Intel 7nm Chip Production Allegedly Slated For 2022 Debut Highlighted In Job Listing

Intel is currently working on "futuristic" 7-nanometer manufacturing technology, however, the development was revealed in an unusual way. Ashraf Eassa spotted a job listing that revealed that this advanced process technology will be available within the next decade.

Essa has pointed out that the job listing has evolved over the last year. The original job listing claimed Intel was looking for a "CPU architect/researcher" for a position in India. The listing further stated, "microarchitecture and design of these advanced cores will be aggressively co-optimized with Intel's futuristic 7nm technology node and its follow-ons deep into the next decade." Intel appeared to want its 7nm technology ready by 2020.

Intel

The most recent job listing not only pushes back their release date, but also does not mention 7nm technology. The job listing is looking for an employee who “in collaboration with MRL-US and Intel product architecture teams worldwide, will spearhead the research and advanced development of Microprocessor Cores in the 2022 and beyond timeframe.” It also stated that “The microarchitecture and design of these advanced CPU's will be aggressively co-optimized with Intel's sub-10nm technology nodes deep into the next decade.”

Intel plans three waves of 10nm technology: 10-nanometer, 10-nanometer+, and 10-nanometer++. Originally, the 10nm was supposed to be launched with Cannonlake in 2017, Icelake a year later in 2018, and Tigerlake in 2019. It is now likely all of these release dates will be pushed back by at least a year. It was confirmed that Tigerlake would be Intel's third 10nm processor node this past January

Intel CPU Wafer

It appears then that Intel is currently focusing on sub-10nm technology and expects to be doing so for a number of years. 7-nanometer process tech therefore is unlikely to appear until 2022 (perhaps 2021 at the earliest), and 5-nanometer chips do not have an anticipated release date. It is currently unknown what has caused this suspected delay.