Is A Turnaround Brewing With Intel Corporation (INTC)’s Haswell?

Can Haswell outperform the ARM chips

ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) believes that its thin processors will have an edge over its competitors, including Intel. ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH)’s FinFET process technology for nodes smaller than 20-nm is currently being developed at Globalfoundries, Samsung, and Taiwan Semiconductor. Globalfoundries intends to have 14nm FinFET in volume manufacturing in 2014, the same timescale as Intel has for introducing 14nm FinFET manufacturing. Intel will launch 14nm Broadwell, the “tick” version of Haswell microarchitecture sometime in 2014.

Globalfoundries’ 14-nm process may have smaller features than Intel’s 14-nm process because, says Mojy Chian, senior VP at Globalfoundries, “Intel’s terminology doesn’t typically correlate with the terminology used by the foundry industry. For instance Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s 22nm in terms of the back-end metallization is similar to the foundry industry’s 28nm. The design rules and pitch for Intel’s 22nm are very similar to those for foundries’ 28nm processes.”

However, right now, it can only be said that at 14nm, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s FinFET “3D” transistor technology will face real competition from ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH), which is currently absent at 22nm.

Conclusion

Despite competition, Haswell is expected to outperform equivalent chips on PCs mainly due to its energy efficiency with long battery life. Moreover, it’s potential for making a PC turnaround is a realistic assumption. Intel’s stock is currently undergoing a consolidation phase, but I expect it to appreciate going forward.

The article PC Industry to Stage a Turnaround With Intel’s Haswell originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Mithu Batabyal.

Mithu Batabyal has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Intel. The Motley Fool owns shares of Intel. Mithu is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

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