Nvidia and Broadcom continue trialing Intel 18A test chips: Report

Nvidia and Broadcom are both testing chips using Intel's new 18A manufacturing process, reports sources to Reuters, indicating that these well-known projects continue. Intel's 18A process is the company's first fabrication technology to rely on gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and a backside power delivery network named PowerVia. The Intel 18A process is broadly comparable to TSMC's N2 node. However, 18A is thought to be faster, while N2 is a denser chip.

Reuters sources suggest that both Nvidia and Broadcom's tests are not being conducted on complete chip designs, but the companies want to understand how 18A works in both behavior and performance. It's common to test processors before committing to purchasing them outright.

This isn't entirely new information, as there have been reports that Broadcom had been testing 18A since as early as September 2024. Back then, it was claimed that Broadcom's tests using 18A did not meet expectations, but that was not confirmed, with Broadcom merely saying the tests were ongoing.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has claimed as far back as 2022 that Nvidia would consider using Intel-fabricated chips, and noted the company had test chips under active testing in 2023. In 2024, Tom's Hardware quizzed Intel Foundry Services chief Stu Pann about the company's RAMP-C project, in which Nvidia is a formal partner. This program gives companies federal funding to build test chips on Intel's 18A process node for military applications.

Intel recently launched a dedicated website to advertise its 18A process, and consumer Panther Lake processors are set to enter mass production in mid-2025.

An Intel spokesperson told Reuters: "We don't comment on specific customers but continue to see strong interest and engagement on Intel 18A across our ecosystem."

While Intel's 18A process is reportedly garnering interest from big-name clients, Reuters claims to have reviewed supplier documents that indicate a problem with some unnamed third-party IP providers. Reuters claims this situation is causing "potential further delays in Intel's ability to deliver chips for some contract manufacturing customers" that could stretch the launch times for small and mid-size customers to mid-2026. Intel responded that it remains on track to begin fabricating chips in the second half of this year.

This is happening on the backdrop of a particularly difficult period for Intel, as the company lost $1.6 billion in 2024 and continues to struggle in its data center and foundry divisions. Former CEO Pat Gelsinger was ousted in December 2024, despite being one of the key people to lead Intel toward developing 18A, a product that could theoretically compete with TSMC's dominance.

Former Intel CEO Craig Barrett said on the matter: "In my opinion, a far better move might be to fire the Intel board and rehire Pat Gelsinger to finish the job he has aptly handled over the past few years.”

While Broadcom and Nvidia are likely to be testing 18A chips, Intel is in a position where it needs to lock down big clients for its next process node. Intel isn't expecting a quick pathway to profitability with its Foundry, as the company doesn't predict it will break even until 2027.