Intel Serious About Foundry Business: Could Even Build ARM-Based Chips

[Fjodor2001]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...usiness_Could_Even_Build_ARM_Based_Chips.html

"Being the world’s largest and most progressive maker of semiconductors, Intel Corp. is tremendously interested in keeping its manufacturing capacities fully loaded. The new chief executive of the company, Brian Krzanich, is expected to be much more flexible when it comes to making chips for others to keep fabs busy. He appears to show signs of being so.

The new chief executive of Intel does not rule out possibility of building chips based on ARM architecture that rivals Intel’s x86 in smartphones and tablets. At the same time, he remains cautious about such a project since Intel now has an indisputable advantage over companies that rely on ARM Holding’s architecture when it comes to manufacturing technology and the chip giant naturally does not want to share this trump."

 

[AnandThenMan]

Mixed signals. Intel may fab ARM products that directly compete with their own, but don't want to give up their manufacturing advantage.

 

[MisterMac]

More like not giving up the fight for apple's foundry related business despite TSMC deal?

 

[SiliconWars]

Mixed signals. Intel may fab ARM products that directly compete with their own, but don't want to give up their manufacturing advantage.

Yeah I can't see anyone buying into this in the kind of volume Intel is hoping for.

Realistically they are talking about 32nm and while it's a good process it's no better than TSMC's 28nm. Opening up their 22nm to a competitor would need to happen around about now to be worthwhile, and that's not going to happen.

It's strange that both Intel and Nvidia are hawking their wares recently though, with no obvious buyers behind them.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Here is a crazy idea - Intel fabbing AMD CPUs!

 

[Erenhardt]

It's strange that both Intel and Nvidia are hawking their wares recently though, with no obvious buyers behind them.

It may, or may not have something to do with next gen consoles

 

[VirtualLarry]

It's strange that both Intel and Nvidia are hawking their wares recently though, with no obvious buyers behind them.

Would be neat if Intel started fabbing for NV. Not likely that would happen, though.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Here is a crazy idea - Intel fabbing AMD CPUs!

Not going to happen, but I would like to see amd's graphics tech integrated with Intel's fabrication expertise.

 

[Exophase]

Would be neat if Intel started fabbing for NV. Not likely that would happen, though.

That would be a pretty severe blow to AMD. In the discrete GPU world a process update has always enabled big shifts in performance..

 

[Erenhardt]

That would be a pretty severe blow to AMD. In the discrete GPU world a process update has always enabled big shifts in performance..

I'm sure the same can be said about CPU world

 

[jvroig]

I'm sure the same can be said about CPU world

Of course, and that can be seen in an obvious way in the discrepancy between Intel and AMD chips.

If NV started designing for and manufacturing in Intel fabs, then it wouldn't be too surprising if the same gap appeared between NV and AMD products, which is what Exophase was pointing out.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I'm sure the same can be said about CPU world

Try compare SB to PD. Quite obvious that AMD lacks a lot more than just the node.

 

[Erenhardt]

Of course, and that can be seen in an obvious way in the discrepancy between Intel and AMD chips.

If NV started designing for and manufacturing in Intel fabs, then it wouldn't be too surprising if the same gap appeared between NV and AMD products, which is what Exophase was pointing out.

Intel is willing to produce ARM-based chips, not nvidia gpus.
But even if they will open their fabs to anyone and anything, that would be the best moment for a new player to enter the GPU battlefield.
Nvidia is willing to licence their IP to anyone willing to pay.
Intel is willing to provide fabs to anyone willing to pay.
But why would anyone be interested in desktop market while mobile is much more profitable?

 

[jvroig]

But why would anyone be interested in desktop market while mobile is much more profitable?

I don't know and that really isn't part of the original discussion and not something I was interested in. It was merely pointed out by Exophase that if NV GPU's started being designed for and manufactured in Intel's fabs, it would be a devastating blow for AMD GPU's.

That was all. There was no discussion that I understood which revolves around desktop vs mobile. It was simply a logical and factual observation that if NV got Intel process tech, they would severely outclass AMD's GPUs.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I dont see this as anythign new from Intel. Its just getting blown up.

Intel would never say no to anyone willing to pay enough. And as it sounds, Intel can only eye one company that makes ARM chips that is willing/can pay enough (Apple.). And already having a great relation to with mobile x86 CPUs.

"If there was a great customer that we had a great relationship with laptops and other mobile devices, and they said look, we'd really love you to build our ARM-based product, we'd consider it. It depends on how strategic they are," Krzanich said.

He also talked about Atom. And essentially confirmed Broadwell-M/Y/U and Atom gets all the first pick at 14nm. While desktops are put behind.

 

[Erenhardt]

Try compare SB to PD. Quite obvious that AMD lacks a lot more than just the node.

I fail to see how 2600k is better than 8350

 

[joshhedge]

I fail to see how 2600k is better than 8350

Overall, it is.

http://anandtech.com/bench/Product/697?vs=287

 

[Tuna-Fish]

It may, or may not have something to do with next gen consoles

PS4 and XB1 have been set in stone for more than a year now. Do you think there will be another high-profile console next gen?

 

[laputan machine]

PS4 and XB1 have been set in stone for more than a year now. Do you think there will be another high-profile console next gen?

Steambox might be.

 

[Exophase]

I'm sure the same can be said about CPU world

Yes but IMO the difference is more pronounced in discrete GPUs.