Intel Coffee Lake CPUs to use 14nm Build Process

Intel fans can all let out a collective “Awe Man!” after a new report has surfaced that suggests the 8th Gen Intel Coffee Lake chips that were expected to come using a 10 nm build process will keep the same old 14nm process after all. The launch of the chips has been confirmed by Intel and the parts will launch in the second half of 2017.

We have to wonder what’s going on over at Intel at this point, the chipmaker has been talking up that vaunted 10nm process tech, getting us all excited, and then going back to the 14nm process that it has used on parts gong all the way back to 2014. Broadwell, SkyLake, and Kaby Lake processors all used the 14nm process. The Intel Kaby Lake Refresh with the more powerful Core i7-7740K or Core i7-7770K CPU is expected this summer and will also be using the 14nm process.

Rubbing salt in our wounds even more is the fact that Intel had promised 10nm chips in 2017 back in January. Despite Coffee Lake keeping the same build process, Intel is saying that the new chips will give a 15% performance boost over the predecessor chip. It is thought that the Cannon Lake data center chip running 10nm build process will land before the consumer parts that we all want.

Another little tidbit is that the Cannon Lake parts are expected to be built at the Arizona Fab 42 that has been pulled back into action. PC fans aren’t the only folks disappointed by the lack of 10nm chips, smartphones expected to be running chips with 10 nm tech under the hood are going without as well.

At least most are, Samsung has apparently gobbled most of the 10nm chips out there for its Galaxy S8 smartphone. Before you fret too much over any potential lost performance with Coffee Lake not getting 10nm process tech, check out our Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake review and see what Coffee Lake will improve on.