Intel rejects media report suggesting that it has 'pulled the plug' on its 10nm process

'We are making good progress on 10nm,' claims Intel

Intel has rejected a media report that it has "pulled the plug" on its much-delayed 10 nanometre process node.

While Intel has been able to produce some low-end parts at 10nm this year, volume production isn't set to ramp-up in earnest until mid-2019, which will make it three years late when 10nm Cannon Lake parts start to appear in number.

However, specialist website SemiAccurate reported today that Intel has discontinued work on 10nm, indicating that the 10nm process node will never be viable for Intel.

SemiAccurate's Charlie Demerjian wrote that Intel has "pulled the plug on its struggling 10nm process", no doubt doubling down on 14nm until it can follow Samsung and TSMC to a viable 7nm node.

Intel is finally willing to do the right things for the right reasons even if it costs them some short-term pain

Demerjian wrote: "The knifing of 10nm shows that Intel is finally willing to do the right things for the right reasons even if it costs them some short-term pain, it is the first adult decision we have seen from the company in several years."

Earlier, Demerjian had speculated that Intel's 10nm Cannon Lake parts "aren't real and never will be viable, financially or technically speaking".

SemiAccurate's story contradicted a number of other recent reports suggesting that Intel had finally cracked its 10nm process.

At the beginning of the month, for example, BlueFin Research Partners had claimed that Intel is finally making "significant strides" with its 10nm efforts.

In a report from the Bloomberg newswire, BlueFin had suggested that parts would start appearing in volume during the first half of 2019. Production could be ramped up from April, the research group continued, six weeks ahead of Intel's much changed schedule.

Media reports published today that Intel is ending work on the 10nm process are untrue

However, Intel has been quick off the mark to reject SemiAccurate's story. In a statement to V3, an Intel spokesperson was adamant that the company will be producing 10nm parts next year.

"Media reports published today that Intel is ending work on the 10nm process are untrue," said the Intel spokesperson.

They continued: "We are making good progress on 10nm. Yields are improving consistent with the timeline we shared during our last earnings report."

In an update to its own response, SemiAccurate claimed that it stood by its report.

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