Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Defends 18A Process: '10% Yield Is Wrong'

Pat Gelsinger, the former CEO of Intel, has publicly defended the company's new manufacturing process — Intel 18ADespite rumors of low chip yields (less than 10%), Gelsinger called it "incredible progress" and denied the negative claims that have circulated in the media.

Process Intel 18A was heralded as a breakthrough in the semiconductor industry, but news of low yields has sparked widespread criticism. Broadcom, which tested the process, was reportedly disappointed with the results. Yields are said to be the key issue.

In response to the analyst's post Patrick Moorhead, which indicated that the testing was done on an outdated development kit (PDK), Gelsinger confirmed that the information about the process's low productivity was incorrect. He also added that evaluating processes solely by "yield rate" can be misleading: "large crystals give low yield, small ones give high yield".

However, the situation around Intel remains complicated. After a series of financial difficulties and pressure from the board, Gelsinger was forced to step down as CEO. Now the company appears to be considering restructuring options, including a possible sale of the Intel Foundry Services (IFS) division, in order to regain its market position.