Intel confirms another delay in Sapphire Rapids

Sapphire Rapids is Intel’s next-generation Xeon Scalable processor, using the Golden Cove architecture and manufactured using the 10nm Enhanced SuperFin (Intel 7) process. The new platform also supports PCIe Gen5, CXL 1.1 (Compute Express Link) and eight-channel DDR5 memory, while continuing Intel’s built-in AI acceleration strategy and supporting Intel Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX). In addition, Sapphire Rapids will also launch an HBM version, equipped with 64GB of HBM2E memory.

Although Intel 7 process has matured, it seems a little uncomfortable to use on Sapphire Rapids. According to ComputerBase, the general manager of Intel’s data center and artificial intelligence group, Sandra Rivera said that the ramp-up in Sapphire Rapids did not go as planned. Currently, Intel’s partners need to build more platforms and spend more time on verification.

At this point we are building in more platform and product validation time, so we see Sapphire, you know the ramp being later in the year than what we had originally forecasted, but the demand is still very high.

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One thing I didn’t mention on Sapphire, it sits on – it’s on our 7-nanometer node and so the process is quite healthy. In fact Alder Lake, which is our client product ramped 15 million units. I think we announced at Q1 earnings, which makes that the fastest ramping, you know one of the fastest ramping client products in almost a decade.

So the process is healthy, the capacity picture is good, but you know we’ve got some of these other issues that we’re dealing with and customers on that match that issue still working through that.