Samsung eyed up for huge 8nm chip order from Intel — the Z990 chipset for Nova Lake CPUs could be Intel's 8nm debut

According to a report from the Korean outlet Hankyung, Samsung Foundry, the manufacturing division of Samsung Electronics, has reportedly secured a notable client: none other than Intel. The foundry has ostensibly obtained 8nm orders to manufacture Intel's forthcoming Platform Controller Hub (PCH).

The report states that Samsung and Intel are in the final stages of mass production of Intel's chipsets. Consequently, it is plausible that the forthcoming 900-series chipsets for the LGA1954 socket, which will accommodate the Core Ultra 400S (codename Nova Lake), will leverage Samsung's 8nm process technology. There exists a longstanding history of collaboration between Samsung and Intel, as the former has previously produced chipsets and other low-value chips for the latter.

Samsung presently manufactures certain Intel chipsets utilizing the 14nm process node at the foundry situated in Austin, Texas. Meanwhile, Samsung's 8nm process node is at its manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Consequently, it appears that Intel's forthcoming chipset production may be relocating back to Korea. This strategic move to choose Samsung seems logical, considering Intel's intent to diversify away from TSMC, which is currently experiencing a persistent shortage.

You don’t really need cutting-edge manufacturing processes for chipset production, so 8nm is perfectly fine. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of benefits Intel can reap from Samsung’s 8nm process node, whether they come in the form of improved features, better power consumption, or thermals. One thing’s for sure, though. The transition from 14nm to 8nm could give Intel some bragging rights over AMD since the latter’s current 800-series chipsets are still on the 14nm process node. Then again, who is to say that AMD’s next chipset will not surprise us with a node shrink?

Since its introduction in 2017 and commencement of mass production in 2018, Samsung's 8nm manufacturing process has achieved a satisfactory yield level, thereby attracting significant clients. The foundry previously secured a contract with Nvidia to produce the custom System-on-Chip (SoC) for Nintendo's Switch 2 console, which is experiencing strong sales. Landing a deal with Intel represents a notable achievement for Samsung as well. Despite Intel's declining processor market share to AMD, the Blue Team remains the dominant industry player, holding over 75% of the market share, approximately.

Samsung's production capacity is approximately 350,000 wafers per month. Specifically, the 8nm process node yields between 30,000 and 40,000 300mm (12-inch) wafers monthly. This figure accounts for roughly 11% of Samsung's total capacity. Nevertheless, as the number of clients the foundry acquires increases, so does the demand for photomasks, thereby creating a mutually beneficial situation for all stakeholders within the supply chain.

Assuming the report is accurate, Samsung will commence full-scale manufacturing of Intel's 8nm chipsets in the upcoming year. Intel has already confirmed that Nova Lake will be launched either before the conclusion of 2026 or shortly thereafter. Given Intel's customary practice of releasing its Z-series chipsets initially, the premium Z990 chipset will probably serve as the inaugural product of the Samsung-Intel 8nm partnership.

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