There are few easy ways to get across the incredible complexity required to build a modern computer chip: this photograph is one of them

HardwareProcessorsThere are few easy ways to get across the incredible complexity required to build a modern computer chip: this photograph is one of themWhen 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.

‘Have you tried turning it off and on again?'(Image credit: Intel)

Intel�s first High NA EUV tool set up.

Chipmaking is tough. Likereallytough. Just how tough? An engineer could spend many hours talking about the intricacies of just a single step in the lithographic or packaging process and you’d come away wiser but moderately terrified about the scale of the accomplishments required to create any and all computer chips. But a photograph speaks a thousand words, and these photos of Intel’s new lithographic ‘High NA EUV’ machines make it quite clear how incredibly complex this whole chipmaking biz is.

‘Is that my screwdriver up there?'(Image credit: Intel)

Intel’s first High NA EUV tool set up.

What you’re looking at here is a lithography tool (just one, incredibly) called a TWINSCAN EXE:5000 High NA EUV. This $370 million machine offers Intel the new ability to scale down processors into more efficient, effective designs. ‘High NA’ stands for High Numerical Aperture. ‘EUV’ stands for Extreme Ultraviolet.

The wider chipmaking industry has been adopting EUV to allow for more continued advancement of chipmaking. Previous DUV lithographic processes only go so far, and the smaller chips are required to go, the more DUV processes are required to introduce extra steps into the manufacturing process, such as multi patterning. This adds time, complexity, and cost. That’s where EUV comes in, which reduces the number of processes required again while allowing for sub-10nm process nodes. In theory, this also reduces cost, though in practice hasn’t worked out that way. EUV requires extremely large and complicated tools, as you might be able to tell from the photographs below.

The important thing is it remains possible to make more complicated and better performing processors thanks to EUV. Intel uses EUV within itsIntel 4 process node. TSMC has used EUV sinceN7+.

High NA EUV is a little different again. Using newer machines from ASML, the company that makes most lithographic machines out of the Netherlands, Intel is able to produce wafers quicker and enjoy higher yields per wafer (a higher proportion of processor on each wafer are usable). Mark Phillips, an Intel Fellow and Director of Lithography Hardware and Solutions, Logic Technology Development, says the increased resolution of High NA EUV allows for Intel to reduce excess steps usually required for cutting-edge chips, such as multi-patterning and the number of masks.

Altogether, High NA is just a simpler process, though you wouldn’t get that impression from the scale and complexity of the machines required to do it.

(Image credit: Intel)

Intel High NA EUV explanation and diagram.

High NA EUV doesn’t come cheap. Intel will have to bear the brunt of using these High NA and using it effectively to get return on investment.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

“The introduction of high NA will be on those few bottleneck layers, and it will continue in parallel with layers that stay on .33 NA, layers that say on 193[nm] immersion. Whatever is the cost effective technology for delivering the needs of that process layer.”

‘Our next CPUs will be this big.'(Image credit: Intel)

Intel’s first High NA EUV tool set up.

Intel is the first to get a High NA EUV machine, and it will be used on its Intel 14A and later Intel 14A-E process nodes, which the company will get to work developing from 2025. So, a good while yet until we see an Intel Core processor built using High NA EUV.

Intel is on a mission to get back into the driving seat when it comes to world-class chipmaking. To do that, it needs to leapfrog TSMC, the Taiwanese chip manufacturer currently leading the way. Intel’s plan to achieve that involves “Five nodes in four years”, culminating in Intel taking back the crown from TSMC for process leadership with Intel 18A in 2025. TSMC also hopes to adopt High NA EUV, though is slower to adopt the technology, choosing instead to focus on further patterning using existing EUV processes until much later.

Reports suggest at least one otherHigh NA EUV machine has been soldtosomeone, however, we just don’t know who. Though they’re going to have to have pretty deep pockets.

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.

TOPICSHardware

TOPICS

More about processorsIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortageLatestWormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s vanSee more latest►

More about processors

If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortage

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X CPU on a blue background

If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor

AMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortage

LatestWormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s vanSee more latest►

Latest

Wormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s van

Wormhole

Wormhole is an impeccable arcade revival of Snake that plays like it fell off the back of Derek Yu’s van

See more latest►

Most PopularThe Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcementsPath of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better lootPalestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 NakbaPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab

Most Popular

The Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcements

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

Palestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 Nakba

Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’

Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40K

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anything

If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off

AMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals