Amid an operational crisis, Intel has abandoned its “5 Nodes in 4 Years” plan, shelving the Intel 20A process node to focus entirely on the more advanced Intel 18A. Now, there is finally good news regarding the 18A process.

During the recent Enterprise Tech Tour in Portland, Oregon, CEO Pat Gelsinger made the first public reveal of the Clearwater Forest Xeon server processor, produced using the Intel 18A node. This chip is a crucial element in determining whether Intel’s ambitious transformation plan will succeed, according to Tom’s Hardware.

The report highlights that Clearwater Forest is the first high-volume chip to be fabricated on the Intel 18A node—a process so pivotal that Gelsinger has effectively staked the entire company’s future on its success. Although the chip was showcased at the event, it won’t hit the market until next year.

Tom’s Hardware also notes that while Intel will manufacture a range of other processors on the 18A node, delivering the Clearwater Forest chips on schedule is critical to restoring confidence in Intel’s foundry business among potential customers. This node is key to Gelsinger’s larger turnaround strategy, representing the culmination of his bold yet desperate push to develop five nodes in four years to revive Intel’s fortunes.

At the same event, Intel also introduced its Granite Rapids Xeon chips for data centers, boasting core counts that finally match those of AMD’s EPYC processors—an achievement Intel has struggled to reach since EPYC’s debut in 2017.

(Photo credit: Intel)