Intel Sapphire Rapids server processors will not come out as planned due to \"side problems\"

The transition to mass production of 4th generation Xeon Scalable server processors (Sapphire Rapids) will occur later than expected.
This was announced at the BofA Securities Global Technology Conference by Sandra Rivera, head of the server division.
In fact, it is the second postponement of the release of these chips.
Previously, the company had intended to release the processors in the first quarter of this year.Image source: IntelInternet has previously reported that during the first quarter, it shipped samples of 4th generation Intel Xeon Scalable codename Sapphire Rapids to some customers.
The chips are currently being tested by the company's partners.
According to Rivera, Intel needs more time to develop new platforms for Sapphire Rapids and validate them.
Therefore, mass shipments of the processors, although they will start this year, but later than planned.
\"We need more time to develop and test new platforms, so the mass production release of Sapphire Rapids is expected later than originally expected.
However, we are still seeing strong demand for these chips.
I would also like to add that our Intel 7 processor, on which Sapphire Rapids are built, feels great.
I would like to point out that the same process is used in our Alder Lake consumer chips.
We've ramped up production to 15 million units.
We already mentioned in our Q1 report that it's the fastest ramp-up in consumer processor production in the last ten years.
The process technology is doing very well, and we're projecting a good chip volume picture, but there are some side issues that need to be addressed with our customers,\" commented Sandra Rivera.
It is very important for Intel to make sure that all components of the Sapphire Rapids platform pass the necessary testing, as the successors to the Emerald Rapids codename processors will also be compatible with the platform.
These chips are expected in the second half of 2023 and will also use the Intel 7 (10nm) process technology.

Japan's Showa Denko begins shipments of record density magnetic wafers to produce 26TB HDDs

Japan's Showa Denko, the largest independent manufacturer of magnetic wafers for hard drives, has begun shipping 3.5-inch hard drives with record capacity.
The new aluminum platters deliver an industry record areal density of more than 1TB/inch2, allowing for capacities as high as 2.6TB.
Western Digital now builds 26TB hard drives from these platters.image source: storageagereview.comTo manufacture the company's 3.5-inch 2.6TB magnetic platters, Showa Denko developed protective and magnetic coating technology using the smallest magnetic crystals.
At the same time, to achieve record-breaking recording densities, the magnetic wafers are supported by two technologies: energy assisted perpendicular recording (ePMR) and tiled overlapping track recording (SMR).
Without SMR technology, the plate capacity reaches 2.2 TB.
SMR technology reduces the speed of access to the media, but the gain in capacity compensates for this drawback.Apparently, on the basis of 2.6Tbytes of platters Showa Denko created hard drives Ultrastar DC HC670 UltraSMR by Western Digital.
Western Digital began distributing such drives a couple of weeks ago to select customers.
The beginning of mass shipments of Showa Denko platters from Western Digital and likely Seagate gives hope for relatively soon mass production of 3.5-inch 26TB hard drives.Showa Denko has also developed 3.5-inch platters with higher capacity - 3TB.
This is achieved by supporting MAS-MAMR technology.
This is also a recording technology with \"energy\" support, but only more complex - with the integration of miniature microwave emitters into the magnetic heads.
Apparently, this is the next step in increasing the capacity of 3.5-inch hard drives, which can be expected closer to the end of 2023 or later.

The Swedish company Northvolt has started commercial deliveries of traction batteries manufactured in Europe

Europe has managed to become the second largest market for electric cars after China, ahead of the US, but without localizing production it is impossible to achieve acceptable prices, and the process itself entails organizing battery production in the vicinity of assembly lines.
Northvolt has recently started supplying its first mass-produced batteries to customers.Image source: NorthvoltThe enterprises of South Korean companies producing lithium batteries have long been present in Europe and the Chinese one under the brand CATL will soon start operating, but there have been no \"native European\" companies in this segment so far.
Thus, as Automotive News Europe explains, the Swedish company Northvolt has become the first European supplier of locally produced lithium batteries for customers in the region.
The first batches of traction batteries were shipped to customers last week, although Korean media reports claim that Northvolt's yields are not yet that high and that its equipment needs to be replaced with more reliable ones as a matter of urgency.
The company now employs about a thousand people but is adding an average of 150 each month and could eventually reach not 3,000 but the full 4,000 workforce.
Northvolt has already managed to collect $50 billion in orders from electric car manufacturers such as BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo and its subsidiary Polestar.In Norway, Northvolt simultaneously started a joint venture with Hydro to recycle end-of-life traction batteries.
It has become the largest in Europe and will be able to recycle 25,000 traction batteries each year.
The processes involved will recover for recycling a significant portion of the raw materials, which at the current rate of growth in electric vehicles will constantly become more expensive and remain in short supply.
One of the founders of Tesla, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, predicts that over time the electric car industry will be able to fully meet its needs in raw materials for traction batteries just by recycling already used batteries.
However, with an average service life of 15 years, we will have to be patient before such predictions become a reality.