I think is is right, if I have the external marketing names straight. Intel 3 is the refined version of the Intel 4 process with more IP options for foundry customers, likewise 18A is the foundry version of 20A, which is the first Gate All Around node.
It's well known in the industry that process yields go up over time - while I don't have numbers, I would hazard a guess that foundry customers demand higher yields than internal customers; see Samsung's woes with their current GAA node for an example. Early versions of a tech node may or may not initially be profitable, but it's silly not to sell the good die which are generated in the course of ramping the yields to target levels. New tech also commands a premium which diminishes as competitors catch up.
I think is is right, if I have the external marketing names straight. Intel 3 is the refined version of the Intel 4 process with more IP options for foundry customers, likewise 18A is the foundry version of 20A, which is the first Gate All Around node.
It's well known in the industry that process yields go up over time - while I don't have numbers, I would hazard a guess that foundry customers demand higher yields than internal customers; see Samsung's woes with their current GAA node for an example. Early versions of a tech node may or may not initially be profitable, but it's silly not to sell the good die which are generated in the course of ramping the yields to target levels. New tech also commands a premium which diminishes as competitors catch up.