Intel Delays Next-Generation Broadwell Chips Until 2014 Due to Manufacturing Issue

Intel yesterday confirmed that it is delaying the production of its next-generation Broadwell processors on account of a manufacturing issue. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced the news during Intel's earnings call, stating that production on the chips will begin during the first quarter of 2014 (via PCWorld).

Intel's Broadwell chips are designed to be the successor to its existing Haswell chips, manufactured on a 14-nanometer process as opposed to Haswell's current 22-nanometer process.

intelbroadwell

Intel ran into some problems with the 14-nanometer process used to manufacture the chips and will have to fix them before it can resume production, CEO Brian Krzanich said during Intel’s earnings call on Tuesday.

Intel normally releases new chips like clockwork on an annual basis, and the manufacturing problems are a rare misstep for the company. Krzanich said there were problems with the "yield"—or the number of good chips the company gets per silicon wafer.

The Broadwell chips, which will eventually find their way into Apple's line of MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, are said to be 30 percent faster and more power-efficient than Haswell, leading to even greater increases in battery life and performance. The inclusion of Haswell chips in Apple's MacBook Air boosted battery life to 12 hours on the 13-inch version and nine hours on the 11-inch version.

Based on Intel's prospective timeline with production beginning during the first quarter of 2014, Broadwell MacBooks could make an appearance at next year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which is where the Haswell MacBook Airs debuted.

It is unclear whether Apple had planned to introduce Broadwell updates earlier, and whether Intel's delay will affect its future release plans. Apple's scheduled desktop updates, for its iMacs, will not be affected as they will incorporate updated Haswell architecture rather than Broadwell chips.

Apple has yet to release a Haswell Retina MacBook Pro, which is expected to come before the end of 2013 and should bring significant improvements to battery life.

According to Intel, the delay of Broadwell will not affect the company's next line of processors, Skylake, as the chips are based on new architecture. Broadwell, however, will have a shorter lifespan due to Intel’s manufacturing issues.

Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air

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Top Rated Comments

samcraig Avatar
153 months ago
Apple to Intel - "Hey - we're still working on rolling out Haswell - can we cut you a check to delay Broadwell a bit?"

KIDDING!!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slu Avatar
153 months ago
I would just like a Haswell Mac mini please.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iChrist Avatar
153 months ago
.

Nevermind Broadwell, by the time Apple gets around to updating their lineup to Haswell, Skylake will be out.

:rolleyes:
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
153 months ago
I don't care, my Core 2 Duo is so slow that anything will feel amazing after that.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
agadosz Avatar
153 months ago
Well then, looks like I will be upgrading my mid-2012 rMBP to a new one with Haswell now that Broadwell is delayed.

why changing a year old computer? this freaks me out – please consider environment.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
phillipduran Avatar
153 months ago
Must have been a fly in the lab. . .;)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)