While Intel hopes the Lunar Lake SoC will restore its reputation, the real spotlight is on the upcoming Clearwater Forest Xeon processors, built using the advanced 18A process. Intel's recent market struggles stem largely from setbacks in their foundry division, particularly with the previous generation of nodes. After releasing their Q2 earnings report, Intel emphasized the critical role of the next-generation 18A process in the company's future growth, with Intel Foundry Services (IFS) touting the quality and potential of the 18A process. Although Clearwater Forest isn't the only product slated to use the 18A process, it is poised to be a cornerstone architecture. At a recent corporate technology event, Intel showcased early images of the Clearwater Forest chips. While architectural specifics and core configurations weren’t disclosed, we know from prior information that the series will feature up to 288 cores based on the Darkmont Core architecture and will utilize advanced packaging technologies such as Foveros Direct. This combination positions the Clearwater Forest series as a game-changer for both Intel and the broader market. Encouragingly, Clearwater Forest, which incorporates key advanced packaging features like Foveros Direct, is already operational and performing well. This marks the first of many products expected to leverage Intel's 18A technology for mainstream adoption. Looking ahead, the launch of Clearwater Forest, Intel's first server product with industry-leading mixed-bonding technology, is eagerly anticipated. The processor is set to be operational and is on track for a 2025 release. Pat Gelsinger - Intel CEO The Clearwater Forest Xeon processor, evidently composed of multiple small chips, is expected to be compatible with the LGA 7529 socket. The chip features three compute blocks, each with 96 E-Cores, and two IO modules on either side, resulting in a sizable chip with robust performance suitable for cloud data centers. Given Intel’s current pivot towards the 18A process, this node represents a significant development milestone for the company. Beyond Clearwater Forest, Intel plans to introduce the Panther Lake series using the 18A process, aiming to bring this advanced technology to the consumer market. Unlike the Intel 3 process, with only two Xeon 6s deployed, and the Intel 20A, initially intended for Arrow Lake but now bypassed, both Clearwater Forest and Panther Lake are projected to debut in 2025. Interestingly, the 18A process isn’t exclusive to Intel. The company previously announced a $15 billion deal for 18A technology, with several customers in the pipeline, including ARM, suggesting much higher utilization rates compared to previous generations.