Intel Nova Lake-S chips complete tape-out, could be company's most ambitious desktop CPU yet

Rumor mill: Intel may be edging closer to unveiling what could be its most powerful and innovative desktop CPUs yet. A new report from SemiAccurate indicates that the company's upcoming Nova Lake-S processors have completed the tape-out phase at TSMC's fabrication plants in Taiwan. This key step marks the transition from design to the first real silicon chips made for internal testing.

For years, speculation surrounded which manufacturing process Intel would use for Nova Lake-S, with many expecting a debut for the company's in-house 18A node. The latest developments, however, reveal that at least part of Nova Lake-S will rely on TSMC's cutting-edge N2 process, supporting the theory that Intel is embracing a hybrid foundry strategy.

This approach could be a response to concerns about production yields and readiness with the 18A node or a pre-emptive measure to ensure enough chips to meet demand by tapping ...