Intel on track to launch new chips

Intel has unveiled new manufacturing technology it said keeps it on track to launch a new generation of chips for smartphones and tablets as it rushes to catch up with Qualcomm and other rivals in the fast- growing mobile market.

The world’s largest chipmaker, which employs more than 4,000 people in Ireland, dominates the PC industry but has been slow to adapt its processors for mobile gadgets that depend on batteries and demand power efficiency.

At an industry conference in San Francisco yesterday, Intel reported on the progress of its technology for making SoCs, or “systems-on-a-chip”, with features measuring 22 nanometers.

“Intel’s 22nm SoC technology will be ready for high volume manufacturing in 2013,” the firm said.

Intel’s current mobile SoCs are manufactured at 32nm, while Qualcomm makes its top-end SoCs at 28nm. Manufacturing chips with smaller features allows for better performance and power efficiency.

Intel already makes PC processors at 22nm, but since SoCs pack more features onto one piece of silicon, manufacturing them at 22nm is more difficult, said Patrick Moorhead, of Moor Insights & Analysis.