Intel now manufacturing Panther Lake processors, first built on Intel 18A

Intel has unveiled the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors for AI-powered PCs, the first built using the Intel 18A process, set to hit the market later this year.

The Panther Lake chips are Intel’s first product built on the 2-nanometer Intel 18A process — the most advanced semiconductor technology ever developed and manufactured by Intel in the U.S. It improves performance per watt by up to 15% and chip density by 30% compared to Intel 35.

Intel 18A features the new RibbonFET transistor architecture, enabling tighter packaging and more efficient switching for improved performance and energy efficiency. It also introduces PowerVia, a backside power delivery system that enhances power flow and signal transmission.

Intel’s advanced Foveros 3D packaging and chip-stacking technology allows multiple chiplets to be integrated into advanced SoC designs, providing flexibility, scalability, and system-level performance.

Behind Panther Lake lies the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 for AI PCs, delivering Lunar Lake-level efficiency and Arrow Lake-class performance, according to the company.

The chips feature up to 16 new Performance (P) and Efficient (E) cores, delivering 50% faster CPU performance over the previous generation. They also include the new Intel Arc GPU with up to twelve Xe cores, offering over 50% faster graphics performance.

These processors also feature a balanced XPU design for AI acceleration, capable of up to 180 TOPS (trillion operations per second).

Panther Lake targets consumer and commercial systems, as well as gaming and edge devices. Intel confirmed that production has begun, with shipments to customers expected by year’s end.