Intel has decided not to show off a really tricky step in its tick-tock strategy, the migration from Haswell to 14nm Broadwell. However, sources close to Intel have confirmed that the Broadwell chip has been taped out and that it works.
It was actually done a few months ago and it was Intel’s decision not to show it at the IDF keynote, but from what we know chip is able to run Windows and could be a good glimpse into the company's future future. Most of the competition still has to get to 22nm and Intel is getting ready for the 2nd generation 22nm archutecture, better known as Broadwell. In the current schedule Haswell comes in 2013, from what we know from our sources it is expected in Q2 2013 and Broadwell should follow a year after, 2014.
At this time Intel doesn’t seem to be facing any major issues in shrinking the Haswell architecture from 22nm to 14nm Broadwell, but it also doesn’t really have a solid roadmap for the transition to 10nm. Intel’s 10nm chips are expected in 2016 but this schedule might easily slip as 10nm might be a tricky transition.
It is definitely too early to talk much more about it, but we are puzzled. Why didn't Intel run a 14nm Broadwell demo to rub it in the competition's face? We are almost certain that the chip might be behind some NDA doors and that Intel will show more to its key customers who need to know.
