
An Intel manufacturing technician holds a Panther Lake chip contained in the cleanroom of Intel’s new Fab 52. | Supply: Intel
Intel Corp. this week revealed the architectural particulars for its consumer processor Intel Core Extremely Collection 3, in any other case often called Panther Lake. These particulars included Panther Lakes’ prolonged edge functions, which embrace robotics.
The corporate stated it constructed a brand new Intel Robotics AI software program suite and reference board. These allow clients with refined AI capabilities to quickly innovate and develop cost-effective robots utilizing Panther Lake for controls, AI, and notion.
Panther Lake plans to start ramping up high-volume manufacturing this 12 months. Intel has slated the primary SKU to ship earlier than the tip of the 12 months, with broad market availability beginning January 2026. The firm will manufacture the processor at Fab 52, its new manufacturing facility in Chandler, Arizona
“We’re coming into an thrilling new period of computing, made attainable by nice leaps ahead in semiconductor know-how that may form the long run for many years to return,” stated Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. “Our next-gen compute platforms, mixed with our modern course of know-how, manufacturing, and superior packaging capabilities, are catalysts for innovation throughout our enterprise as we construct a brand new Intel. The USA has all the time been residence to Intel’s most superior R&D, product design, and manufacturing — and we’re proud to construct on this legacy as we develop our home operations and produce new improvements to the market.”
Panther Lake is Intel’s first 18A-based product

A producing technician holds an Intel Core Extremely sequence 3 processor constructed on Intel 18A. | Supply: Intel
Intel constructed Panther Lake on Intel 18A, marking a primary for the corporate. The corporate claimed that 18A is essentially the most superior semiconductor course of ever developed and manufactured within the U.S. It introduces a scalable, multi-chiplet structure that provides companions flexibility throughout type components, segments, and worth factors.
Intel listed its options:
- Lunar Lake-level energy effectivity and Arrow Lake-class efficiency.
- As much as 16 new performance-cores (P-cores) and efficient-cores (E-cores) delivering greater than 50% quicker CPU efficiency in contrast with the earlier technology.
- New Intel Arc GPU with as much as 12 Xe cores delivering greater than 50% quicker graphics efficiency in comparison with the earlier technology.
- Balanced XPU design for next-level AI acceleration with as much as 180 Platform TOPS (trillions of operations per second).
Intel 18A is a 2-nanometer class node developed and manufactured within the U.S. It delivers as much as 15% higher efficiency per watt and 30% improved chip density in contrast with Intel 35. The node was developed, certified for manufacturing, and started early manufacturing on the firm’s Oregon location, and it’s now ramping towards high-volume manufacturing in Arizona.
Key improvements on Intel 18A embrace:
- RibbonFET: Intel’s first new transistor structure in over a decade, enabling larger scaling and extra environment friendly switching for improved efficiency and power effectivity.
- PowerVia: A bottom energy supply system, enhancing energy stream and sign supply.
As well as, Intel stated its Foveros superior packaging and 3D chip stacking know-how permits the stacking and integration of a number of chiplets into superior SoC designs. This permits it to ship flexibility, scalability, and efficiency on the system stage, Intel claimed.
Intel previews Clearwater Forest server processor

A producing technician holds a Clearwater Forest chip contained in the cleanroom of Intel’s Fab 52 in Chandler, Ariz. | Supply: Intel
Intel additionally previewed Xeon 6+, additionally known as Clearwater Forest, its first Intel 18A-based server processor. The corporate expects to launch this processor within the first half of 2026. Clearwater Forest is Intel’s next-generation E-core processor. Branded Intel Xeon 6+, this processor is essentially the most environment friendly server processor the corporate has ever created and is constructed on Intel 18A.
Highlights embrace:
- As much as 288 E-cores.
- 17% Directions Per Cycle (IPC) uplift over prior technology.
- Appreciable good points in density, throughput, and energy effectivity.
Tailor-made for hyperscale knowledge facilities, cloud suppliers, and telcos, Clearwater Forest permits organizations to scale workloads, cut back power prices, and energy extra clever providers, the corporate stated.
Intel invests in U.S. manufacturing
Fab 52 is Intel’s fifth high-volume fab at its Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Ariz. This facility produces a few of the most superior logic chips within the U.S. It’s a part of the $100 billion Intel is investing to develop its home operations.
With superior R&D and manufacturing in Oregon, high-volume fabrication in Arizona, and packaging operations in New Mexico, Intel stated it’s positioned to assist key nationwide priorities and supply strategic capability for Intel Foundry clients.