Intel places orders to secure ALL of ASML's High-NA EUV machines built this year

Intel has just splashed out on buying ASML's bleeding-edge High-NA EUV lithography machines, placing orders for the rest of the machines that the Netherlands-based company will make this year.

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In a new report from The Elec, we're hearing that Intel is buying ASML's latest High-NA EUV lithography machines by placing reserve orders for the 5-6 kits that the company will make this year. Intel will be using ASML's new High-NA EUV lithography machines for its upcoming Intel 18A (1.8nm) and Intel 14A (1.4nm) process nodes.

Intel will have the most High-NA EUV lithography machines in 2025, with competitors including SK hynix and Samsung set to get their first batches of High-NA EUV lithography machines in the second half of 2025. Intel will have a rather large advantage over their competitors, especially if production goes well, yield rates are healthy, and the chips that Intel is pumping out are performance leaders.

• Read more: Intel finishes assembly of ASML's first High-NA EUV tool, ready for Intel 14A process in 2025
• Read more: ASML ships its second High-NA EUV lithography machine to a mystery client, Intel was first
• Read more: ASML signs letter of intent in Eindhoven: 20,000+ new staff in the Netherlands

Now remember, each of ASML's new High-NA EUV lithography machines -- the Twinscan EXE:5000 High-NA EUV lithography machine to be exact -- comes at a cost of around $370 million each. This means that Intel has spent around $2 billion on these reserve orders, so it can have all of ASML's bleeding-edge machines to itself.