Achronix, the high-speed FPGA specialist, is to fab its chips on Intel’s 22nm process which will deliver ‘300% higher performance, 50% lower power, and 40% lower cost than any other FPGA in any other process technology’ according to Achronix.
Intel expects the 22nm process to be ready for volume production in 2012. By contrast, the leading foundry, TSMC, is scheduling risk production on 20nm in 2013.
Intel’s 22nm process will allow Achronix to make parts with the equivalent of 20m+ ASIC gates or 2.5m LUTs.
The performance will make the Achronix parts suitable for 400G Ethernet and LTE markets, and being fabbed in the US will make Achronix’s parts attractive to the US military.
“The combination of the advanced 22nm process from Intel and the advanced FPGA
technology from Achronix enables Speedster22i (the Achronix 22nm product line) to eclipse other FPGA solutions,” says John Lofton Holt, CEO of Achronix.
It is the first time Intel has been known to act as a foundry. Many years ago another FPGA company, Actel, approached Intel about fabbing their parts.
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