If Intel plans to use 6nm … they would become the first! AMD are currently on 7nm with their RDNA2, while Nvidia are using 8nm from Samsung for their Geforce.
Taken from Videocardz … Intel chose TSMC N6 due to the insufficient capacity of its own nodes. Raja answered a number of questions in regard to the upcoming Xe-HPG architecture which is now set to debut in the first quarter of 2022 under the Arc Alchemist series. Raja was asked why has Intel decided to use TSMC N6 process technology instead of Intel’s own ‘7’ node. According to his response, Intel’s manufacturing capacity simply wasn’t ready to mass-produce discrete GPUs. Intel clearly does not want its discrete GPUs to compete with CPU series, such as Alder Lake, for capacity.
It was necessary to first determine the manufacturing capacity of the process that can be assumed at the start of design, and (Intel’s) advanced process did not have sufficient capacity yet.
— Raja Koduri
Intel has not yet determined whether Alchemist’s successor will rely on Intel own’s or external foundry. However, the company might want to switch to more advanced nodes once NVIDIA Lovelace and AMD RDNA3 series launch using TSMC N5 process.
Read the rest at Videocardz, and ASCII via Wccftech