HardwareProcessorsNeolithic burial sites and now too much of the wrong soil type, Intel’s new foundry in Germany isn’t getting finished any time soonWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

HardwareProcessorsNeolithic burial sites and now too much of the wrong soil type, Intel’s new foundry in Germany isn’t getting finished any time soonWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Intel Corporation)

A rendering showing the early plans for two new Intel processor factories in Magdeburg, Germany.

Due to its soft and loose nature, engineers can’t build on top of it—or at the very least, not with that amount of black soil—as any large building will rapidly subside (and chip fabs areverylarge). Whatever solution they plan on doing, Intel won’t be able to fully commence construction until 2025, pushing the schedule further behind.

Not that it’s been particularly smooth sailing anyway. As with all major construction projects in the EU, the site underwent an archaeological survey, which uncovered a large Neolithic burial site.

Due to its wealth of fertile soil and loess, the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany has been home to people for thousands of years. The area that Intel picked to build its new fab turned out to be a “highly complex, long-used burial and ritual landscape,” according toDr Oliver Dietrich.

Currently, Intel’s only major presence in Europe is at Leixlip, Ireland, comprising two plants, Fab 24 and Fab 34. Chips have been manufactured in Ireland for many years, and some of the original Pentium processors were made in the initial foundry, Fab 10, back in 1993.

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Fab 34 makes chips on theIntel 4 process node, as used for Meteor Lake CPUs, and it forms the backbone of Intel’s plans to have a complete production chain based in Europe.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gamingBest gaming motherboardBest graphics cardBest SSD for gaming

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

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