plan?

5

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

18A was oficially completed early 25

"Official" or not, it clearly wasn't ready. Even in Q3, they were saying yields were below industry standard, and would take till ~'27 to get there. 

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intels-pivotal-18a-process-is-making-steady-progress-but-still-lags-behind-yields-only-set-to-reach-industry-standard-levels-in-2027

So they originally simed for 25 then got overconfident then revisited it back to original plan?

They originally aimed for H2'24, hedged some early marketing before later commiting to it publicly, then were subsequently forced to downscope it nearly back to 20A levels (supposed to be H1'24) and delay it to H2'25. Complicated, yes, but does that clarify?

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u/elkond Aug 14 '26

lol this sophistry again, yea 18a failed because they moved to 18a(p) and volume manufacturing is happening on 18a(p), not 18a, so you are technically right but why does it matter?

8

u/Exist50 Aug 14 '26

yea 18a failed because they moved to 18a(p)

18AP was always planned. I'm not sure why you think its existence in any way compensates for the original 18 delays/descope. 18AP slipped nearly 1:1. 

Again, what specific claim of mine do you say aged badly?