Update 21-Sep-21: ASCII has updated its interview with Raja Koduri to state that Raja did not actually say, “(Intel’s) advanced process did not have sufficient capacity yet.” Instead, the full quote is now:
Next, about Intel Arc. First, regarding the reason for using TSMC’s N6, he said, “It is necessary to first determine the entire process that can be assumed at the start of design,” and then “other features such as how much operating frequency can be used are also important factors. Cost is also an issue. These three, that is, the cost performance capacity is taken into consideration when deciding which process to use. ” In other words, the first product, Alchemist, happened to have the best balance of TSMC’s N6.
The implication that Intel didn’t have the capacity to produce Alchemist still stands, but Raja did not, it appears, actually say that.
