With its 12th Gen Core "Alder Lake-P" mobile processors still on the horizon, Intel is already building test batches of the 14th Gen "Meteor Lake" mobile processors, at its Fab 42 facility in Chandler, Arizona. "Meteor Lake" is a multi-chip module that leverages Intel's Foveros packaging technology to combine "tiles" (purpose built dies) based on different silicon fabrication processes depending on their function and transistor-density/power requirements. It combines four distinct tiles across a single package—the compute tile, with the CPU cores; the graphics tile with the iGPU: the SoC I/O tile, which handles the processor's platform I/O; and a fourth tile, which is currently unknown. This could be a memory stack with similar functions as the HBM stacks on "Sapphire Rapids," or something entirely different.

The compute tile contains the processor's various CPU core types. The P cores are "Redwood Cove," which are two generations ahead of the current "Golden Cove." If Intel's 12-20% generational IPC uplift cadence holds, we're looking at cores with up to 30% higher IPC than "Golden Cove" (50-60% higher than "Skylake."). "Meteor Lake" also debuts Intel's next-generation E-core, codenamed "Crestmont." The compute tile is rumored to be fabricated on the Intel 4 node (optically a 7 nm-class node, but with characteristics similar to TSMC N5).

Intel has finally sounded the "full steam ahead" whistle for its Fab 42, set in Arizona. Fab 42 has a storied past to it, as Intel started its construction back in 2011. It was actually finished by 2013, and by 2014 all essential infrastructure for semiconductor fabrication was there - except for the fabrication equipment itself. You see, Intel aimed for this factory to produce 450 mm wafers (instead of the industry standard 300 mm) in the 14 nm process. However, back in 2014, Intel wasn't sure about demand for its 14 nm products - and the company was actually planning to debut 10 nm back in 2016, so it sort of made sense. Of course, then came the 10 nm delays, the 14 nm supply issues, and backporting of certain products to other less cutting-edge processes. If only Intel had had a crystal ball.